HKIMS invites you for a two-day online retreat to practice together as a community, even as we continue to go through challenging times in 2021. 

The pandemic has put us all on equal grounds and as a result, we became more of a global community. Billions of people face the same challenges, regardless of language or ethnicity, all seeking for the same basic human rights. Rights for clean water, shelter, access to healthcare, equality in society and policies, our birth right to live safely in communities on our beloved planet earth.

Our Dhamma practice has been our refuge. Many of us are unable to receive face-to-face teachings and practice has been restricted by the pandemic. Despite the physical distance we face, luckily, we are still able to connect in deep and meaningful ways through the virtual world.

Retreat Description

Join Elizabeth Faria and Jessica Mui for a two-day Insight Dialogue online retreat. Elizabeth, with the assistance of Jessica will lead silent and relational meditation from 27th and 28th of March 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) focusing on the Four Brahma Vihara and the guidelines of Insight Dialogue. This retreat is open to those who have previous Insight Dialogue experience. 

There will be three group practice sessions per day for everyone committed to join:

1.  Morning Instructions and Sitting: in this session, we will explore the fundamentals of insight practice, based on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness and the practice of the four Brahma Viharas.

2.  Afternoon Insight Dialogue practice: Here, we will work through the Six Guidelines of Insight Dialogue, practising together in dyads (pairs) to explore the guidelines themselves while contemplating key aspects of the Buddha’s teachings

3.  Dharma talk, Sitting and Q&A: The late afternoon talk will give an overview of silent and relational meditation and how they work together to support a fully integrated path of practice.

Individual silent practice will be carried out according to the recommended schedule.

Language：English with Chinese (Mandarin) translation

About the retreat leaders:

Elizabeth (http://bethfaria.com/ ) is a meditation teacher, non-profit leader, she blends the original teaching of the Buddha with a modern nondual approach. Her practice began in 1996 and has included two years of silent practice in the Goenkaji Tradition. Since then, she has been practicing meditation mainly in Theravada lineage with teachers from Thailand, Burma and USA. She has studied with Gregory Kramer and the Insight Dialogue Teaching Community since 2008.

She has led meditation retreats, workshops, and online classes internationally for the Buddhist community in Brazil (her country of origin), Portugal, and Australia since 2013.

Elizabeth is Psychologist and has worked as a psychotherapist for the last 30 years. She has long been interested in the integration of the Buddhadharma with neuroscience. Her experience as a mother, and as a psychotherapist working with the human condition, gives her the opportunity to integrate compassion, loving-kindness and the path of mindful presence into her daily life.

more information: https://insightdialogue.org/teachers/9006/elizabeth-faria/

Jessica Mui

Jessica Mui worked in the Canadian Telecoms industry for many years, having had an undergraduate background in Computer Science. In 2002, she quit her job to pursue spiritual development. Since then, Jessica visits Myanmar often to intensively practice Insight (Vipassana) meditation and Lovingkindness (Metta) meditation. She also goes to Myanmar to study the teachings of the Buddha, with different meditation masters for several months each year. Jessica graduated with an MA degree in Buddhist Studies from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Currently, Jessica teaches and organises meditation activities within Hong Kong and Greater China, and provides translation for the Burmese meditation masters.

Since 2018, Jessica has integrated the practice of Insight Dialogue into retreats and actively participated in the practice and sharing the ID practice within the Greater China region.

Retreat Schedule (in Hong Kong time)

Check your time zone here: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Saturday 27 March

7:30    Instructions and ID practice

8:30    Walking meditation

9:00    Silent Group sitting

09:45    Walking

10:30    Sitting

11:45 – 14:00    Lunch break

14:00    Instruction and ID practice

15:30    Walking

16:15    Sitting，Dhamma Talk, Q&A

17:00-19:00  Supper

19:00    ID practice led by Jessica

20:30    share merits. Good night

Sunday 28 March

6:30    Group sitting

7:00    Instructions and ID practice

8:30    Walking

9:00    Silent Group sitting

9:45    Walking

10:30    Sitting

11:45 – 14:00    Lunch

14:00    Instruction and ID practice

15:30    Walking

16:15    Sitting

17:00    Closing session

18:00    Retreat end