Retreat on Compassionate Communication: Sancta Sophia Interfaith Meditation Centre

Join us for a gentle weekend retreat in lovely Warburton, at the Sancta Sophia Interfaith Meditation Centre on: Compassionate Communication

Date: Friday May 24, 8:00pm to Sunday 26, 3:30pm
Location: Sancta Sophia Meditation Community, 50 Riverturn Lane, Warburton 3799

Compassion is the practice of seeing ourselves in others and others in ourselves, especially when people do things we find terribly offensive, harmful or destructive. This is the practice of giving love when it is the hardest to do, and when people need it the most.

There’s a Talmudic story about a man who asked Hillel, one of the famous rabbis, to teach him the Torah standing on one foot. Hillel stood on one foot and said, "Love thy neighbour as thyself and the rest is commentary."

Every great religion has the same message. Gandhi continues to inspire each generation with his example to “love those that hate us." Jesus said "Love thy enemy." The Buddha too, said, "Hatred is never appeased by hatred, only by Love." Each speaks to the vision of a heart that is fully open. This kind of love requires a commitment to act in ways that uphold everyone's humanity. It means caring for the wellbeing of the other person even when we are in opposing positions; even when all that we value is at stake. Everything else follows from this principle.

The practice of compassionate communication gives form to this commitment. We search our heart, focus our consciousness, and bring active attention to transcending and transforming fear and judgment. By excavating underneath our habits we understand how our needs, our longings, dreams, and values inform our reactions to others. Having compassion for ourself nurtures a heart that is open to the needs of another. When we hear others with full empathic presence, their core, irreducible humanity shines forth.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Retreat facilitator is Bom Hyon Sunim, an Australian Buddhist nun in the Korean Zen tradition. Sunim is also an educator, counsellor and mediator; she manages the Healthcare Chaplaincy Program for the Buddhist Council of Victoria and is a current board member of HCCV.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday May 24, 8:00pm to Sunday 26, 3:30pm
Full Cost $175.00 (live in) Live out $135.00
Saturday only $75.00
For enquiries or to make a booking contact:
Sancta Sophia (Karith) : (03) 5966 2120
info@sanctasophia.org.au  / www.sanctasophia.org.au

Sancta Sophia Meditation Community, 50 Riverturn Lane, Warburton 3799
Promoting peace through meditation and interreligious dialogue.