Buddhist Studies
Developing Maitri – In Person and Online
Open to all!
This programme will be part of our 2024 series to be announced soon.
Developing Maitri is essential to the Buddhist path from start to finish. In our tradition the word “Maitri” is translated as Loving Kindness towards Oneself. But while self-compassion may sound an attractive idea, how is it achieved?
A famous Zen joke concerns an interchange running as follows.
Student to Master: How do I help myself?
Master: Help others.
Student: But how do I help others?
Master: Help yourself.
We will explore how the so-called Hinayana or Path of Individual Liberation leads naturally towards discovery of the Mahayana or Path of Compassion. The bridge between these two is Maitri. We will practice together both Shamatha (or Abiding in Peace) and also Tong-Len (or Sending-and-Taking).
As well as sessions of meditation, there will be short talks, discussions and dyads. We will discuss how to bring a loving presence to bear on fear and negativity; how to invoke forgiveness, courage and space; and how to start to see how a sense of poverty can transmute into what Chögyam Trungpa terms ‘the genuine heart of sadness” or “soft spot”. Books and teachings by Pema Chödrön are especially helpful as background reading.
This programme will take place in person at the London Shambhala Meditation Centre but can also be attended online – Please contact Katrina on [email protected] if you would like to participate remotely.
About the Teacher
Peter Conradi is a senior teacher who has led many retreats in France (DCL), in Poland and in Wales. He is English Professor Emeritus at Kingston University, and the author of many books including Going Buddhist and Iris Murdoch: A Life. He is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Payment Terms and Conditions
Please register and pay in full on registration, ensuring you click on the relevant price option to go through to PayPal where you can also pay by credit/debit card. Cancellation up to 1 week before the programme will receive a full refund, after that there will be a £20 fee charged for cancellation up until two days before, after which no refund is granted.
The early bird registration fee of £90 is available until two weeks prior, after which time the fee will be £110. A concession fee of £60 is available for those earning below £20,000 per annum and a concession fee of £50 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.
Sunday: Tea/coffee 9.30am, start 10am. Finish 4.30pm
Lunch will be provided, please let us know of any dietary requirements.
For further information please email: [email protected]