ANSWERING THE CALL TO LOVE

ANSWERING THE CALL TO LOVE

We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.
--Thich Nhat Hanh

All want to love and be loved, to experience a quality of love that is deeper and more joyful. This retreat promotes the growth of understanding and intimacy within ourselves and in our relationships. It draws from three of Thich Nhat Hanh's books (Cultivating the Mind of Love; Teachings on Love, and True Love) to offer love meditations, methods for finding wholeness in relation to our families and spiritual traditions, and techniques for conflict resolution. We will nourish our ability to love and practice loving ourselves, those we are close to, those who are neutral to us, and those with whom we need reconciliation.

Judith and Philip will share deeply personal stories from their own lives, including forgiveness techniques from Judith's book, Murder as a Call to Love. Time-tested methods from the Brahma Viharas for watering the seeds of love will be offered as skillful means to bring us gently into the moment and encourage clarity, joy, and simple, wholesome living.

We'll form a community knit by profound silence, shared chanting, singing, seated meditation, indoor and outdoor walking meditation, journaling, art work, and work practice. In the sunlight of full attention, we bloom as flowers. We enjoy delicious vegan meals, views from the mountain top, and total relaxation. While the entire schedule is conducted in Noble Silence, there will be ample opportunities for group discussion and individual dharma interviews. All are welcome to attend. Experienced practitioners find refreshment and renewal at this retreat while modeling the strength of their practice for newcomers.

Philip and Judith Toy devote their lives to the Dharma. This is their ninth year teaching at SDRC. They have also led retreats in Ireland and at Findhorn in Scotland, and have founded three sanghas in the U.S. in the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition. Both have also studied with Soto and Rinzai Zen teachers and were ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh as core members of his order. Since 1993, they have hosted mindfulness practice centers first at Old Path Zendo in PA, and for the last 12 years at Cloud Cottage Sangha in Black Mountain, NC where they have recently founded Cloud Cottage Editions to edit and publish Dharma books.