Dhivan

Early Buddhism emerged from the animistic culture of iron-age India, shaking off the chains of superstition and belief in magic. But have we come too far from those sensitive resonant connections with nature into a disenchanted world?  On this retreat we will engage with themes from the early Buddhist tradition, through study, reflection, meditation, and ritual, rediscovering our place in the unfolding interconnectedness of all life.  And engage with the question of whether a more animistic approach to life may help us not only live more meaningfully, but help us build a better world.

Exploring the Buddha’s relationship with nature: a study practice weekend with Dhivan

The teaching of the Buddha is practical and concerned with the ending of dukkha or suffering. But the life-story of the Buddha shows him becoming Awakened at the foot of the Bodhi tree, encouraged and sheltered by the nāgas or mythical snakes, and having defeated Māra with the help of the Earth Goddess. These symbols of tree, snake and goddess tell us something on the level of myth and story about the animistic context of Awakening.

The Buddha’s teaching of conditionality or dependent arising is a way to understand how experience works in terms of causes and conditions, but also a teaching about the way of life that leads to liberation. This retreat will combine study of the Buddha’s teachings on dependent arising with discussion and meditation to make it all real.

For more information read the retreat information sheet.

The Buddha’s teaching of conditionality or dependent arising offers a way to think about the causes and conditions for suffering in our experience, and about the causes and conditions for the path to liberation. This retreat will combine study of the Buddha’s teachings on conditionality with discussion and meditation to make it all real.

These retreats are especially for people who are already practicing within the context of the Triratna Buddhist Community. Previous experience of the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana meditations and of the 7-fold Puja will be assumed.

An exploration of anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing in sixteen stages), aiming to engage the whole of our human experience, through sutta study and group discussion, meditation and silence, bodywork and ritual. Moving through the stages of anapanasati takes us deeper into clear and still awareness, leaving us sensitive and open like a living mirror.

For more information, please take a look here

During this study retreat, we will explore themes from Dhivan's recent book This Being, That Becomes: The Buddha's Teaching on Conditionality. 

We will use meditation, study, discussion, reflection and devotion to explore conditionality in different ways, and hence allow this profound teaching to enter into our minds and hearts as much as possible.