The need for balance is woven throughout the Buddha’s teachings, which right from the start have been framed as the Middle Way between extremes. In the bigger picture of our practice, it can be helpful from time to time to check the balance between wisdom and compassion, because both of these wings need to be equally well-developed if we’re going to “fly.” This talk will explore ways of bringing wisdom and compassion together into a holistic practice that supports the deepest freedom of heart and mind.
Jill Shepherd began practising insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centres and monasteries in the United States, Australia, England, and Thailand.
She is a graduate of the IMS / Spirit Rock teacher training program in the US under the guidance of Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal, and is also an Insight Dialogue teacher-in-training under the guidance of Gregory Kramer and Mary Burns.
Currently, she divides her time between the US, Australia and New Zealand, teaching vipassana and brahma vihara retreats and offering ongoing study and practice groups focused on bringing the dharma into daily life.