Description
A Workshop to Benefit CIMC
“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William James
All humans can experience shame – including the most practiced meditators and meditation teachers. It can happen when we’re entirely innocent of wrongdoing, as well as when we make a mistake. Whenever we feel bad about ourselves, for whatever reason, there’s usually a touch of shame in it. It strikes at the core of our being and yet has nothing to do with who we really are.
The power of shame is largely an illusion. As meditation teacher Tara Brach says, shame is a “trance of unworthiness” that gets its power from our instinctive avoidance of it. However, when we look at shame through the eyes of self-compassion, we discover something quite surprising – that shame is an innocent emotion arising from the universal wish to be loved. This insight opens the door to compassion and healing. Research shows that self-compassion is the opposite of shame. As self-compassion goes up, shame goes down.
In this benefit workshop, Chris Germer and Richa Gawande present the essence of a recently developed training program, Self-Compassion for Shame, specifically tailored to loosen the grip of shame in our lives. The workshop includes short talks, exercises, practices, and discussion, and participants will learn 5-6 simple tools to bring home to use in their daily life.
All are invited to attend this benefit with the awareness that shame can be a difficult human emotion – and self-compassion itself can be emotionally activating. The workshop may be emotionally challenging, so some familiarity with practicing self-compassion before joining this workshop will be helpful. In addition, there will be several mentors in attendance from among local Mindful Self Compassion teachers who can attend to the needs of the participants.
Attending an in-person workshop
- CIMC is a refuge. Out of compassion for those with chemical sensitivities, please avoid using scented products like lotions, deodorant, after-shave, hair products, perfume, clothes laundered with scented detergent or dryer sheets—before you come to the Center.
- Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in and to find a comfortable place in the meditation hall.
- Parking at CIMC is limited; we suggest taking public transportation to the Center whenever possible.
- All phones, pagers, beeping watches, and other electronic devices must remain completely turned off while you are at the Center.
- Please leave your shoes on the shoe shelves on the first floor and keep your valuables with you.
- Lunch will not be provided. Participants are invited to bring a vegetarian meal to the Center or may buy lunch in the neighborhood. A list of local restaurants and food stores will be available.
- No food or beverages, including water, are allowed in the meditation halls.
- We strongly recommend that you dress in layers since the temperature in the meditation hall varies throughout the day. The hall thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature range; however, we recommend you give yourself a range of clothing options, as individual preferences for warmth or coolness differ widely and cannot be accommodated.
- Masks are optional. Some masks are available at the entrance of the Center.
- CIMC provides zafus (round cushions), zabutons (large mats), meditation benches, blankets, and chairs. At the end of the program, we request that you brush off your zabutons and plump up your zafus. All other items should be returned neatly to where they belong.
Attending an online workshop
- We will use Zoom for this workshop. Before your retreat begins, be sure to download Zoom and familiarize yourself with using the program, including the chat feature. Specifics about how we will use Zoom during your workshop will be covered initially; however, we cannot provide technical support.
- We ask that you treat our virtual meditation hall as if we were together in person, in the same room. The teachers and other yogis benefit significantly from your full presence and careful attention.
- Join each session of the workshop a few minutes early. This supports the teachers and your fellow participants.
- Ideally, power off phones and smartwatches for the entire time scheduled for the retreat each day. Please don’t check your devices during breaks. We suggest you put an “away” message on your email and voicemail and leave your devices in another room during workshop hours.
- Please keep your video on during our time together as much as possible. This supports a sense of connectedness and sangha.
- You will receive a welcome email from CIMC that includes the Zoom link, retreat schedule, and further information a day or two before your workshop.