Mettā and Insight
Online six-week course
With Zohar Lavie
Tuesday evenings starting 2 July — 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm (BST)
The meditation practices of Insight and Mettā (goodwill or loving-kindness) are powerful transformative vehicles that connect us with our potential to awaken to ever deepening levels of love and wisdom in life.
On this course we will explore our capacity to welcome each moment with a kind and spacious attention, to nourish a sense of wellbeing and joy, and to deepen our understanding of ourselves, our experience and all beings.
Our exploration of Mettā and Insight will be inspired by Rob Burbea’s approach, including some readings from his book Seeing That Frees.
This online course can be booked as a standalone online course, and also it can be taken as a follow-on course to a residential retreat being offered by Zohar in March 2024. For more information about that residential retreat, click here.
Suitability
All levels of experience welcome, although some experience of meditation and familiarity with Dharma teachings may make it easier to follow the course
Teacher
ZOHAR LAVIE has been practising meditation in different traditions since 1995. This journey has taken her from the meditation cushion into exploring further ways of expressing truth and love and in 2004 she co-founded SanghaSeva. She now spends most of her time facilitating retreats that offer service as a spiritual path around the world. Since 2006 she has been teaching on silent retreats and Dharma gatherings in India, Europe and Israel.Listen to one of Zohar Lavie’s Talks from the Meeting Uncertainty with Wisdom and Courage: Perennial Teachings for a Changing World retreat on 07.06/2021: Anicca Brings Possibilities (Duration 40:35)
Format & schedule
Each session will build on previous ones, so people need to register for the whole course and ideally attend all six sessions. But recordings of sessions will be available to catch up if a session is missed.
Tuesday evenings — 7.00 – 9.00 pm
- 2 July
- 9 July
- 16 July
- 23 July
- 30 July
- 5 August
Times shown are in British Summer Time (GMT +1)
Using Zoom
This online retreat will use the Zoom platform. For support with learning how to use Zoom, please click here to read the guidance we’ve put together on our website. Please read the first section, ‘Using Zoom’, before registering.
Enquiries
If you have any questions regarding the retreat, you can send an email to info@gaiahouse.co.uk.
Dana/generosity
None of your registration fee goes to the teachers. Gaia House teachers rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood. There will be an opportunity to make a dana offering to Zohar at the end of the course.
Click here to read more about the practice of dana.
Dana can be offered to Zohar via her website or via the Gaia House website. Please click on Teacher and then specify that your donation is for ‘metta and insight – online’ in the notes section on the checkout page.
Dana can also be offered to Gaia House. To make a donation please click here and specify that your donation is for ‘metta and insight – online’ in the notes section on the checkout page. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us to continue offering the teachings of the Dharma from our centre in Devon and online.
With deep appreciation for your generosity.
Well-being and online retreats
Before you book, please read these guidelines about mental well-being and silent online retreats:
Meditation retreats can be very nourishing; however, as they require sustained meditation practice, they also need some stability of psychological health. If you have recently (within the past year or so) experienced significant trauma or psychiatric illness, or if you are currently experiencing acute emotional distress such as serious depression or anxiety, it may not be the best time for you to participate in a retreat. The teachers might not be able to give you the kind of individual psychological care you need at this time. A setting with more opportunities for interpersonal engagement may be more appropriate.
- If you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, please discuss your attendance with them. You should be in a relatively stable period of mental well-being and have adequate psychological resilience.
- If you have any questions about this, please contact Laura using the email address, retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk
Preparing for the sessions
Please make it your intention to stay for the whole session.
Practicalities
- Arrange your computer or device so you can see and hear well
- Make sure you have easy access to the Zoom link and arrive at a time giving you time to settle before the session starts
- Think about disengaging from unnecessary conversations and interactions: explain to any other people in your household what you will be doing and discuss how they can support you
Online: Metta and Insight
A note on dana/generosity
None of your registration fee goes to the teacher(s). Gaia House teachers rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood. There will be an opportunity to make a dana offering to your teacher(s) at the end of the event.
To register for this course:
- Please look at the rates listed below and enter the amount appropriate to you in the amount box.
- Then complete the registration form.
- Please read our Booking & cancellation conditions before completing your booking.
Rates:
Registration is on a sliding-scale starting at £0. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you are able to. Your generosity is vital in supporting Gaia House to sustain its Dharma offerings for the benefit of all.We are committed to ensuring that our programme is available to everyone who wishes to participate. If our suggested registration band is too high for you, you can enter the amount you are able to pay.
Registration: £27 — £79 (if this amount is too high, please feel welcome to pay what is appropriate for your current circumstances)
Dānanandi Sangha: £0 As a regular donor to Gaia House you are contributing already. Thank you.