La Sarmiento has been practicing Vipassana meditation and has been a member of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW) since 1998. La's practice and approach to the Dharma has been influenced greatly by the teachings of Tara Brach, Pema Chodron, Larry Yang, Eric Kolvig, Michele McDonald, Cheri Maples, Joe Weston, and Ruth King. In September 2012, La graduated from the Community Dharma Leadership IV program sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA.
Since 2005, La has been the guiding teacher/leader of the IMCW Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) Sangha and the IMCW People of Color Sangha. They* integrate the Kalyana Mitta process and the concepts of Respectful Confrontation and Non-violent Communication into their gatherings to create a sacred space for group wisdom to arise. Between 2011 and 2016, La also co-led the DC Monthly Teen Sangha for youth between 13-19 years of age.
La is a senior retreat/event manager committed to bringing diverse teachers and programs to IMCW and to making the Dharma accessible to all. La has been a lead teacher of mindfulness teen retreats in Virginia through Inward Bound Mindfulness Education since 2011, has co-taught the LGBTIQ Retreat at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY since 2014, and has co-taught the Young Adults Retreat at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center since 2014.
In this guided meditation, we forgive or at least intend to forgive ourselves and others for being human and clearing the way to offer kind and gentle compassion.
From my teacher Thea Elijah, through establishing our connection to the earth, we create common ground upon which we realize our interconnectedness. This meditation guides us through this process so that we can offer lovingkindness to ourselves, a beloved, a neutral person, a difficult person, and all beings.
Establishing a connection with the heavens and the earth with our ancestors at our back allows us to feel held and supported as we offer lovingkindness to ourselves and others.
Through taking refuge in our own buddha-nature, the teachings and practices of the Buddha, radical acceptance of life's unfolding, and supportive community, we can transform our limited views of ourselves and expand our capacity to awaken to what's real, to alleviate suffering, and to cultivate true happiness.
