NOTE: Retreat registration opens at 1:00pm ET. Retreat begins at 6:00pm ET.
8-day Retreat with Oren Jay Sofer, Dawn Scott, Jessica Morey, Yong Oh
Metta means goodwill or lovingkindness in the ancient Buddhist Pali language. Metta meditation cultivates our innate capacity for an open and loving heart. Said to have been taught by the Buddha himself, this practice develops concentration, fearlessness, a sense of belonging, happiness, and a greater ability to love. When well cultivated, metta practice also provides a secure foundation for resilience and wise engagement amidst uncertainty and pain.
This is a silent, intensive meditation retreat focusing on the development of lovingkindness, open to both new and experienced meditators.
Teachers will provide formal instructions in the classical method of metta meditation, using the silent repetition of phrases along with additional methods for the development of this powerful quality. Our time will include instructions for sitting and walking meditation practice, Q&A, talks about the teachings, and meetings with the teachers. An optional daily period of mindful movement will be offered. Some experience with mindfulness meditation is recommended but not required. All are welcome!
Teacher Support: The teachers on this retreat offer their teachings freely. They do not receive compensation from IMS program fees and rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood. There will be an opportunity to offer a donation to the teachers at the end of the retreat. Read more about this practice here.
Questions?
This event is being run by the Insight Meditation Society. For any questions related to this retreat, please email IMS at rc@dharma.org.
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ABOUT THE TEACHERS
OREN JAY SOFER
Oren Jay Sofer, a CNVC Certified Nonviolent Communication Trainer, teaches workshops and retreats on meditation and communication internationally. His teaching emphasizes how awareness practice and communication training deepen one another in a synergistic manner. He holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University and is certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for healing trauma. Oren is a husband, a father, and the author of several books including Your Heart Was Made For This, and the best-selling title, Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication.
DAWN SCOTT
Dawn Scott has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2008 and served as the Family Program Coordinator for eight years at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She is a graduate of the Insight Meditation Society’s 2017 – 2021 teacher training program, a co-principal teacher of Marin Sangha, and is a core teacher of Spirit Rock’s Liberation, Emptiness, and Awareness Practices (LEAP) Program and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and Insight Meditation’s joint program, Exploring the Heart of Freedom. Dawn has a deep love of long retreat practice and the Buddha’s liberating teachings.
JESSICA MOREY
Jessica Morey is a meditation teacher and contemplative coach with three decades of practice. She began meditating as a teenager on retreats at the Insight Meditation Society and graduated from the IMS teacher training program in 2021. Jess brings a sense of playfulness and care to her teaching, with a focus on integrating meditation into our relationships and everyday life. Her approach is grounded in psychological insight and skillful communication, making her teaching both accessible and practical. Before teaching full-time, Jess studied engineering and worked in clean energy finance. She later founded Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, a nonprofit offering in-depth mindfulness and compassion training to youth. More recently, she helped create the Contemplative Semester, a three-month immersion program for young adults.
Yong Oh
Yong is a Dharma Council teacher at the Durango Dharma Center and a core teacher for Sacred Mountain Sangha, and is also a visiting teacher for other community centers across North America. He teaches retreats at the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Big Bear Retreat Center, and Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center. He is a graduate of the 4-year Insight Meditation Society Retreat Teacher Training program, Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s 2-year Community Dharma Leaders program, and the Sacred Mountain Sangha 2-year Dharmapala training, taught by his primary teachers Kittisaro and Thanissara. Yong is also a retired acupuncturist, is passionate about Nature and Dharma, and has particular interests in devotional expression, supporting caregivers, and offering teachings to communities of color in the Dharma.