For more information on our events in 2011 please email us to subscribe to our newsletter

 

Autumn Sale:

Saturday 12th March 'til Sunday 20th March

Up to 75% off selected ethically traded gifts, CDs and books.

Some fantastic titles and giftware.

An excellent opportunity to stock up your personal Dharma library.

Some slightly damaged or scuffed items at great reductions.

Great ideas for presents.

If you've been hesitating over making that purchase, you could get it now!

 

Some of our past events:

6pm on Friday 4th March:
Jason Siff launches his new book: "Unlearning Meditation: what to do when the instructions get in the way"

When we meditate, our minds often want to do something other than the meditation instructions we've been taught. Jason Siff invites us to approach meditation in a new way — one that honours the part of us that doesn't want to do the instructions. He teaches us how to become more tolerant of intense emotions, sleepiness, compelling thoughts, fantasies — the whole array of inner experiences that are usually considered hindrances to meditation. The meditation practice he presents in Unlearning Meditation is gentle, flexible, permissive, and honest.

“A radically illuminating book for practitioners to newly understand their meditation through loving interest in what is actually going on, beyond any instruction or ideal.” —Jack Kornfield, author of The Wise Heart

Jason Siff was a monk in Sri Lanka in the 1980’s. He is the guiding teacher of the Skillful Meditation Project in the United States. He visits Australia regularly leading workshops and retreats on meditation and recollective awareness – which focuses on how we relate to our inner experiences in meditation.

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6pm on Monday 11th October:
Stephen Batchelor talks about his latest book: "Confession of a Buddhist Atheist"

Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is a personal account of the author's thirty-eight year engagement with Buddhism. The first part of the book (Monk) follows the author's journey from his departure from England at the age of 18, his first meeting with the Dalai Lama in 1972, his six years training as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, his disillusion with the Tibetan tradition and departure for a three year Zen training as a monk in South Korea. The second part (Layman) recounts the author's return to lay life in Europe and focuses on his quest to find out who was Siddhattha Gotama, the historic Buddha, and discover what is truly distinctive in his teaching. This quest interweaves reflections on early Buddhist doctrine, a journey through modern India to visit the sacred sites of Buddhism, and a detailed reconstruction of the Buddha's life on the basis of the Pali Canon.

Stephen Batchelor was a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions for ten years. Known for his agnostic and secular approach to the Buddhadharma, he has authored several books, including the bestselling Buddhism Without Beliefs . His latest book is Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. He lives in France with his wife Martine and teaches seminars and leads meditation retreats worldwide.

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6pm on Tuesday 12th October:
Martine Batchelor introduces "Spirit of the Buddha"

The Spirit of the Buddha introduces the life and teachings of the Buddha in a contemporary manner, explores the development of the tradition up to the present day, and shows how different schools of Buddhism have remained true to or departed from the original teachings. The aim of The Spirit of the Buddha is to introduce the life and fundamental teachings of the Buddha in an accurate and contemporary manner for a general but knowledgeable public. The book also considers the development of the tradition up to the present day, thus showing how different schools of Buddhism have remained true to and departed from the original teachings. The book is based on original scriptures from the Pali Canon, understood in the light of the most recent scholarship, while being practical and accessible throughout. It explores essential Buddhist ideas in a modern context, thereby making the Buddha's teachings relevant for our times.

MARTINE BATCHELOR lived in Korea as a Zen 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 is a member of the Gaia House Teacher Council. She teaches meditation retreats worldwide and lives in France. Her latest work is The Spirit of the Buddha.

6pm on Thursday 18th November:
We Celebrate Jarvis Masters recent memoir "That Bird Has My Wings"

That Bird Has My Wings is the astounding memoir of death row inmate Jarvis Masters and a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit and the talent of a fine writer. Offering scenes from his life that are at times poignant, revelatory, frightening, soul-stirring, painful, funny, and uplifting, That Bird Has My Wings tells the story of the author’s childhood with parents addicted to heroin, an abusive foster family, a life of crime and imprisonment, and the eventual embracing of Buddhism.

Jarvis has written: "Those who want to make sense of my life will see, through my writing, a human being who made mistakes. Maybe my writing will at least help them see me as someone who felt, loved, and cared, someone who wanted to know himself for who he was."