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Natural Awakenings Westchester / Putnam / Dutchess New York

Westchester Buddhist Center Celebrates Eight Years with Buddhist Teacher Sharon Salzburg: On December 18 in Irvington, NY

John Baker, senior teacher at Westchester Buddhist Center

On December 18, 2016 Westchester Buddhist Center (WBC) will celebrate its eighth anniversary with a special guest speaker, the well-known author and Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzburg.

Salzburg, who wrote the best-sellers Real Happiness and Lovingkindness, has played an important role in bringing Buddhist meditation practices to the West, beginning in the early 1970s when she cofounded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. She will give two talks, The Foundation for Real Happiness, from 10 a.m. to noon, and Lovingkindness Meditation, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., at WPC’s location at 2 Bridge Street, Irvington, NY.

“Having Sharon here is a wonderful way to celebrate the occasion of our anniversary,” says senior teacher John Baker, who cofounded WBC along with senior teachers Jane and Derek Kolleeny.

Due to the surging interest in the benefits of meditation, WBC has expanded its activities threefold during the past year, says Jane Kolleeny. It now holds regular weekly meditation practice gatherings, which include dharma talks and receptions at three locations (Sundays and Tuesdays in Irvington and Wednesdays in Mount Kisco) and offers classes in three levels of study (its signature introductory course How to Meditate, using the book of that name by Pema Chödron, as well as various intermediate and advanced courses).

WPC will hold its fifth annual weeklong meditation retreat at Garrison Institute February 10-17. Recent highlights include talks by visiting Tibetan and Zen teachers on topics ranging from Working with Fear, Death and Dying, to Bringing Meditation into Everyday Life.

For more info, visit WestchesterBuddhistCenter.org.