Dharma fundraising events for Gaia House

Saturday, 9 October

3-6pm BST ♦ 4-7pm CET ♦ 10am-1pm EDT

With Martine and Stephen Batchelor

Community and care in challenging times

This event will be an opportunity to explore with Martine and Stephen the importance of community and care as we face the challenges that present themselves to us both personally and collectively in today’s troubled world. Martine will focus on how meditation can help us to listen and speak to each other more skillfully in order to bridge differences and work together. Stephen will explore the central Buddhist idea of care (appamada) as a unifying principle that animates our practice of the dharma.

Our time will be divided between talks, meditations, breakout groups and open discussion with the teachers.

We are delighted and incredibly grateful that Martine and Stephen Batchelor will be offering this online event to help raise vital funds for the survival of Gaia House during these times.

These two internationally-beloved Dharma teachers trained as monastics for ten years in traditional Buddhist centers in Asia. When they came back to Europe they were instrumental in the flowering of Dharma in the West and supported the establishment and growth of Gaia House. Martine has been part of the Gaia House teacher council for many years and Stephen Batchelor, who also served on the Teacher council for over two decades, is now a Gaia House patron.

We have consciously chosen not to specify a rate or suggested donation for these Dharma fundraising events. Instead, we are appealing to you to contribute to the events in the same spirit of great generosity with which Martine and Stephen are offering their teachings for the benefit of Gaia House. Reflecting on the value that Gaia House holds for you in your personal life, please offer your outmost financial support to ensure that Gaia House weathers the storm of these uncertain times and can continue its Dharma offerings.

Gaia House is a rare place in the world today — an important refuge for cultivating wholesome qualities and a more expansive heart in the face of suffering. With your collaboration as a sangha friend and donor, Gaia House will be able to continue to serve as a healing force in these challenging times and beyond.

Your gift will be put to immediate use, ensuring stewardship of the land, maintenance of our building, the continuation of our online offerings and more in-house and residential retreats.

Please scroll down to register and make your donation. We look forward to seeing you there!

In case you can’t make the live event, you are still welcome to register and make a donation – all those who register will be emailed a link to a recording of the event.

MARTINE BATCHELOR was a Buddhist nun in Korea for ten years. She studied Son Buddhism under the guidance of the late Master Kusan. She translated his book The Way of Korean Zen. Following Master Kusan’s death she returned her nun’s vows and left Korea to come back to live in Europe where she also studied insight meditation. She is the author of different books showing her interest in various subjects from Buddhism and ethics, The Path of Compassion to Buddhism and Women Women in Korean Zen. Her latest work is The Spirit of the Buddha. She is a Gaia House guiding teacher. She teaches meditation retreats worldwide and lives in South West France.

www.martinebatchelor.org

STEPHEN BATCHELOR is a translator, teacher, artist and writer known for his secular approach to the Dharma. A co-founder of Bodhi College, his books include Buddhism Without Beliefs, Living with the Devil, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist and After Buddhism. His most recent publication, The Art of Solitude, was published by Yale University Press in 2020. He lives in southwest France with his wife Martine.

www.stephenbatchelor.org

Using Zoom

These online events will be hosted using the Zoom platform. For support with learning how to use Zoom, please click here to read the guidance notes we’ve put together.

Enquiries

If you have any questions regarding these events, please email info@gaiahouse.co.uk