Friday 23 June – Tuesday 27 June 2017
We are always in relationship, we are constantly communicating both verbally and non-verbally with friends, partners, whanau, colleagues, shop assistants, pets and other creatures, earth, food, breath, sleep, our minds… everything. Our question is: How can we be with all this and keep a sense of well-being?
This course is for anyone interested in developing wise and compassionate communication. We will explore compassionate relating, and wholesome connecting–with ourselves, and with others. In relationship, is it possible to continuously meet life with kindness? This is a question we will delve into and explore deeply.
As a group we will share and explore interpersonal skills to help us expand our friendly connections. Alongside this, we will bring our intrapersonal environment into focus, to deepen our presence and relationship with ourselves.
There will be periods of silence and individual reflective time to allow you to connect more fully with your own inner wisdom. There will be creative opportunities to engage with the themes of the course.
Together we will study and practice the beautiful Sadhana of “Chenreizig”, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. This is a rich meditation that supports our experience of inter-connectedness with all of life.
Our shared search is set in the awesome beauty of the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre (https://wangapeka.org). The facilitators, Mark Schrader and Kath Mitchell, are experienced teachers who bring enthusiasm, humour, creativity and care to the group.
For more information or to register please contact Kath Mitchell mitchell.kath@gmail.com
There is the option of attending the first weekend only—please inquire.
Course fee – (this includes food, accommodation and a resource fee)
$310 Plus Dana. Non-members
$278 Plus Dana. Members
The Teachings are offered freely. You are invited to offer the facilitators Kōha/Dana.
About Mark Schrader and Kath Mitchell
Mark has appreciated co-facilitating past Wangapeka Community Courses and more recently the Young Adults’ Retreat at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre. He has an extensive background in meditation spanning over forty years and continues a daily practice and discipline. Mark has a respectful style of teaching that encourages each person to touch into their own inherent wisdom and often with a sense of humour and kindness. Kath and Mark are married and have been sharing their spiritual journeying for over 20 years. Mark began working in the field of Mental Health about 16 years ago and currently works as a counsellor in Nelson at the local District Health Board.
Kath has been studying Dharma for 27 years, and completed her first meditation retreat with Tarchin Hearn in 1990. She has studied with Bonni Ross over 21 years and continues to cherish this precious opportunity. She and her husband Mark share a deep commitment in the Dharma and have been practicing together for 23 years.
Kath taught drama for 16 years and worked as an actor for 10 years. Drama and Dharma go together in a special way; she loves them both and has frequently combined them, by offering teaching at the annual Garden of Mindfulness Community retreat and Young Adults retreat.
Kath has a special interest in communication and collaboration. She loves to practice Dharma in community because the wisdom of the group is a powerful and beautiful path to transformation; and that’s a joy to witness and experience together!