Sunday, February 25, 2024

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET

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The Pali word metta is translated as Loving-Kindness or boundless friendliness. It is a sincere and heartfelt wish for the peace and happiness of ourselves and others. Metta is not a feeling; rather it is an intention that can be practiced and sustained. Each of us has the inherent capacity to strengthen this quality in our own hearts and minds. Through practice it becomes our dwelling place where we feel “at home”, not merely a place we visit on occasion. In cultivating metta, we directly experience a fundamental kindness as the very ground of our being.  

The Buddha taught metta as a specific antidote to fear and anger. It is an invaluable practice in the midst of the unexpected changes and challenges in life. In times of uncertainty and pain, metta practice helps us to work with habitual patterns such as anxiety and doubt. The fruit of the systematic practice of metta is twofold: steadiness and tranquility which strengthen the mind, and sensitivity and openness which soften the heart.

 This is an opportunity for those new and experienced to learn and to deepen in their understanding of metta in the context of community. Our time together will include guided mediation periods, talks and time for discussion and questions. There will also be optional breakout rooms to foster peer support. Undertaking an online retreat in our home environment encourages us to integrate these teachings into our lives more directly, even as we cultivate a sense of connection with others through our shared experiences.

Meet Your Teacher

Narayan Helen Liebenson

Narayan Helen Liebenson finds it a joy and a privilege to share the Buddha’s teachings with all who are interested. She serves as an IMS guiding teacher, and has been a guiding teacher of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center since its inception in 1985. Her training over the past forty years includes study in the United States and in Asia with meditation masters in the Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan traditions. She was a student of the late Chan master Sheng Yen for over ten years. Asked by Master Sheng Yen to teach, Narayan decided to integrate her understanding of Zen into her already existing Vipassana lineage. Narayan is the author and illustrator of a small book titled Life as Meditation, and for many years wrote a meditator’s advice column in Buddhadharma magazine. Her latest book, The Magnanimous Heart, was published by Wisdom Publications in January, 2019.

More Information

  • Equity Pricing Model

    As one part of our ongoing effort to expand access to the teachings of the Buddha, all IMS Online programs feature equity-based registration fees, including the opportunity to self-select a low-cost scholarship rate. No-fee enrollment is available for those who request a fee-waiver at [email protected], no questions asked. Our system supports the cultivation of a dynamic and inclusive community and is made possible by our generous donors and those who choose to support other students by contributing at the “Benefactor” level.

  • Registration Deadline

    Registration for this program closes on February 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET.

  • Program Recordings

    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.

  • Additional Questions

    If you have additional questions please contact us at [email protected].