Shaping the World is a freely offered drop-in group, led by Nathan Glyde and Zohar Lavie, meeting on the third Sunday of the month at 17.00 UK time.

We’ll explore samādhi, emptiness, brahmavihārās, and engagement teachings and practices for a whole life path of awakening. Those familiar with Rob Burbea's teachings will notice his influence and inspiration in these themes and how we conceive, explain, and express the dharma.

Dependent origination teachings and practices shape perception, and thereby all experiences: radically changing how the world appears to, or more accurately within our heart-minds. They can, therefore, bring profound freedom and associated well-being here and now. Furthermore, they empower us to live in ways that bring these teachings to life for the benefit of even more than ourselves.

We hope these sessions will dependently originate as freely as the beautiful teachings they explore. All are welcome to bring whatever they wish to share, and we will respond as a group to the needs, desires, and wishes with discussion of appropriate theory, sharing of periods of practice, and be open to spontaneously meeting what arises in the shared space.

If this appeals to you feel free to drop-in to one of the monthly sessions. Get the link to the next meeting by filling the form below.

A bit more about these teachings

We can shape how the world appears because all phenomena are empty (śūnya) and fabricated ( saṅkhāra). There is no fixed way things are. This opens us to incredible possibilities in practice and life.

Whether gathering in harmony or dissolving into peacefulness ( samādhi and jhāna) we can play with how the perception of self, other, and world appears and fades in our flexible, fluid and creative heart-mind (cita).

Furthermore we can ease the heart into illimitable relational qualities (brahmavihārās) of kindness (mettā), joy ( muditā), care (karuṇā), and the peace of a steady heart (upekka). When the heart is free to expand around the world, the world that appears in the heart changes.

Thus in these sessions we can open our exploration into the freedom of beautiful perceptions of the world. Then, on this more fluid and malleable basis, for those who wish to resolve the meeting of our deep and nourishing practice with all of our lives, there is more. There is something profoundly transformative to bring the skills of this artful dharma into engagement with the fullness of our lives and the issues of our times.

If you’re interested in all of this, or any subset, please drop in. All are welcome.

A bit about the facilitators

Nathan Glyde and Zohar Lavie have been teaching the Dharma since 2006. Since 2015 they have been sharing teachings and practices of dependent origination and fabrication. Both feel deeply inspired to continue to share and explore the Dharma approaches and vision of liberating emptiness that Rob Burbea expounded so well. In 2004 Nathan, Rob, and Zohar founded SanghaSeva | Meditation in Action to offer "retreats that touch the world", based in, and an expression of, subtle, yet radically powerful and deep, wisdom and compassion.

To read more about any of the teachers and organisations mentioned above click on their name.

Timings

The monthly sessions will (normally) happen on the third Sunday of the month, beginning at 5pm UK time, and run for around 90 mins.

The next sessions in 2023 will be 28 May (4th Sunday); 18 June; 16 July; 20 August.
For your information here is the current time in the UK - see what 17.00 UK time is where you are.

Price(less)

In the tradition of Dharma teachings participants are invited to support the sessions with dāna: freely given contributions. Traditionally those who share teachings are dependent on the generosity of those who receive them: a conscious exchange rooted in inclusivity and openness that allows these priceless teachings to be available to all. With dana we cultivate a spirit of caring rooted in interconnectedness, and a liberating opening into the fullness of life. Generosity is a practice that nourishes the heart and resonates with and supports the deepening of our practice.

Support the teachings

Next Steps

All who are interested in the themes of inner or outer transformation are welcome to attend. If you’d like to have the invitation and link sent to you just add your email address in the form below.

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If you have any questions or issues please contact us

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