Cultivating Compassion
A Retreat to Develop, Enhance, and Strengthen Compassionate Engagement
with Greg Samuelson
(outside group)
Compassion is an essential skill to develop in order to be helpful to our own emotional distress, the emotional distress of others, and to create positive world change.
This retreat is open to all. No previous experience with meditation or compassion focused practices necessary.
In this retreat we will engage in practices focused on developing and enhancing our abilities to respond with warmth, kindness and skill whether it be in response to our own difficulties or the difficulties of others. .
Participants in this retreat will have the opportunity to explore the meaning of compassionate responding and participate in meditations that help us engage in this way more consistently.
We will practice meditations that; develop our mindful awareness, increase feelings of safeness and connection, help us to develop an inner secure base and safe haven, cultivate the qualities of our compassionate self, allow us to experience the four Bramaviharas (metta, karuna, mudita, and upekkha), help us to experience the three flows of compassion, and allow us to explore our
emotional reactions to difficult situations while responding to them with self-compassion.
Greg Samuelson practices and teaches in the Korean Ganhwasoen (Koan Zen) tradition. He received Dharma Transmission from his teacher in 2013. Greg has attended retreats with teachers from various Buddhist Mahayana and Theravada traditions. Greg is a trainer for the Compassionate Mind Foundation. He facilitates workshops that help therapists and other professionals understand how to help others in developing compassionate responding. Greg is a Registered Nurse and a Registered Psychotherapist with over 30 years experience in the mental health field working in a variety of settings. His current professional practice focuses on the use of Compassion Focused Therapy in individual psychotherapy. Greg was a founding member of the Canadian Network - Compassion Focused Therapy - Réseau Canadien.
Important Details
When: June 30-July 2, 2023. Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish after lunch on the final day.
Rates: $250 - non-members $220 - members
(To find out how to become a member please visit our membership page)
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Teachers are sharing their 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.