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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 (karunā), 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 powerfully engage with the world. Together, we 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.

Practitioners 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 give a unique opportunity to blend the two wings of Buddhist wisdom based in love and emptiness.

2026-07-08 (10 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2026-07-10 Patience is How You Wait (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 63:49
Devin Berry
The Buddha placed patience first when he summarized the whole path (Dhammapada 184) as the felt texture of wise effort. The question is what is the heart is doing while the time passes. With the hen who warms her eggs, Sona's lute, and an old trumpet player in the desert; a talk on how the heart opens: not by pushing, but by keeping something warm.
2026-07-14 The Contentment that Arises with Metta Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 64:16
John Martin
2026-07-16 Brahmaviharas for All Beings (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 43:20
John Martin
Guided Meditation opening to boundless unconditional quality of Metta, Compassion, Supportive Joy and Equanimity
2026-07-16 The Brahmaviharas in the World: Leave a Light On (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 45:28
Devin Berry
The four boundless qualities off the cushion, as they meet the actual world. A motel chain's accidental bodhisattva vow, a bus station, the Lincoln Memorial steps, a border crossing, a hospice room, and the Buddha's final instruction with the Karajakāya Sutta's promise about how far love can carry a heart.
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