KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Regional author Kevin Griffin will facilitate a daylong retreat titled “Living Kindness: Buddhist Teachings for a Troubled World” on Saturday, Dec. 3.

The retreat will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at A Positive Light Meditation and Spiritual Center at 6470 Kelsey Creek Drive in Kelseyville.

Loving kindness, or metta, is sometimes depicted as a simple “open your heart and love everybody” practice, but a closer look at the Buddha’s teachings reveals a more complex and nuanced picture.

In a time of great conflict and contention in our society, it can be extremely valuable to see how the Buddha addressed these relevant topics, such as, the challenges of living with other people; the risk of hating anyone, even your enemies; and the dangers inherent in conventional loving relationships.

Griffin uses his teachings on loving kindness to emphasize the importance of sila, or ethical behavior; the potential for opening into deeper meditative states of peace and equanimity; and the importance of developing a non-discriminating, unconditional love on the path of awakening. The retreat will include meditation, lecture, small group discussion, and questions and answers.

Griffin is a dharma teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, Calif., and has authored several books on recovery and Buddhism, including “One Breath At A Time,” “A Burning Desire,” “Buddhism and the Twelve Steps” and his most recent book, “Recovering Joy.”

He is a leader in the mindfulness recovery movement and a founder of the Buddhist Recovery Network. A longtime Buddhist practitioner and 12-step participant, he teaches nationally on the synthesis of these two traditions.
 
Griffin is hosted by local meditation teacher, Reiki Master, and proprietor of A Positive Light in Kelseyville, Joanie Lane, and local author, mindfulness teacher and life coach, JoAnn Saccato, MA.
 
"Kevin is one of my favorite recovery authors. I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to host him again this year," said Lane. "He is an internationally recognized author bringing his generous heart and message to us. It is a real gift."
 
"I appreciate his unique way of clearly bringing together mindfulness and recovery from a heart-centered space," said Saccato. "I'm looking forward to learning more about working with a loving kindness approach to difficult times and relationships."
 
Space is limited for the event. For more information registration, visit http://www.apositivelight.com or call Joanie Lane at 707-279-6031.