A Yoga Retreat
Developing Maitri

Developing Maitri: Ashtanga Yoga and Sitting Meditation Retreat with Kim Roberts, September 6 - 12, 2008

Transformation occurs only when we accept and love ourselves exactly as we are, without waiting to be transformed into something better in the future. Maitri is a Sanskrit word meaning "loving kindness." In the Buddhist teachings on compassion, Maitri for both self and other is a prerequisite for success along the path to realization.

If we get caught in chasing the goal, we miss what is happening in the present. It is said that one should not try to meditate. Trying implies a fixation on future results and so a denial of the reality of the moment. More important than adding to our experience is to strip away anything extraneous to that experience: judgments, thoughts, and concepts. What we are seeking is nowhere else but right here, hidden by all of our conceptual ideas and preconceived judgments: the framework of ego.

It is only by training the mind to be present that we gain the ability to see who we really are. The asana and pranayama practices of Ashtanga yoga help to clear and calm the system, preparing the stage so to speak. The practice of Shamatha meditation from the Tibetan Karma Kagyu Buddhist lineage helps settle and focus the mind, allowing us to see more precisely what is. Developing Maitri allows us to accept those parts of ourselves that we might otherwise prefer to deny, paving the path towards transformation and ultimately liberation.

Prices are fully inclusive and start from Thai Baht 63,200 per person for single occupancy or 48,800 per person based on two people sharing a room for the retreat.

To register or for further information please contact us at info@kamalaya.com