Love is the Answer Retreat with Burt Harding, March 22 – 24, 2019

Love is the Answer
A weekend retreat with Burt Harding
March 22 – 24, 2019 at KECC

Burt Harding joined us from Vancouver for the sixth consecutive year to present a weekend retreat, this time called “Love is the Answer,” on the subject of self-realization and learning to live as our true nature. He began on the Friday evening with an introduction to the topic and its central importance for happiness and well-being. He suggested that realizing that we are love is the solution and effective response to every human psychological and spiritual problem. Burt quoted J. Krishnamurti’s statement that “love is the ending of time” and explored the meaning of it with the group of sixteen participants. He led us in an ice-breaking exercise involving looking into the eyes of others in order to sense the connection or oneness between us all. He also guided the group into a meditation observing thoughts and coming into the peace of the “I Am.” A brochure written by Burt and entitled “The Greatest Secret” was distributed and formed the basis for much of the discussion and inquiry over the weekend. Again, the main focus was on love as the essence of what we are.
There were seventeen participants for the Saturday session. After guiding us in some breathing and bodily movement with affirmations, Burt led the group in a number of different meditative and connecting exercises, inviting us into a state of relaxation and total awareness, using awareness for healing and for travel out of the body, and working with fear. There was an extensive discussion of subtle questions regarding how we look at ourselves, who or what we really are, and what is meant by non-duality. The afternoon also included a video introduction to the life and teachings of J. Krishnamurti with Alan Anderson as well as a BBC interview with K which many retreat participants found very interesting.
The rest of the weekend was spent exploring our true nature and the meaning and significance of Emptiness, which Burt puts at the centre of what is true in life and in ourselves. In group discussion he went into details and fielded questions and perceptions from the participants. The simplicity and purity of Emptiness rightly understood is the place we can actually rest in Being and happiness. There were more guided meditations, further exploration of Emptiness, Silence, Love, and Stillness, and how we let go into these beautiful qualities of Being. The schedule allowed time for rest, talk, and walks on the lovely property. Delicious food was provided by Glenrosa Restaurant. The weekend seemed to be a rich experience for all and each took something with them to sustain the art of being in the course of daily life. Feedback from Burt regarding personal issues of individuals was no doubt very helpful. He summarized by saying that real growth comes from finding out who we truly are and being it.