Befriending Yourself As You Are

Join us for a one-day retreat sponsored by the Chicago Weekly Sitting Meditation Group Saturday, January 19, 2013, 10AM-5PM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W. Addison Street, Chicago, IL with David Haskin

We often become our own worst critic when what we find inside ourselves doesn’t match what we expect or hope for. Mindfulness, however, helps us to gently and lovingly accept ourselves just as we are so that we can become our own best friend.

Paradoxically, Mindfulness also provides the tools to both deeply understand ourselves and to begin to change in deep ways. We can befriend ourselves even as we develop the honest intention to change. Or, as the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki once said: “You are perfect just as you are and you could use a little improvement.”

Start the new year by joining us for a day-long retreat in which we will explore how the meditative practice of Mindfulness can help us lovingly and skillfully befriend ourselves. To do this, we will practice sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, and practical exercises aimed at creating increased awareness, self-acceptance and wisdom about our inner selves.

This retreat is appropriate for both newcomers to Mindfulness and meditation and for experienced practitioners.

Cost: $25 per person. Fees cover the cost to use the facility but do NOT include compensation for the teacher. Following an ancient tradition, David offers these teachings freely and will gratefully accept dana, or a free-will offering, at the end of the retreat if you are able and if you find the teachings helpful. Anyone facing financial challenges who would like to come should plan to attend. Please contact the organizer for more information regarding scholarships.

Date, Time and Location: Saturday, January 19, 2013, 10AM-5PM. We will meet in the Passavant Room on the second floor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W. Addison Street, Chicago (Addison and Magnolia). Use the entrance on Magnolia Street. Please plan to arrive at 9:45AM so we can start the day at 10AM.

Parking: You will not need a parking permit unless your car will still be parked after 6PM. (Restricted parking goes from 6PM to 6AM.) Guest parking passes for the 383 parking district are available for purchase for .50 cents.

Comfort and lunch: Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. If you use a meditation cushion or bench, please bring it. Chairs will also be available for meditation. Please note that much of this retreat will be conducted in Noble Silence. Bring a brown bag lunch and a beverage for the meal at noon.

About David Haskin:
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/9/3/e/event_67547422.jpegDavid Haskin has practiced meditation since 1971 and is an ordained member of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s core practice community, the Order of Interbeing. He teaches Mindfulness widely, including to men’s groups, those in recovery, veterans and inmates in Wisconsin’s prisons.

To review a flyer with this information, go to http://files.meetup.com/428729/Jan19_retreat3.pdf (http://files.meetup.com/428729/Jan7_retreat.pdf)

Note that you can RSVP through this website if you are a member of this meetup group or you can use the flyer to register by mail. (Please feel free to join the meetup group. There are no pre-qualifications and all are welcomed!)