“Letting Go” The Practice of Compassionate Effort
with John Orr
July 12 - 15, 2018
A wise teacher once suggested that we can not let go of that which we haven’t accepted. We use compassionate awareness to be present with whatever arises in our everyday experience, no matter how challenging that may be. By resting in the open heart and being mindful of when we may be contracting around difficult states of body and mind, we learn to invite release and letting go. We do not try to let go, as much as invite release, born of love. Instruction in Vipassana (Insight) Meditation and Pure Awareness Practice, as well as, Heart Centered Meditations will be offered. Dharma talks, chanting from various spiritual traditions and optional yoga will be part of the weekend, which is conducted in noble silence.
In the words of the Thai Meditation Master Ajahn Chah
“Do everything with a mind that lets go.
Do not expect any praise or reward.
If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.
If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.
If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom.
Your struggles with the world
will have come to an end.”
Leader
John Orr received Theravada Buddhist ordination while living in Thailand and India as a monk for eight years in the 1970’s. He has been teaching meditation and leading retreats internationally since 1980 and has also practiced in the Taoist, Dzogbchen and Hindu Yoga traditions. He teaches through the New Hope Sangha in Durham, North Carolina and Deep Spring Center Ann Arbor, Michigan. He recently retired from teaching for three decades at Duke University.
Learn more about John Orr