“Some say that suffering is only an illusion or that to live wisely we have to ‘transcend’ both suffering and joy. I say the opposite. The way to suffer well and be happy is to stay in touch with what is actually going on; in doing so, you will gain liberating insights into the true nature of suffering and of joy.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Suffering, like happiness, is a part of life. The Buddha pointed out that blindly trying to avoid this fact, or to run away from it, is counterproductive. In this retreat we will explore for ourselves how to approach suffering as a natural part of the fullness of being alive. Buddhist awareness and compassion practices can help to accept, embrace, and transform suffering in our lives and in the world. Come and explore for yourself how these practices can not only help us to find some calm and renewal but also provide the foundation and tools to learn how to suffer well, and to experience joy and happiness well too. It all rests in how we are relating to this very moment, here and now, whatever it brings. New and experienced students alike are welcome to attend.
Matthew Daniell is the guiding teacher of NSIMC. He has been practicing Buddhist meditation since the 1980s, including over a decade in Asia, where he practiced Zen intensively in Japan, Tibetan Buddhism in India, and Insight meditation in Burma, India, and Thailand. Read more about Matthew on his teacher page.
The fee for this program is $48 ($45 cash or check). To register and pay online, click below; if paying by cash or check, send an email to northshoreimc@gmail.com.