Date

12 Oct 2024

Time

10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Tags:

HYBRID Shamatha: Meditation for Balanced Living • One Day Retreat

About this Event

During this day retreat, co-organised by the CCN and Samadhi, discover a range of methods for developing meditative quiescence, or shamatha.

Shamatha is the practice of developing a single-pointed concentration in order to find a calm, clear and focussed mind.

During this one-day retreat, David Oromith will introduce us to both the explanation and the practice of this essential meditation technique – for only when agitations of the mind are healed and calmed can we really focus and see things as they are.

This practice nurtures a state of mind that is simultaneously supple, profoundly relaxed, and brilliantly alert, offering us a much-needed respite from daily life. Through shamatha practice, we let go of physical and mental stress, fostering mental and emotional balance. These practices however go beyond temporary relaxation; and offer us the methods to cultivate a deep, enduring sense of tranquillity and clarity within ourselves.

Ultimately, for those following the Buddhist path, the Buddha strongly emphasised the importance of achieving shamatha in order to achieve awakening. Shamatha is, therefore, an indispensable practice for those on this path.

These practices are accessible to anyone seeking inner transformation—whether Buddhist or not.

"Since nearly everyone living in the modern world is coping with an overload of thinking, remembering, and planning this may be just what the doctor ordered: a general prescription for soothing and healing overworked bodies and minds."
- B. Alan Wallace

What We’ll Explore

  • Explore the practice of developing a single-pointed concentration (shamatha)
  • Learn techniques that help you relax and unwind, and let go of physical and mental stress
  • Engage in deeply relaxing meditations that bring about calm, clarity and focus.
  • Share and learn with like-minded friends in group discussions.

Organisers

This event is co-organised with The Contemplative Consciousness Network (CCN). The CCN, established in 2011, following the teachings of our president Dr. B. Alan Wallace, is a charity dedicated to exploring and enhancing human potential and well-being through the study and practice of contemplative consciousness.

Lunch

During the lunch break, you are welcome to head out or bring your own lunch to eat with the group. This can be a great time to share and discuss with others. David has requested that we eat a plant-based lunch, or at least vegetarian if this is not possible for you. Our abstaining from meat and dairy is an expression of non-harm and compassion for all beings – taking into account the welfare of our planet and fellow inhabitants.

Booking & Donations

There are limited in-person places available for this day retreat. We will also be live-streaming and recording the teachings on Zoom. Please book in advance – bookings are being handled through the CCN website.

The CCN embraces a sliding scale policy for their event fees, guided by the Buddhist principle of generosity and inclusivity. There are suggested donations to help cover event costs and support our ongoing activities, for the benefit of all. However, we firmly believe that financial constraints should never be a barrier to participation. If the suggested amount is beyond your means, please contribute what you can — every offering helps us sustain and continue providing our events and courses for the collective good. 

david

David is an experienced Buddhist contemplative and meditation guide who has studied and taught internationally for several years. He is the Co-Founder of Samadhi and a qualified mindfulness teacher, Mental Health First Aider, and an active member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His teaching style is clear and practical, and his warm and humorous approach makes him a popular mindfulness teacher. In his own practise and teachings, David focusses on the core themes of Early Buddhism and emphasises the practices of Shamatha (meditative quiescence), and its union with Vipassana on the Four Applications of Mindfulness and the Four Immeasurables – which presents a direct path leading to the realisation of our deepest nature and the potentials of consciousness, and closely follows how the Buddha himself attained enlightenment. He considers himself to be the fortunate student of many teachers, including his root lama, Lama Alan Wallace.

Hourly Schedule

Day Retreat

10.00am - 11.15am
Session 1
Talk & Meditation
11.15am - 11.45am
Break
11.45am - 1.00pm
Session 2
Talk & Meditation
1.00pm - 2.00pm
Lunch
2.00pm - 3.30pm
Session 3
Talk, Meditation & Discussion

If you would like to support our vision of making these teachings as accessible as possible, please consider making a donation, supporting future groups, events & retreats. Interested to know why we charge for this event and what happens to profits? Read here.

Organiser

Organiser

Samadhi
Samadhi
Email
[email protected]
Website
https://www.samadhi.org.uk

Other Organisers

The Contemplative Consciousness Network
The Contemplative Consciousness Network
Email
[email protected]
Website
https://contemplative-consciousness.net/

Speakers

Speaker

  • David Oromith
    David Oromith
    Buddhist Contemplative, Author and Meditation Guide

    David is a Buddhist contemplative, author, meditation guide and retreat leader. He is the Co-Founder of Samadhi, an organisation based in the UK and a member of the UK’s Network of Buddhist Organisations. He teaches workshops internationally and online and leads retreats across the UK. Through his clear and practical teaching style and warm and humorous approach, David inspires people to take back control of their thoughts and feelings and discover genuine wellbeing within.

Location

Location

Jamyang London
Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, Renfrew Road, London, UK
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HYBRID Shamatha: Meditation for Balanced Living • One Day Retreat

Date

12 Oct 2024

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Human Friendly Events

Samadhi is an inclusive organisation and we welcome people of all ages, genders (including gender identity), sexual orientation, abilities, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief.

As an LGBTQ-led Buddhist organisation, we strongly believe that no one should be discriminated against for any reason at all and subscribe to the ideals of non-harm and loving-kindness. You’re welcome no matter who you are and you’re free to express yourself authentically.