Benedictine Retreat – Hospitality and Compassion: An Exploration of Tibetan Compassion Practices and Benedictine Hospitality

Open to the public

Join well-known teacher of Tibetan meditation practices and professor of Buddhist Studies at Boston College, John Makransky, Dr. Paul Knitter and Sister Lynne Smith and for this short retreat. We will explore how the Tibetan Buddhist understandings and practices of wisdom and compassion can help provide a contemplative foundation for the Benedictine ideal of active hospitality toward all. The retreat will consist of teachings by John, commentary by Paul and Sister Lynne, and practices of guided meditations in active compassion.

Leaders:
John Makransky combines an academic career as associate professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College with his role as a meditation teacher within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Since 1978 he has practiced meditations of compassion and wisdom from Tibetan traditions and in recent years has introduced new ways of bringing these powerful contemplative methods into the worlds of social service and social justice by making them newly accessible to people of all backgrounds and faiths. John is the co-founder of the Foundation for Active Compassion and of Courage of Care Coalition, two socially-engaged contemplative organizations.

Paul F. Knitter, an internationally known theologian, is Paul Tillich Professor Emeritus of Theology, World Religions and Culture emeritus at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and a former Catholic priest. A leading advocate of globally responsible interreligious dialogue, he is the author of over 10 books on the subject, including Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian.

Sister Lynne Smith, OSB has been a sister at Holy Wisdom Monastery since 2000. Prior to entering the monastery she served as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) with churches in Kansas and Iowa. Sister Lynne is a trained spiritual guide, loves working in the garden and the prairie and serves as co-director of formation at the monastery.

Dates/times:
1:00 pm, Friday, September 21-12:30 pm, Sunday, September 23, 2018

Cost:
$150, includes program & meals, lodging is not included
Lodging at the monastery is full for this retreat.
Area lodging at a discounted price for individuals can be booked at http://www.ncghotels.com/sales/church. The closest hotel to Holy Wisdom Monastery is the Fairfield Inn, Middleton.

Registration:
Register by September 7, 2018. Registration closed.
There is a 50% refund until the registration deadline, no refund after the deadline.