Just before this Valentine’s Day, we’ll explore, in meditation and a talk and discussion, what helps us to open our hearts to our deep loving nature, and what gets in the way of such opening. We’ll focus on how central it is, and often how hard it is, to be able to develop and express self-love and self-compassion. Yet these qualities are necessary for bringing love into our relationships and into our world, which deeply needs love and heart connections. We’ll identify perspectives and practices which help us to open our hearts to love!
As we discover the 3 characteristics of life in our meditation practice, we begin to recognize their truth in all aspects of life beyond our mediation practice. Through this clear understanding, compassion for self and others emerges organically. The cultivation of compassion practice directed towards our own or others suffering can also strengthen this quality in our minds and hearts. This talk includes some guided practice.
Saturday morning dharmette in gratitude and generosity as a reciprocal relationship, rather than a transactional relationship, followed by a guided meditation in the refuges as gratitude practices. (Susie) The sit ends with walking instructions and encouragement to sense the body as a support for the embodied gratitude of being present. (Jeanne)
