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Retreat Dharma Talks

Summer Lovingkindness Retreat

The Buddha’s liberating teachings on the four divine sanctuaries (brahmavihāras) include meditations on universal friendliness (mettā), compassion (karuṇā), altruistic joy (muditā), and equanimity (upekkhā). Aimed at purifying our hearts and developing concentration (samādhi), these divine sanctuaries aid our ability to both find inner peace and to powerfully engage with the world. This silent retreat will deepen our understanding of selfless love and its role in ending suffering.

This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups meetings, or other practice meetings. Retreatants are encouraged to combine this lovingkindness retreat with the following Insight Meditation retreat to further develop concentration, purify the heart, and learn to combine these two forms of Buddhist meditation. The combination of these two retreats gives a unique opportunity to blend the two wings of Buddhist wisdom based in love and emptiness.

2025-07-09 (10 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2025-07-10 Morning Instructions: Metta for the Body (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 55:23
John Martin
2025-07-10 1st Night - Why Come on a Loving Kindness retreat? 63:07
Tempel Smith
What is special about a 9-day Loving Kindness retreat? The form of Buddhist practice helps cultivate positive qualities of friendliness and kindness, it helps purify old habits of defensiveness and hostility, and it help cultivate samadhi (concentration).
2025-07-12 Morning Instructions - Mettā (Loving Kindness) including Dear Friends 50:54
Tempel Smith
Extending loving kindness meditation from the primary practice of ourselves and a chosen easiest being, we can open at times to include any dear friend whom also easily come to mind. At this stage of practice we are inclining out mettā practice to rest where mettā is easiest. This would be any beings for whom it is easy to see the good in them, and we easily feel warmth.
2025-07-12 Equanimity Practice Instructions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 46:33
John Martin
Inviting a tone of equanimity to the practice of metta.
2025-07-12 Practicing with Challenges in Formal Metta Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 62:48
Rebecca Bradshaw
The classic “five hindrances” as applied to formal metta practice. Includes the “near miss” of attached love, and “far neighbor” of aversion.
2025-07-14 Guided Forgiveness Practice 56:14
Tempel Smith
From a base of loving kindness and compassion we can consciously aim our heart's attention into a practice of Forgiveness.
2025-07-16 Appreciative Joy Introduction (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 42:02
Rebecca Bradshaw
Intro to mudita and short guided intro to meditation.
2025-07-16 Mettā practice and Wise Speech 63:47
Tempel Smith
The blessings of a strong mettā practice developed on retreat include how we can cultivate wise actions and wise speech when we leave retreat.
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