Insight Dialogue: Re-Approaching the Four Noble Truths

Instructor(s): Gregory Kramer and Nicola Redfern

Program Description:

Do we recognize suffering at all its layers: personal, interpersonal, social, and in the Dhamma-essence of becoming? Are the forces of hunger, the mechanisms of clinging, and the blinding of ignorance intimately felt and carefully considered? What do cessation, dispassion, and peace mean to us and are they real possibilities? And this fourth truth, the Noble Eightfold Path: Has it been trivialized into a formula? If so, how does it come alive? Insight Dialogue seeks to effect the bringing of Dhamma to life in the body, the heart, as intuitive wisdom. The power of the practice emerges as we steep in the Dhamma together, cultivating mindfulness and concentration, which allows us to harness the power of spiritual friendship and shared wisdom. This program will interweave meditating in dialogue with silent meditation to support ease and insight. It is open to anyone, including beginners to Insight Dialogue, with at least two weeks of silent retreat experience.

Prerequisites:

Two weeks of silent meditation retreat experience.

About the Instructor(s):
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  Gregory Kramer

  Gregory Kramer is the founding teacher of the Insight Dialogue Community and has been teaching vipassanā since 1980, having been trained by Ven. Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera, Punnaji Maha Thera, Achan Sobin Namto, and Anagarika Dhammadina. He is the co-creator and developer of Insight Dialogue and teaches this practice and Dharma Contemplation worldwide. He is the founder-director of Metta Foundation and the author of Insight Dialogue: The Interpersonal Path to Freedom and A Whole Life Path: A Layperson’s Guide to a Dhamma-Infused Life. Formerly a National Endowment for the Arts Composition Fellow and founder of the Electronic Art Ensemble, Gregory still composes and improvises.

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  Nicola Redfern

  Nicola Redfern is an Insight Dialogue Retreat Teacher with an extensive background in both Zen and Vipassana meditation.  With a strong belief that awakening is not simply a solo endeavor, Nic is particularly interested in getting meditation off the cushion and fully integrated into life, work, and relationships. She has taught multiple courses on climate emergency, unlearning racism, and Nonviolent Communication, as well as programs for LGBTQIA+. Nicola is originally from the UK and now lives near Santa Fe, NM.