Deepening into the Heart of Love and Freedom (210R20)
Noliwe Alexander, Lama Rod Owens, MA, Arinna Weisman, Katy Wiss and Melvin L. Escobar, LCSW, RYT
November 3 - 7, 2020
A Retreat for the Queer, LGBTQI, Gender Non-Conforming Community
Retreat Description:
Preparing for after the election? Whatever the result we know we have work to do and so the challenge is how? Can we prepare for it in ways that bring us into an embodied wisdom, a caring heart and faith in knowing the beautiful qualities of the heart are where our power and agency lie? Can we remember we are part of not only our communities of trans, gender non-conforming, queer, bi, gay, people of color, white, disabled and able bodied…we are part of a universe, part of all nature and held by life’s vastness. In communion and in community we find a resilience and love that becomes a deep spring or resource for the days, weeks and years ahead.
There is a path and we will walk it together guided by the teachings of the Buddha and other liberatory teachings.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our LGBTQI Gender Non-Conforming community to come together in support and exploration of our inner capacity to realize the authentic and free expression of life living through us. We begin the retreat on election day and will be able to invite our commitment to non-harming and justice as blessings throughout the retreat. There will be time each day for the BIPOC and Trans sangha to sit together. This retreat is open to beginners and experienced students.
All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.
3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Dharma Talk; Alternating periods of sitting/walking meditation, movement practice, or small group interviews (if assigned)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Dinner/Rest Break (or Practice)
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Guided Metta practice; evening practice may be shorter on closing day
About the Teachers
Noliwe Alexander
Noliwe Alexander has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. Throughout this time of deep devotion to the Dharma, Noliwe has become a dedicated practitioner, meditation teacher of various retreats and sitting groups, day-longs and class series programs. She dedicates her BuddhaDharma practice and teachings to the BIPOC, LGBTQIA, At Risk and […]
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Lama Rod Owens, MA
Lama Rod Owens is an author, activist, and authorized Lama (Buddhist Teacher) in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Rod is the co-founder of Bhumisparsha, a Buddhist tantric practice and study community. He holds a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School where he focused on the intersection of social […]
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Arinna Weisman
Arinna Weisman has studied Vipassana Meditation since 1979 and has been teaching since 1988. Her root teacher, Ruth Denison, was empowered by the great Burmese master U Bha Khin. She is the founding teacher of Insight Meditation Center of the Pioneer Valley, and is currently the guiding teacher of Dhamma Dena Meditation Center in Joshua […]
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Katy Wiss
Katy Wiss began meditating in 1976. In 2002, she shifted to a focus on Vipassana meditation. She graduated in 2012 from Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leaders Program. She has also completed Spirit Rock's Dedicated Practitioners Program and other advanced study and practice courses at New York Insight Meditation Center with Gina Sharpe, and Chuang Yen […]
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Melvin L. Escobar, LCSW, RYT
Melvin Escobar is a Core Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, licensed psychotherapist and certified yoga instructor. Melvin has walked the path of service for much of his life, drawing on his experiences as a queer man of color from an immigrant working-class background. He continues daily to learn the revolutionary potential of body-centered […]
Learn more about Melvin L. Escobar, LCSW, RYT