Getting to Know Your Inner Critic: Recognizing and Taming the Parts that Slow Down Your Spiritual Progress
June 17-19, 2022
Sitting in silent meditation on the cushion can elicit great peace and bliss which keeps us coming back for more. However it’s just as likely to produce annoying voices that criticize and hinder our meditation practice. These voices may show up in the form of thoughts, feelings, or body sensations, and they can be relentless. Sometimes, in our practice we apply meditation techniques such as practicing the Paramis (generosity, coolness, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom) and they quiet down.
There are also Western techniques related to ‘Internal Family Systems Therapy’ (IFS) , a modality based on Mahayana principles which help us recognize and tame these voices. By breaking down the ego into Good Managers (helpers), Fire Fighters (protectors), and Exiles (feelings) we name the voice, get to know it, and allow for integration and liberation.
The weekend will consist of classes that include short meditation practices combined with IFS techniques for identifying those voices. They will teach us how to connect with the calm abiding of the Self, the Buddha Nature and we will learn to be with those wily thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
Class Schedule:
Friday - 7:30pm, Saturday - 7am, 10am, 4pm, 7:30pm, Sunday - 7am, 10am; Leave at 2pm on Sunday
Teacher: Lama Linda (aka Linda Hochstetler) has studied both Mindfulness Meditation and Vajrayana Buddhism for more than 20 years. She first trained in Mindfulness Meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90’s, and studied under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003. She received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage in 2014, and currently studies Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel and Catherine Sensei. Silent meditation retreats are a central part of her study and practice. Since 1995, she has completed retreats of between 1 week and 2 months in length every year. She is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying, and death, and has a thriving private practice in Toronto. More recently, she authored a book - ‘21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life.’ She has written numerous articles and been hosted on radio and blogs about dying and death. www.lindahochstetler.com.
Important Details
When: June 17-19
Rates: Fees: $250 members /$280 non-members (with $30 going to AIT)
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Lama Linda is sharing her experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:
What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 7 days before the commencement of the course. For cancellations less than 7 days prior to course begin, a $100 administrative fee will be charged.