A five-week evening course on loving-kindness (metta) meditation. Introducing a pathway to love, happiness, insight, connection, and rest
Loving-kindness meditation is an often understated gem within the ecology of Buddhist practices. Whether you’re new to meditation or an old hand, ‘metta’ meditation (as it’s known in the old Pali language) offers us any number of treasures. From a gentle opening of the heart and an expansion of our capacity for love, through to profound nourishment, resourcing, and rest, and even insights into the nature of reality, there are gifts everywhere you look with this practice. Approached in a certain way, it can lead us right to the end of the Buddhist path, to the deepest liberation possible.
Over five weeks of evening sessions we will explore the ins and outs of this beautiful practice, offering different ways of working to suit our different personal styles. To gain the most from the course you will be encouraged to spend at least 20 minutes each day practising with the week’s instructions.
All are welcome, and the group size will be limited to 18 places.
Mark Ovland
Mark began practising meditation in 2008. He has lived and worked in various monasteries and retreat centres around India and the UK, and has spent around two years on intensive silent retreat himself. Mark helped to pioneer mindfulness courses within the UK prison system and was one of the co-founders of Freely Given Retreats. He was a co-initiator of the Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement (DANCE) and in recent years has been particularly engaged with environmental and social justice issues. Mark was a close student of the late Rob Burbea.
Venue:
Bristol Central Quaker Meeting House, Champion Square, Bristol, BS2 9DB
Dates and times:
The sessions will run from 7pm to 8.30pm on the dates listed below. You’re invited to arrive 5 minutes early if you’re able, so we can start as close to 7pm as possible.
Wednesday 31st May
Wednesday 7th June
Wednesday 14th June
Wednesday 21st June
Wednesday 28th June
Chairs will be provided. You are very welcome to bring anything else that will make you comfortable (blanket, other meditation equipment, etc.)
Room hire and dana:
The fee of £15 (or £10 for anyone on low income), will cover just the cost of the room hire.
The teachings themselves will be offered freely by Mark, in line with the 2,500-year-old Buddhist tradition of ‘dana’, or generosity. If you are able to support Mark in his livelihood by offering him a donation, that would be greatly appreciated. There will be an opportunity to do this during the course.
No one will be turned away due to costs, so if you are undergoing financial hardship do please select a ‘Freely Given Ticket’ and know that you’d be very welcome to attend.
For further information and to book on Eventbrite click here