The Dharma in the Dynamic of Relationships – the Paramis in Action
Online four-week course
With Laura Bridgman and Martine Batchelor
Wednesday evenings starting 22 May
7.00 pm – 8.45 pm (BST)
In this course we will reflecting creatively and wisely on key areas of relationships: how we relate to self, a path, our environment, others (romantic partners, friends, work colleagues, teachers, family and community). We’ll explore how the paramis can contribute to a caring, careful, and healthy relating where we are accessible, responsive and engaged while respecting our own and other boundaries.
These Paramis are:
- Dana: Generosity (incl. renunciation)
- Sila: Ethics
- Ksanti: Patience
- Virya: Effort/courage
- Dhyana: Meditation
- Prajna: Wisdom
- Upaya: Skillful means/adaptability
Follow on Retreat
Laura Bridgman and Venerable Canda Theri will be offering a follow on retreat at Gaia House to this course, The Gentle Art of Patience. For more information see here.
Suitability
All levels of experience welcome.
Teachers
LAURA BRIDGMAN was a Buddhist nun in the Theravada tradition from 1995 to 2015. Her main teachers within this school have been Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Sucitto and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. She has been offering retreats since 2007, most recently mainly at Gaia House where she is also the staff support teacher. Her practice orientation is the Buddha’s teaching of the Five Spiritual Faculties (trust, balanced effort, mindfulness, composure and wisdom). Alongside her Vipassana (Insight) practice she is a student of the Diamond Approach (Ridhwan).
MARTINE BATCHELOR lived in Korea as a seon nun under the guidance of Master Kusan for ten years. She is the author of Meditation for Life, The Path of Compassion, Women in Korean Zen and Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits. She teaches meditation retreats worldwide and lives in France. Her latest works are the The Spirit of the Buddha, What is this? and The Definition, Practice and Psychology of Vedana.
Visit Martine's website for more information.
Listen to one of Martine Batchelor's Talks at Gaia House on 23.07.2015: Instructions - What is This? Questioning. The Way of Korean Seon and it's connection with Vipassana (Duration 34:08)
Format & Schedule
Each session will build on previous ones, so participants need to register for the whole course and ideally attend all four sessions.
Wednesdays — 7.00 pm – 8.45 pm
- 22 May
- 29 May
- 5 June
- 12 June
Evening timings (approximate)
7.00 pm — Start of session and introduction
7.05 pm — Guided meditation
7.20 pm — Dharma talk
7.40 pm — Instruction
7.45 pm — Inquiry exercise
8.30 pm — Reflections and guidance for home practice
Times shown 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 onlinecoordinator@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 Laura and Martine at the end of the sessions.
Click here to read more about the practice of dana.
Dana can be offered to Laura and Martine via the Gaia House website. Please click on Teacher and then specify that your donation is for ‘Paramis in Action’ 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 ‘Paramis in Action’ 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: The Dharma in the dynamic of relationships
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: £23 — £59 (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.