This retreat is led by Insight teacher Jon Aaron, and hosted by the UChicago Buddhist Association.
This day will be held largely in Noble Silence, including giving ourselves a well needed break from our devices . This can support us to unravel our nervous systems and experience a more natural, luminous nature of mind.
Together we will explore ancient teachings about heart practices, and how these work in tandem with mindfulness. Grounded in a Buddhist orientation as well as drawing on other wisdom traditions, we will learn about and practice what is referred to as the Four Divine Abodes: loving-friendliness (metta), compassion (karuna), resonant joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha). Each of these practices is understood as appropriate responses to what arises internally and in our world. In this way, we can develop a more capacious, sustainable and creative way of meeting life's challenges.
The day will include sitting meditation, walking meditation, chanting, poetry and short dharma talks. Prior meditation experience will of course be helpful, though instruction will be offered. There will be time for Q&A and tips on meditation posture.
This day is offered freely, though there will be an opportunity to practice dana (generosity).
It is necessary to register in advance.
About Jon Aaron
Jon has been a teacher at NY Insight since 2006. His principal dharma teachers have been Matthew Flickstein of The Forest Way and Kittisaro and Thanissara of The Sacred Mountain Sangha. He is a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher and Teacher Trainer and has taught over 100 cycles of the seminal curriculum. He leads retreats in the US and in Europe. He is the co-guiding teacher of the Makom Meditation Havurah program at the Jewish Community Center. He is a certified Somatic Experience Practitioner® and an Accredited teacher of Mindfulness for Heath from Breathworks in the UK. Jon is a co-founder of the MBSR Teachers Collaborative of Greater New York and a founding member of the Global Mindfulness Collaborative. Recently, with his partner Upayadhi, he established Space2Meditate.com, an online community for meditators that started in the context of the pandemic and has been thriving ever since. jonaaron.net