Heather Martin has been meditating since 1972, and practicing Vipassana since 1981. Beginning with S.N. Goenka, she has since been influenced by both Burmese and Thai streams of the Theravada tradition, and by Tibetan Dzogchen with Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Most recently she has been studying with Burmese Sayadaw U Tejaniya.
Her practical and wholehearted approach embodies ease and joy, while grounded in realism.
She has been leading retreats in Canada and the US since 2001. She worked for 20 years as a midwife, and lives on Salt Spring Island, off the south coast of B.C. For more information and Heather's teaching schedule, please visit: ssivipassana.org.
How the first two Noble Truths describe Samsara and the circular chain of Dependent origination, and how the third and fourth Truths have been expanded to form Transcendental dependent arising, which beautiful topics will be further explored during this month - long retreat.
Why our dear doomed attempts to be well need revising, and how nourishing our spirits while Staying, Loving, Opening and Wondering are the strategies that actually bring wellbeing by clearing the dust away.
Part 1: How differences in this practice work for different people.
Part 2: Compassion is doing nothing more than tenderly holding whatever pain arises.
Interweaving all four threads of the Divine Abodes - to transform us from small, tight self-concern to the soft vast tenderness of interconnection, which is true freedom.
To handle the 'rowdy prisoners' which invariably arise in practice, Metta nourishes and reassures us, so we can relax, calm down, and release the burden of struggles with them.
Two of the five Spiritual Faculties.
Exploring:
-What we actually believe in, rely on, value.
-The difference and sometimes distance between knowledge, ideas, beliefs and wisdom - the integrated absorbed and deeply understood truths.
