Twenty-four people attended the all-day meditation retreat with Kristina Baré, a relatively new Buddhist insight meditation teacher from Victoria, BC. It was a peaceful and joyful experience, joining together to sit and walk and learn about the nature of constant change. I appreciated that Kristina also offered some clear basic instructions for both sitting and walking practice, as there were several beginners present. I found her answers to questions were thoughtful and clear to understand.
It was great to find out that Kristina has a long-standing connection to Gabriola and the Net Loft as she has done several of her own long personal retreats here, and loves the land, which feels like ‘home’ to her. Perhaps we will be fortunate enough to coordinate another retreat with her! Having Spirit Quest organize the marketing, registration and administration, and with the volunteers providing tea and snacks, attending to the teacher, and doing set up and clean up, all went so smoothly and a feeling of loving kindness energy pervaded the entire day.
The Net Loft has a setting that is perfect for meditation retreats. Situated beside the ocean, with extensive gardens all around and birds singing, it was a day of restorative reflection and connection to Nature. Kristina taught us that the Buddha emphasized the importance of gladdening the mind at the beginning of each meditation, by looking at and taking in something of beauty or something pleasant to you. With beauty all around us, our minds were easy to gladden at the Net Loft.
~ review written by Kim Feltham