Registration will be from 09.00am on the first morning.
Day 1 & 2: 09.30-17.00
Day 3: 09.30-16.00
Join Paul and Choden for a 3-day retreat exploring the application of wisdom to the practice ofcompassion. Choden will draw on the ancient wisdom of Advaita Vedanta andTibetan Buddhism to show how wisdom is the inseparable twin of compassion. Hewill lead people step by step through the practice of emptiness leading tonon-dual awareness which lays the ground for the spontaneous arising of compassionlike the sun that effortlessly shines in a cloudless sky. Paul will show howthe biological drivers of compassion can be linked to a transformed view ofconsciousness evidenced by groundbreaking new scientific research. Both willshow how the ancient wisdom of the East can be combined with the modern scienceof the West to chart a path to compassion and wisdom that is unique and transformative.The retreat will have a strong experiential focus with a combination of guidedreflection, compassionate imagery, and wisdom practices.
This 3-day retreat willexplore how compassion can be approached from both an Evolutionary and Buddhistperspective and how wisdom is an integral part of compassion.
At the heart of CompassionFocused Therapy (CFT) - rooted in an evolutionary approach to mind - is the invitation to align oneself with a compassion motivation and draw on evolved cognitive and physiological capacities to respond to the difficult experiencesof life. Research shows how this compassionate orientation transforms our mind and how this is reflected in altered brain states. Compassion literally changes our brain for the better.
In Buddhism compassionate motivation is expressed by the term bodhicitta that is a deep commitmentto alleviate suffering and its causes and bring all living beings to a state ofpeerless freedom. Meditating without bodhicitta is seen as pointless and self-serving, while meditating in the service of bodhicitta changes everything – ourselves, those we are connected to and the world we live in.
Central to both the Evolutionaryand Buddhist approaches is the importance of wisdom. In Buddhism compassionwithout wisdom is called ‘idiot compassion’. In CFT wisdom is a core element ofcompassion. It is the understanding that emerges from having lived through difficulttimes in life and coming through the other side with a wisdom of directexperience that can then help others in a similar situation.
In Buddhism wisdom has a different meaning and refers to the complementary truths of emptiness and awareness. Emptiness points to the fact that all our struggles and suffering in life are like being under a spell – one might say the spell cast by the evolutionary mechanisms that build our bodies and brains and have us at their mercy. They are not real yet they hurt. And because they hurt, compassion is very important. Awareness or rigpa refers to the ground of our beingthat is inherently free and at peace despite all the ups and downs of our lives. In the Mahayana tradition it is called Buddha Nature. When we practice emptiness and compassion together this brings us home to the ground of our being which is like touching a place of sanity and peace in the midst ofthe complexity and confusion that life throws at us.
Paul and Choden will showhow the Buddhist and CFT approaches to compassion can complement each other and enrich our lives. In particular, Paul will explore how groundbreaking newscientific studies showing that consciousness is the ground of our being (rather than being the product of highly evolved brain systems) brings the CFT approach to compassion into closer alignment with the ancient wisdom of Buddhism.
Paul and Choden will guide aseries of compassion and wisdom practices that show how the approaches ofBuddhism and CFT can complement and support each other. These will include somewisdom practices for opening the door to emptiness and touching the unchanging awareness within.
Sandburn Hall
Scotchman Lane, Flaxton, York YO60 7RB
The website for this venue is https://www.sandburnhall.co.uk/
Accommodation is available at the venue.,
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All places booked for our event, must be paid for prior to attending the event unless pre-agreed with management. Please note that we cannot confirm your place until we have received payment.
Should you be unable to attend the event, please contact our admin team as soon as possible via hello@compassionatemind.co.uk. Refunds, less the Eventbrite administration fee, will be made if cancellations are received in writing up to one month before the event. Any cancellations received after this time will not be eligible for a refund, although we will consider exceptional circumstances. While refunds for failure to attend cannot be made, you can transfer your event fee to a future event that will take place within 12 months of your booking without an additional penalty.
Please note that information about the event and venue are subject to change and cancellation. Occasionally, an event may have to be cancelled or postponed. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes and cancellations as soon as possible via email. We cannot take responsibility for any resulting costs you may incur for travel, accommodation, any other related goods or service or other compensation should an event cancellation occur.
For all face-to-face events, lunch provided at the event will be vegetarian and will include eggs, but no meat or fish (though vegan options will also be made available). However, please advise us of any dietary requirements in the notes section whilst booking online and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
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