Garrison Institute Foundations of Contemplative Practice Retreat with Sharon Salzberg and Rachel Cowan

Open to the public

This introductory weekend retreat is designed for anyone who has ever wanted to explore mindfulness or other contemplative practices. No experience is necessary; anyone can participate and benefit.

Recent research shows that meditative practices change brain physiology in ways that can produce tangible benefits for personal and professional life, ranging from stress reduction and better heart health to improved self-awareness, emotion regulation, intuition, empathy and acceptance.

Through periods of silent and guided reflection and group discussion, Sharon and Rachel will present various non-sectarian, accessible practices that can be pursued on their own or used to complement and deepen existing spiritual and professional practices. These include body awareness, mindfulness, self-empathy and compassion. The teachers will also connect these contemporary practices with the traditions from which they derive. The retreat will be valuable for experienced practitioners and first-timers alike.

Sharon Salzberg has been a student of Buddhism since 1971. She teaches both intensive awareness practice (vipassana or insight meditation) and the profound cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion (the Brahma Viharas). She is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Sharon’s latest book is the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation. She is also the author of The Force of Kindness; Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. For more information about Sharon, please visit www.SharonSalzberg.com.

Rabbi Rachel Cowan is former director of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, an organization that works with rabbis, cantors, educators and lay leaders to deepen the spiritual dimension of contemporary Judaism. Rabbi Cowan has been widely published in many books and publications including Growing Up Yanqui and Mixed Blessings (the latter with Paul Cowan).