“No Mud No Lotus” (Thich Nhat Hanh)
Transforming the Challenges of our Time into Fertile Ground for the Heart’s Potential
Online six-week course
With Kirsten Kratz & Dene Donalds
Wednesday evenings starting 31 January 2024
7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
This event is now closed to further registrations
We are living in demanding times with multiple and complex challenges. In the face of overwhelming social and ecological crises, how can we acknowledge and transform our grief, despair, anger and apathy into constructive, creative and collaborative action infused by wise attention, care and compassion?
Whatever the challenges of our global, societal and personal situation, we are still free to choose which qualities of the heart we value, want to cultivate, nourish and serve, along with their accompanying narratives and ways of being in the world.
Through practices supporting kindness, insight, and inquiry, with a deepening transformative understanding of our profound interdependence with all, we will cultivate the heart’s capacity to open in ways that nourish, renew and empower us, bringing forth compassion, joy, and the possibility of responsive action.
Kirsten and Dene are teaching the residential retreat Meeting Life with Courage and Compassion, following this online course. These two offerings will provide a complimentary exploration of the topic. If you are unable to attend in person, the retreat will also be livestreamed from Gaia House enabling you to follow along at home. Please see here for information about the residential retreat. To join the livestreamed event, please click here.
Suitability
This course is suitable for all levels of experience.
Teachers
KIRSTEN KRATZ has practised Buddhist meditation in Asia and the West since 1993. She started teaching in 2006 and since 2015 she has been ‘teacher in residence’ supporting those on personal retreat at Gaia House. Her love and understanding of Dharma has been strongly influenced by, among others, the teachings of her friend and teacher colleague, Rob Burbea.
One of her particular passions is exploring how wisdom teachings can foster appropriate responses to the challenges of our time, and Kirsten sees her involvement in activism as an important expression of her practice. Kirsten is co-initiator of the “Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement” (DANCE) and supporting teacher of Freely Given Retreats. Listen to one of Kirsten Kratz's Talks given at Gaia House on 23.03.2013: Calm and Kindness (Duration 38:57)
DENE DONALDS has practiced and studied the Dharma since the mid nineties: Practicing with Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition since 2001, receiving lay ordination in 2007 and becoming a Lay Dharma teacher in 2016. Committed to socially engaged Buddhism, Dene has helped establish a number of social enterprises working with people with learning disabilities, people with autism, and with refugees. He also offers the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in prisons.
To watch and listen to talk offered by Dene on youtube, please click here.
Format
This 6-week long online course will include guidance; reflections; sharing together as sangha/community; as well as exercises and contemplations to practice independently at home between the modules.
Schedule
All times shown are in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Wednesday evenings — 7.00 – 8.30 pm
- 31 January
- 7 February
- 14 February
- 21 February
- 28 February
- 6 March
Using Zoom
This online course 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 course, 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 Kirsten and Dene at the end of the course and/or evening.
Click here to read more about the practice of dana.
Dana can be offered to Kirsten and Dene via the Gaia House website. Please click on Teacher and then specify that your donation is for ‘No Mud, No Lotus’ 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 ‘No Mud, No Lotus’ 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.
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
Well-being and online meditation
Before you book, please read these guidelines about mental well-being and silent online meditation practice:
Meditation can be very nourishing; however, as it requires sustained practice, it 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 online meditation sessions. 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 us.