“Dr. Margarita Loinaz is a wonderful presence, a loving physician, Dharma teacher and healer of body and spirit. She is a pioneer in diversity Buddhism, having co-organized the first retreat for people of color at Spirit Rock in 1999.” – Jack Kornfield
Dear Napa Valley Insight Meditation Community,
This Tuesday, July 28, from 7:00 – 8:30, NVIM will be welcoming Dr. Margarita Loinaz as our featured guest teacher. A recipient of the “Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award,” which was presented by the Dali Lama in 2001, Margarita has been a mindfulness and Buddhist practitioner since 1977. Both a parent and a grandparent, she has worked at a clinic serving Laotian and Cambodian refugees, practiced medicine at the Tom Waddell Clinic/Homeless Programs in San Francisco, taught mindfulness to medical students at the University of California San Francisco, and co-facilitated the Women of Color Sitting Group at Spirit Rock for two and a half years.
“As awareness deepens,” Margarita says, “learning to allow for the truth of our own and another’s experience is one of the most healing practices we can develop. It’s all about healing, in medicine as well as in Buddhist practice. Our job is to look at why we suffer and to try to alleviate that.”
Margarita was born in the Dominican Republic and emigrated to the United States when she was 19. She took refuge with Kalu Rinpoche in the 1970s and studied Tibetan Buddhism. Later, Vipassana (Insight Meditation) became her primary practice. She has led a fascinating life, was one of the early pioneers of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and we are truly blessed to have her visiting our community.
If you haven’t attended Napa Valley Insight Meditation in some time, or if you are in need a summer mindfulness boost, please join us this Tuesday for a special evening with Dr. Loinaz.
Take care, thank you for your practice, and I look forward to seeing you soon~
Mike Coughlin
Napa Valley Insight Meditation
On-Going NVIM Event & Information:
Thursday Morning Silent Meditation: For those interested in supporting their daily practice, we invite you to join NVIM on Thursday mornings for silent meditation. This 30-minute meditation will begin promptly at 9:00am and is a wonderful opportunity to nurture your practice in an intimate and supportive setting.
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