Meditation & Mindfulness: An Introduction to Loving-Kindness Meditation

This session will be an introduction to a Buddhist meditation practice known as loving-kindness (or mettā). Loving-kindness is a meditation technique where you intentionally cultivate positive, happy, loving thoughts and feelings towards yourself and others. The technique involves using mental phrases like "May you be happy", images of a loved one (i.e. pet, your child, or grandchild), and the warm feelings in your heart. In this session, Benjamin will use the theme of Spring -- new life everywhere, flowers blossoming, seeds sprouting-- to introduce participants to loving-kindness.

About our Facilitator: Benjamin Haynes is a program coordinator for Dharma Gates, a non-profit creating pathways into deep meditation practice for young adults. Benjamin has spent over 150 days on silent meditation retreats and was an apprentice at a monastery for 3 months. He cares deeply about meditation practice as a way of life. He was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and now resides in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. Benjamin is also an event coordinator in the ‘Love Department’ of The Service Guild and volunteers his time for a non-profit called Psych Crisis.