Insight Meditation Community sets retreat Oct. 8

Insight Meditation Community of Lewes will present a hybrid daylong retreat with Luisa Montero-Diaz from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, via Zoom or in person at St. Peter’s parish hall, Second and Mulberry streets, Lewes. 

The event will include a dharma talk on the topics of Compassion and Self-Compassion.

“As hard as it is sometimes to touch and act from a wise, compassionate heart toward others, it is even harder to do that toward ourselves,” said Montero-Diaz. “How can we nurture compassion and turn it toward ourselves? What is the value of exploring this practice? We will see how the basis for true compassion for others is self-compassion, which is often very difficult to cultivate. The good news is that traits like kindness and compassion are not fixed; they can be chosen and strengthened. Paying attention to the cultivation and nurturing of compassion, for ourselves and others, is a practice of undoing old, familiar habits and conditioning.”

She said, “We will consider how, through the practice of mindfulness meditation – on and off the cushion – we can encourage and further develop our inherent capacities of kindness, gentleness and compassion toward ourselves and others.”

All are welcome to attend this day of meditation and discussion.

Montero-Diaz has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1987 and teaching meditation since 1993. She completed the three-year community dharma leadership program sponsored by the Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She currently teaches a weekly meditation class in Takoma Park, Md., and leads daylong and weekend retreats in the Washington, D.C. area.

Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch/snacks. The suggested donation for the retreat is $30. For those with limited income, 50%, or any amount of the suggested donation offered is welcome. If budget does not allow for a donation, no explanation is needed.