NOTE: Online and Residential options available.
residential Retreat CHECK-in opens at 1:00pm ET and retreat begins at 6:00pm ET.
8-day Hybrid Retreat with Oren Jay Sofer, Yong Oh, Jessica Morey
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!
The online retreat will be offered as broadcast-only and will include: teacher-led meditation instructions and Dharma talks broadcasted live from the IMS Meditation Hall. This program will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing after the live sessions. On-demand videos will be available to registered participants only for 90 days. Please note that there is no direct interaction with the onsite teachers.
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.
Registration for this retreat is not yet open. Pre-register below and we will email you when registration is open.
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.
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.
Yong Oh
Yong Oh 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. For more, visit yongoh.com
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.
SABRA SAPERSTEIN (Movement)
Sabra Saperstein lives in Portland, Maine, and works at Frith Farm where she is a cook and community weaver. She is devoted to building healthy relationship with the land and community, and cultivating new culture centered on the sacred. She received her yoga teacher certification from 8 Limbs Yoga in 2003 and began offering Mindful Movement while working at Insight Meditation Society. It is a combination of yoga, qi gong and intuitive movement and is a gentle practice suitable for people of all ages. The primary intention of Mindful Movement is to invite one’s awareness into the body, thereby creating more grounding, flow of life force and sense of connectedness.