Dharma workshops and retreats
Online and in real life
Looking for beauty, finding freedom - An online day retreat
We look for permanence, substance and satisfaction in a world where they can’t be found. We keep on looking and not finding. But what’s the alternative? We can look for freedom. And freedom can be found.
A Modest Awakening: A residential retreat
A wabi-sabi retreat in the Netherlands. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic, which finds beauty and truth in our simple, ordinary experiences. The Dharma teaches that everything changes, nothing is ever complete and real satisfaction seems always out of reach. These are the harsh truths of human life. And yet… there is a beauty in being human.
Everyone is an Artist: A residential retreat
Rivendell Retreat Centre, UK - Are you someone who values creativity, no matter what form it takes? If so, then the Creativity and Dharma retreat is perfect for you. "Through the ordinary state of being, we’re already creators in the most profound way, creating our experience of reality and composing the world we perceive." - Rick Ruben
The Here and Now Mountain: Residential Retreat
Rivendell Retreat Centre, UK - Enlightenment is the state of 'being awake'. But how exactly do we wake up from our own illusions? The Buddha referred to these illusions as 'fetters', and described how they bind us to suffering. He also showed us that we, like him, could see through them, one by one.
The Two Truths: An online day retreat
The more I practice with others the more I come to the conclusion that you have to start with the Two Truths. Without understanding the meaning of ‘conventional truth’ and ‘ultimate truth’ it’s impossible to understand the other teachings.
How to make notes you’ll use forever
Informal Online Workshop. Aren’t creative people are the opposite of organised? Well, yes, sometimes they are. But then, sometimes being more orderly in your life might lead to the creative and dharmic breakthroughs you long for.
Being Undone, The Path of The 10 Fetters
An online day retreat, meeting on Zoom. Frustratingly, Buddhism doesn’t offer many answers to the obvious question, why are we not already enlightened? How did we come to be so painfully separated from reality? The teachings on the fetters offer us one answer to that question.
Everyone is an Artist: A Creative Dharma Retreat
Rivendell Retreat Centre, UK - Are you someone who values creativity, no matter what form it takes? If so, then the Creativity and Dharma retreat is perfect for you. "Through the ordinary state of being, we’re already creators in the most profound way, creating our experience of reality and composing the world we perceive." - Rick Ruben
The Here and Now Mountain
Rivendell Retreat Centre, UK - Enlightenment is the state of 'being awake'. But how exactly do we wake up from our own illusions? The Buddha referred to these illusions as 'fetters', and described how they bind us to suffering. He also showed us that we, like him, could see through them, one by one.
Everyone is an Artist
4-Week Online Course - Artists and meditators have the same longing, to open their minds to new perspectives. The opposite of being creative is to be stuck in a habitual rut. If you’re tired of always doing the same things and expecting to get new results, this course is for you.
A Modest Awakening
Rivendell Retreat Centre, UK - The Buddha taught the dharma for one reason only: the alleviation of suffering. His first teaching we now know as ‘The 4 Noble Truths’. That in every life there is suffering, the cause of suffering is desire, that it is possible to put an end to this suffering here and now and, finally, that there’s a path for us to follow. On this retreat, we take those 4 Noble Truths as our dharmic framework.
All-new Wabi-sabi Month
A 28-day online course. Join me for a month of wabi-sabi and discover: The beauty of being fully alive - An unshakable sense of well-being in the face of life’s challenges - A deep contentment despite all our imperfections.
Everyday Life is the Door to Freedom
Rivendell Retreat Centre, UK - The path of meditation is not for everyone. A far more significant practice for me has been that of reflecting on everything that happens in the light of the Dharma.
There are 24 hours in a day, and for most of us will dedicate less than one to meditation. If we’re not practising wholeheartedly for the other 23 hours, how will awakening really be possible’?
ANIMISM IN THE CITY - A WABI-SABI WEEKEND
A Wabi-sabi Weekend - Manchester Buddhist Centre
Wabi-sabi is about finding both beauty and dharmic truths in our ordinary everyday lives. Often we escape to the countryside to be on retreat, but this weekend retreat we’ll be searching for wabi-sabi in the city. We’ll have a programme of multi-media presentations, meditation and time for discussion. By the end of the weekend, I hope you’ll have, as the Red Ladder tagline says, ‘fallen in love with life again’.
The Life of Objects
Dhanakosa Retreat Centre, Scotland - Fall in love with life again. A Retreat on the Art of Perception.
WABI-SABI, ORDINARY BEAUTY
Dhanakosa Retreat Centre, Scotland - Wabi-sabi is an aesthetic, which finds beauty and truth in our simple, ordinary experience.
THROWING OUT THE FURNITURE
Rivendell Retreat Cantre, England - The root of suffering is clinging. Non-clinging is the means to freedom. But how to realise this radical ‘letting go’ in our own lives?
THROWING OUT THE FURNITURE
Metta Vihara Retreat Centre, Netherlands - The root of suffering is clinging. Non-clinging is the means to freedom. But how to realise this radical ‘letting go’ in our own lives?
3 MEDITATIONS TO TRANSFORM DUKKHA
When we’re experiencing dukkha meditation can be the last thing we want to do. But it’s those moments when meditation can be most transformative.
Dharma bundle incubator
The dharma bundle incubator is a small warm place for incubating our thoughts and feelings on this month’s theme.
Dharma bundle incubator
The dharma bundle incubator is a small warm place for incubating our thoughts and feelings on this month’s theme.
From Dukkha to Insight Workshop - 3 ways to meet suffering
Every single moment of dis-ease offers us an opportunity to practice and is an incentive to practice. But how do we practice in those moments?
Dharma bundle incubator
The dharma bundle incubator is a small warm place for incubating our thoughts and feelings on this month’s theme.
Dharma bundle incubator
The dharma bundle incubator is a small warm place for incubating our thoughts and feelings on this month’s theme.
Braiding Sweetgrass Mini Bookclub
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer is the book of the month with this April’s Dharma Bundle.
The Paradox of Being human
We human beings have both Buddha Nature and our basic animal nature. How do we cherish both? I think wabi-sabi shows us a way. This workshop is on Earth Day and we’ll start and finish together online but will spend some of it offline and outdoors, looking for wabi-sabi insights!
Meditation Workshop, Inspired by the Natural World
A 2-hour online event for Dharma Bundle members. Meditation and movement workshop.
Truth Comes from the Observation of Nature
A 2-hour online event for Dharma Bundle members. With a short presentation and time for discussion.
COMING HOME - A WEEKEND RETREAT
Online Retreat - A Dharma life is a life of ‘coming home’. Coming home to our true nature. Life can be spent running away from ourselves, yet what we all long to do is to stop, to rest where we are and make peace with who we are. Please save the date for this weekend retreat with Ulrika Wedin and me.