Freedom From Struggle - Foundational Buddhist Teachings

This series of core Buddhist teachings lays the foundation for anyone interested in understanding more about Buddhism and the insights into our human experience that we can discover through meditation.

These teachings and practices present a journey towards freeing oneself from struggle . The essence of Buddhism is that we as human beings experience anxiety, disappointment and negative emotions because we chase after comfort and pleasure, and yet counterintuitively we somehow end up still suffering. This need not be the case.  It is possible to train ourselves to nurture compassion, gentleness and intelligence.  Interacting with the world utilising these qualities can help us experience ourselves and our lives in a way that brings peace and contentment rather than pain and confusion. 

After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha, after much contemplation, taught the Four Noble Truths, which are the starting point for this series of teachings. Meditation is the main practice that we offer in beginning to help loosen our preoccupation with the endless thoughts, emotions, feelings, hopes and fears that swirl through our mind on a daily basis. As we begin to create space from our endless mental chatter, we develop the capacity to notice that things are a certain way and that we can learn to work in harmony with it.  This leads us to the ability to move with the ever changing fabric of reality in a way that does not ignore the sadness and poignancy of being alive, but offers us the flexibility and spaciousness to navigate a meaningful path through life.

The whole course can be followed online but it also offers the opportunity for participants to come together in person at 3 weekend retreats at the Shambhala centre in London. As well as the core programmes listed below, a facilitated online study group will be offered. 

Each of these programmes have been designed to be taken as individual teachings and they also work together as a whole series. If you would like to book the whole series of programmes we are offering a 30% discount on full price, early bird and concession fees. 

January 14-15th: Suffering and it's Cure with Peter Conradi
(Full Weekend, in Person and Online)
More info here.

February 7-28th: Resting in the Simplicity of Mindfulness Meditation with Barbara Märtens 
(Tuesday Evenings, Online)
More info here.

March 11-12th: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness with Jez Taylor
(Full Weekend, in Person and Online)
More info here.

April 4-25th: Developing Mindfulness into Wisdom with David Hope
(Tuesday Evenings, Online)
More info here.

May 20-21st: Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change with Jez Taylor and Vinita Joseph
(Full Weekend, in Person and Online)
More info here.

Cost

If you would like to register for the programmes individually please follow the links above. If you would like to book the whole series of programmes which encompasses 3 weekends and 2 evenings courses, we are offering a 30% discount on full price, early bird and concession fees. 

The early bird registration fee of £230 is available until one month before the course starts, after which time the fee will be £275. A concession fee of £180 is available for those earning below £20,000 per annum and a concession fee of £160 is available for those earning below £15,000.  Please contact [email protected] to arrange a concession. 

We do not want cost to be a barrrier to anyone attending and understand that these are challenging times financially for many people - please do not hesitate to contact us if you require a further concession.