Heather Martin has been meditating since 1972, and practicing Vipassana since 1981. Beginning with S.N. Goenka, she has since been influenced by both Burmese and Thai streams of the Theravada tradition, and by Tibetan Dzogchen with Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Most recently she has been studying with Burmese Sayadaw U Tejaniya.
Her practical and wholehearted approach embodies ease and joy, while grounded in realism.
She has been leading retreats in Canada and the US since 2001. She worked for 20 years as a midwife, and lives on Salt Spring Island, off the south coast of B.C. For more information and Heather's teaching schedule, please visit: ssivipassana.org.
Using the Seven Factors of Awakening as a template, mirroring our progressive theme this month, exploring the dance between the active and the passive practices. Focusing on the shift from energy to rapture to serenity , and sweetness, and especially seeing how that shift is so effectively ushered in by more reflections and practices which uplift the heart.
How the first two Noble Truths describe Samsara and the circular chain of Dependent origination, and how the third and fourth Truths have been expanded to form Transcendental dependent arising, which beautiful topics will be further explored during this month - long retreat.
Why our dear doomed attempts to be well need revising, and how nourishing our spirits while Staying, Loving, Opening and Wondering are the strategies that actually bring wellbeing by clearing the dust away.
Part 1: How differences in this practice work for different people.
Part 2: Compassion is doing nothing more than tenderly holding whatever pain arises.
We begin to see(see through) the many ways we make ourselves up and keep ourselves going, finding less and less we call ME, and in the process finding our original brightness.
Interweaving all four threads of the Divine Abodes - to transform us from small, tight self-concern to the soft vast tenderness of interconnection, which is true freedom.
