Exploring Equanimity: Insight Meditation Two-Day Workshop - Sydney

The Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre was established to support the teaching of satipaṭṭhāna vipassanā or insight meditation in the tradition of the late Venerable Mahāsi Sayādaw of Burma. The Centre seeks its inspiration in the Buddhist Theravadan tradition and aims to develop an Australian Buddhism.The centre itself is in the Blue Mountains about two hours west of Sydney, but workshops and meditation evenings are also held at various venues in Sydney and New South Wales.

Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre

Equanimity, or balance of heart-mind, is highly valued in the Buddha’s teachings. It appears as the culminating factor in many of his lists of qualities to be cultivated – for example the Four Brahma-Vihara, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and the Ten Parami. However, equanimity can often feel quite elusive when we’re facing the many challenges inherent in daily life, especially in these times of increased fear and suffering in the world.
During this two-day workshop, we will explore many different facets of equanimity, using both traditional and relational insight meditation practices to cultivate the deepest freedom of heart and mind. To support the development of equanimity in all areas of our lives, we will learn how to integrate the calm, clarity and concentration of traditional silent meditation into the arena of speaking and listening, using the six guidelines of Insight Dialogue as developed by the US dharma teacher Gregory Kramer.
For more information about Insight Dialogue meditation practice, see https://metta.org/insight-dialogue-3/
Working together in pairs, we will use the power of relational meditation practice to understand the habits of heart and mind that lead to stress and distress, and how to free ourselves from those habits so that we can live with greater equanimity, ease and happiness.
This workshop is best suited to people who have some experience of insight/vipassana/mindfulness meditation, but prior Insight Dialogue experience is not required.
Teachers: Jill Shepherd, assisted by Beth Faria
Jill Shepherd is a US-trained insight meditation teacher, offering retreats and workshops primarily in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.  In Australia, she teaches regularly at the Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre in Medlow Bath.  For more information about her, please see https://jill0shepherd-insightmeditation.com/about/ 
Elizabeth Faria has been a Buddhist practitioner since 1996, studying in many countries. She is a Buddhist psychotherapist, psychologist and mother.
Both teachers are participants in the current ID teacher training programme led by Gregory Kramer.
Food: Please bring your own lunch.  Tea and herbal teas will be supplied.
Equipment: Chairs will be available, but please bring your own meditation cushion or bench if you have one, and a shawl or blanket.
Time: 9:15-4:30 pm Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November 2016
NOTE: In support of our group practice, please arrive by 9:15 am for a prompt start at 9:30 am, and make a commitment to stay for the whole day, each day
Cost: $50 registration fee + dana/donation* to the teacher
No door sales
*The registration fee covers only the cost of venue hire and booking fees. 
In keeping with Buddhist tradition, the teachings are offered on a dana basis which means the teachers are not paid to offer this workshop.  Instead, they rely on the generosity of the participants to help them continue to share their teachings with others, and there will be an opportunity at the end of each day to offer donations to support their ongoing teaching.

Buddhist Library

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