Many of our in-person events have now been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. However we are gradually re-establishing some in-person events as the coronavirus restrictions gradually ease. Please keep an eye on this page on our website for the latest notifications from Bristol Insight. Things are unfolding rapidly and the well-being of our sangha and the wider community are our principle concern. At this time we aspire to act according to the principles of the dharma with non-harming, kindness, compassion and equanimity. Where events are cancelled we will aim to offer online alternatives where possible to maintain our sense of community and mutual support.
Tuesday Sitting Group
We are offering an online Tuesday sitting group using Zoom.
If you wish to participate in these online sessions then please email bristolinsightmeditation@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
The session will open at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start.
We will begin with a meditation session of about 30 minutes followed by a short break. Then in the second half we will have our Cultivation of Practice sessions. This part of the Tuesday evening sitting group invites us to engage in a variety of activities that aim to deepen our practice in the company of others. These activities may include movement, reflection, discussion, mindful sharing in pairs or in small groups. You can find our present activities by clicking on the link below.
Cultivating our Practice Oct- Dec 2020
All are welcome.
The Power and Art of Slowing Down.
with Ramiro Ortega
Sunday 15th November 2020, 10am – 3.30pm
In this on-line retreat day, we will explore the potential of slowing down. In a world and time that praise quickness and busyness, we need more than ever to develop the capacity to pause and slow down, instead of letting ourselves being “carried away”. When we bring this attitude on retreat, and in our daily lives, we can begin to relax our habitual patters of tension and reactivity, and to create the best state of mind in order to respond to our circumstances with wisdom and compassion.
There will be alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instructions and guided meditations and reflections.
Ramiro Ortega has practised Buddhist meditation since 2005. He is currently training to teach the Dharma with Bodhi College and is being mentored by Christina Feldman and Chris Cullen. He also teaches mindfulness courses and retreats.
Ramiro combines his passion for the Dharma with his love for Philosophy and Psychotherapy. Currently he is training to become a philosophical counsellor.
Venue: Via Zoom. Link will be emailed to you once you purchase a ticket.
The day is run by Bristol Insight Meditation group from 10 – 3.30. You can arrive as from 9.45 to have a bit of time to settle in before we start at 10am.
So please have the following items with you on the day:
- a yoga mat,
- cushions and blankets so you can be comfortable for the day.
We ask for dana (donation) to be given on the day to cover the cost of the teacher.
How to Book
You can book this retreat through our website www.bristolmeditation.org.uk or through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-and-art-of-slowing-down-tickets-110962792700
For more information about our day retreats generally, please visit our ‘General information and practicalities’ page on our website. Please note this retreat will be held via Zoom due to COVID restrictions.
Nature meditation in the time of Covid: Sunday 18th October 2020 1-4pm
Fancy practising outdoors? Do you want to sit with others face-to-face and stay safe? Are you missing connection with nature and other practitioners?
We might have a solution for you! Bristol Insight Meditation is offering nature meditation retreats in a privately owned wood about 6 miles outside Bristol. We will meet at the woods to carry out sitting, walking and nature-based practices for about 3 hours.
These woods are really special. There is sufficient space to keep 2 metres apart at all times yet stay in a circle. Even better, the woods have several large covered areas, so the event will go ahead regardless of the weather. The facilities also include easy car parking and even a compost loo! You will need to bring water, something soft to sit on and whatever you need to practice (e.g. stool, cushion, blanket) and wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
The cost per person is £5 to cover the woods hire.
For further information and directions to the site, please contact Lesley Wye on lesleywye2@gmail.com.
Bristol Insight Virtual Self-led Retreat Saturday 7th November10.00am-17.00pm
Up until now, we have run the virtual self-led retreat in the same format as the in-person retreats. We’re aware that this doesn’t work for everyone and that it can be difficult to devote most of a day to meditation when there are others in your home. From November, we are going to offer the option of a full day or half day (morning or afternoon) retreat with a check-in and out at either end. Here’s how it will work:
10 – 10.30 am – Introduction to the day
10.30 – 12 – sitting and walking practice
12 – 1pm – listen to the recorded talk
1pm – brief goodbyes and review of the morning for anyone leaving at this point
Lunch
1.45pm – check-in and welcome to anyone joining for the afternoon
2pm – 4.15pm – sitting and walking practice
4.15 – 5pm – end of day sharing
People are, of course, free to spend the practice parts of the day any way they choose, e.g. going for a walk.
David and Caroline, who run the Zoom link, are happy to break the silence to say goodbye to people who leave at the end of the morning and welcome people joining in the afternoon. People would need to let us know in advance if they are planning to join in the afternoon.
There is also a suggestion of changing the virtual retreat from Saturday to Sunday, as this may suit more people. We plan to run a poll about this.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Kind Regards
Caroline
For more information, please contact David Ringsell on david@talk-it.biz
With loving kindness from the Bristol Insight Self-led Retreat Team.
Chris Cullen’s retreat (21/3/20)
We had our first on-line retreat with Chris Cullen with over 30 participants online. We much appreciate Chris’s heartfelt response to the present unfolding situation and his offerings for practice at this time. You can listen to an audio recording of this online retreat with Chris Cullen here:
Bristol Insight WhatsApp group
We also have set up a WhatsApp group to help us keep in touch. If you wish to join this group then click on this link Join group
Dharma resources to help us navigate these turbulent times
Zohar and Nathan have recorded some talks and meditations “to help us all respond to coronavirus and it’s effects.”
Coronavirus and the support of the Dharma – Part 1 by Zohar Lavie
Guided meditation: “Coronavirus and the support of the Dharma – Part 2” by Zohar Lavie
Guided metta meditation from Nathan
There’s a good online talk relating to responding to the virus from Jack Kornfield
https://mailchi.mp/jackkornfield/welcome-930478?e=46ffb10a31
Gaia House online practice opportunities
While we cannot gather in person, Gaia House will be creatively exploring how we can support and nourish each other. In the coming days and weeks, we will let you know what online practice opportunities we are helping to coordinate.
Online Sitting Group
Our Online Sitting Group meets every Monday, 8-9pm (UK BST).
The group is facilitated by Gavin Milne and guest teachers.
The schedule for the next few weeks is:
5 October – Yahel Avigur
12 October – Gavin Milne
19 October – Caroline Jones
26 October – Yahel Avigur
The group is suitable for all levels of experience, although some familiarity with Buddhist teachings and prior experience of either an evening course or a retreat will be assumed.
You are welcome to join on any dates that suit you, although we ask you to attend for the whole of each meeting.
Click here to find out more and join a meeting.
Gaia House Online Dharma Hall
Gaia House is opening an online Dharma hall: a new space for connection, reflection, and refuge. A place where we can share the Dharma and practice together, supporting us to meet our lives and our world in these times.
Saturday 17 October – 5:00pm Zohar Lavie
Sunday 18 October – 9:30am Nathan Glyde
Tuesday 20 October – 7:30pm Katrin Heyde
Wednesday 21 October – 11:00 am Ella Titman Tamari (Community Dharma Leader)
Thursday 22 October – 11:00 am Gavin Milne
The sessions will be held by Gaia House teachers and Community Dharma Leaders. Each online meeting will include some meditation, an exploration on a theme that connects Dharma practice with the current situation, and some time for interactive sharing with the community online.
We hope this can be a space that supports us all to turn towards what is difficult, and find ways to respond to ourselves, others and the world with compassion and wisdom.
The meetings will be held via the easy to use Zoom platform. To join any of the meetings click here.
Dana is invited both for Gaia House (the ‘General Fund’) and for the teacher running the session. To offer Dana related to this offering, please click here to visit the Gaia House website where you can make a one off donation. Please note that you will need to click on the ‘Add to basket’ button for both the teacher and for Gaia House. To ensure that Teacher Dana reaches the teacher, please specify in the notes section on the checkout page the name of the teacher you are offering to. Thank you for your generosity.
May our practice together support the welfare of all beings.
Later this month and next at Gaia House
Opening for registration soon:
1-4 October:
Yoga and Meditation: Awakening in Stillness and in Movement
With Martin Aylward and Gail Aylward
12-14 October:
Abiding with a Heart Imbued with Love
With Catherine McGee and Gail Aylward
17-22 October:
Embodying the Awakened Heart
With Yanai Postelnik and Leela Sarti
Bodhi College Online – Early Buddhism for today
Bodhi college are offering an ongoing series of online talks and practices entitled “Thinking Out Loud: Conversations on Early Buddhism”.
Sangha Live
Sitting Together, Staying Home
These are unique times. Now more than ever people are seeing the value in connection and building communities online. It’s perfectly natural to feel fear and anxiety. Yet, we have a supportive antidote to self-isolation. Every weekday until the COVID-19 lockdown ends we are going to be running live online meditation sessions.
Online offering from Bhante Bodhidhamma
Bhante Bodhidhamma is offering a Lockdown Evening Meditation every evening from 8-9.30pm (BST).
To connect click here
Spreading the Karuna virus
“In the beautiful Karaniya Metta Sutta (on loving kindness), the quality of protecting others from harm (even as a mother would protect her only child) is greatly emphasised. I would therefore gently encourage everyone to keep well informed and take as many value-aligned precautions as personal conditions allow. Let’s learn from other nations and each other, and do our best to collectively spread the Karuna (Compassion) Virus to all beings, instead!” – Venerable Canda