VVC 2008 Non-Residential Weekend Retreats
(Re)Introducing the Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation - March 15 & 16
The Victoria Vipassana Community is offering a workshop — (Re)Introducing the Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation — for those new to this meditation practice on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16, 2008 from 9:00am to 4:30pm each day at Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Rd.
Heather Martin will lead this non-residential weekend meditation retreat for those who are curious about this extraordinarily effective means to reduce our stress and strain, while increasing our kindness and understanding of ourselves and others. Using a workshop format, she will provide a basic introduction to Mindfulness Meditation (also known as Insight and/or Vipassana).
The weekend will include periods of instruction, explanation, and practice, with ample opportunity for questions and clarification. We will explore both the whys and the hows of this mind training, which benefits us in many obvious and immediate ways. You will learn how to reduce the stress and anxiety in which we so often find ourselves, while increasing your well-being and inner calm, and ability to respond appropriately and kindly to each other.
This retreat is offered particularly for those new meditators who are interested in learning about this brilliantly effective skill, and for those who have some understanding of the practice, but would like a more thorough foundation.
Weekend Retreat for Experienced Meditators - April 12 & 13
Heather Martin will be leading a non-residential weekend Vipassana retreat on April 12 & 13, 2008, offered particularly to to those who have established a good grounding in the teachings and the practice, with instructions and information more suited to their (sometimes years of) experience.
As most of our retreats are open to all levels of experience, we are offering a retreat for those meditators who have been practicing for some years, and have a good grounding in the teachings.
We therefore suggest those who have sat one or more residential retreat (5 days or longer) in this tradition, and/or have had an introductory course in Vipassana Meditation (or MBSR), with a year or more of regular practice applying those teachings, consider this opportunity to deepen your understanding further.
The instructions and talks will assume familiarity with the teachings beyond the introductory level.
Weekend Vipassana Retreat with Heather Martin - July 26 & 27
Potluck & Gathering - July 27
This retreat will be appropriate for both new and experienced meditators. It will be taught by Heather Martin from Salt Spring Island.
This weekend retreat will be shorter than ones we have held in the past since we will also be offering a Vipassana Community Celebration Potluck & Gathering. This Potluck & Gathering for retreat participants and our Sangha on the afternoon of Sunday, July 27th will be an opportunity for us to come together as a community and share a meal.
The schedule will be:
Retreat:
Saturday, July 26 (9:00am - 4:30pm)
Sunday, July 27 (9:00am - 12:30pm)
Potluck & Gathering:
Sunday, July 27 (1:00 - 4:30pm)
Both at Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road
You may attend the weekend in any of the following ways:
- Full weekend (Retreat plus Potluck & Gathering)
- Sunday morning sitting followed by the Potluck & Gathering
- Arrive after 12:45pm for Potluck & Gathering
Weekend Vipassana Retreat with Joanne Broatch - October 25 & 26
This retreat will be appropriate for both new and experienced meditators. It will be taught by Joanne Broatch.
With Jack Kornfield as her guiding teacher, Joanne has been practising Buddhist meditation in the Theravadan tradition since 1980, and teaching since 1994. Her spiritual journey has included inner work with humanistic psychologists of the 60s and 70s; later, Diamond Heart work and Process Painting; and more recently investigating Spiritism and etheric healing in Brazil. She is particularly interested in the importance of faith and lovingkindness in physical, emotional and spiritual healing.
Retired from work as a business writing consultant, writer and editor, Joanne has focused on supporting the growth of sangha in Western Canada, especially in smaller communities in the west. Now semi-retired as a dharma teacher, she teaches retreats, groups and classes primarily in British Columbia and Western Canada.
