Gregory Kramer will host free talks and “insight dialogue” on three upcoming Tuesday evenings: Aug. 16, 23 and 30, at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall.
“Relating well with other people is perhaps the greatest human challenge,” says Kramer. “We are infinitely complex – and so are others. Put us together, and who knows what’s going to happen! The very power of relationship to send us into reaction can also be harnessed to wake us up to this moment of experience. We can be each other’s invitation to suffering or to compassion and insight.”
Kramer, an Orcas resident, has taught Vipassana and Metta practice since 1980. “Insight dialogue” is a structured meditation practice based on early Buddhist techniques, and is a central tenet of Metta practice.
The series is entitled, “A New Vision of Relationships of Awakening,” and covers the following topics:
Aug. 16: “Relationships Turned Towards Awakening—A new vision of relationship and an introduction to the meditation practice of Insight Dialogue.”
Aug. 23: “Right Speech—Skillful speech grows naturally out of the intentional practice of relational awareness. Rather than overlay a communications practice, a basic meditation practice that is inherently interpersonal yields wholesome results.”
Aug. 30: “Right Relations—As we meditate together with others, our interpersonal lives mature. Without trying to fix things, the intention to be more aware and receptive leads naturally to harmony. Our heart-mind yields changes at all levels of our lives.”
Kramer, who is the director of the Metta Foundation, has authored several books, including “Insight Dialogue: the Interpersonal Path to Freedom”; “Seeding the Heart: Practicing Lovingkindness with Children”; “Meditating Together, Speaking from Silence: the Practice of Insight Dialogue”; and “Dharma Contemplation: Meditating Together with Wisdom Texts.” His experience includes study with teachers Anagarika Dhammadina, Ven. Ananda Maitreya, Achan Sobin Namto, and Ven. Punnaji Maha Thero.
Sponsored by Everyone’s Village and the Metta Foundation, the events run from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive no later than 6:45 p.m. Kramer’s website is www.metta.org.
