Healing the Heart Workshop II: Acceptance & Courage

The second in a series of 'Healing the Heart' workshops, this weekend retreat with Venerable Khadro will focus on working with acceptance and courage to heal loneliness and depression, and to develop self-confidence and self-love.

Just as we can heal the body through treatment, so we can open and heal our hearts and feelings through a process of deep self-awareness and kind attention. Most often, opening the heart begins by opening to a lifetime’s accumulation of unacknowledged sorrow. At times we may experience this sorrow physically, as contractions and barriers around our hearts.

When we decide to sit and develop meditative attention, the heart presents itself naturally for healing. As we heal through meditation, powerful emotions and deep unspoken parts of ourselves arise; our task is to acknowledge, recognize them and allow them to sing their songs. As we listen to the songs of our fears, unworthiness or hurt, we discover that they do not stay forever, that healing is possible and our hearts gradually soften and find release.

In truly listening to our painful songs, we can learn the art of forgiveness, calmness and acceptance. Indeed, in accepting the songs of our life, we can begin to create for ourselves a much deeper and greater identity in which our hearts hold all within a space of boundless compassion. Allowing ourselves to grow into our fullest, most compassionate identity, the greatness of our hearts, a greater sense of peace and joy will arise. Using our own wisdom, we can find the inner medicine to heal our shadows. Our hearts can grow strong at the broken places.

Most often this healing work is difficult to do on our own, we need some sort of support or an ally. These workshops have the aim to provide that support through Buddhist meditation, psychology and group discussions, in a safe and conducive environment.