NEW: London non-residential retreat

The Wisdom of Insecurity, The Security of Wisdom A two-day non-residential workshop with Rosalie Dores & Jill Shepherd Dates and times:6 July 2024 10:00am – 5:00pm7 July 2024 10:00am – 5:00pm Location:St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford RoadLondon,  E2 9PL United Kingdom In a constantly shifting and changing world, where do we find true refuge? How might we groundContinue reading "NEW: London non-residential retreat"

Last chance: nine-day retreat at Te Moata with visiting US teacher Nic Redfern

Together and Alone: Finding freedom individually and collectively A nine-day retreat weaving together silent and relational insight meditation with some Zen practices, 12-21 April This retreat offers a rare opportunity to explore a range of different approaches to finding freedom, taken from both the insight and Zen traditions offered by Auckland Insight guiding teacher Jill Shepherd andContinue reading "Last chance: nine-day retreat at Te Moata with visiting US teacher Nic Redfern"

NEW! – online Insight Dialogue practice opportunity

Polishing the Pāramī An online Insight Dialogue course teachers: Elizabeth Faria, Jill Shepherd, Anita Bermont and occasional guest teachers.The series commences Wed 20 March 2024 (Aust/NZ/Asia) or Tues 19 March (Americas/UK) and runs for eighteen sessions (approx *2 sessions per month of 1.5 hours per session) through to December (*see specific dates below). The ten pāramī are ten noble qualities of character whichContinue reading "NEW! – online Insight Dialogue practice opportunity"

NEW: day of online meditation

Compassion and Wisdom: A day of online meditation with Kamala and Jill The Two Great Wings of the Dharma: Compassion and Wisdom A day of online meditation with Kamala Masters and Jill Shepherd You are warmly invited to join our international sangha for a day of online meditation practice together, exploring the inter-relationship between compassion and wisdom: how theseContinue reading "NEW: day of online meditation"

Inhumanity and humanity

Man's inhumanity to man,Makes countless thousands mourn. Robert Burns Following the recent extreme violence in Israel, perhaps like many of you I’ve felt pretty numb, struggling to make sense of the senseless. This discomfort is trivial compared to the suffering of those who are directly affected, and words are utterly inadequate in response to overwhelmingContinue reading "Inhumanity and humanity"

Support your practice and support Te Moata Retreat Centre

Join us for a 90 minute live online meditation session and Q&A with Gil Fronsdal Renowned US dharma teacher Gil Fronsdal recently taught a one-week retreat at Te Moata in February this year. He appreciated what the centre offers so much that he has volunteered to lead a live online meditation session, short talk and Q&A to benefit the Sustain Te MoataContinue reading "Support your practice and support Te Moata Retreat Centre"

Please help support our beloved Te Moata retreat centre

The retreat centre where Auckland Insight holds many of its retreats now needs our support. If you have any capacity to help sustain Te Moata so that we - and many other groups - can continue to hold our retreats there, please check out the information below for ways to offer support. Information reposted fromContinue reading "Please help support our beloved Te Moata retreat centre"

Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 2: Consolation

A few practices that might help mitigate sorrow and despair flower offerings at Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India Mettā / kindness and rest A short talk exploring mettā: how it's supported by our capacity to rest, and is itself a restful quality In the language of the suttas, the Buddha’s discourses, many of the words thatContinue reading "Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 2: Consolation"

Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 1: Confrontation

A few perspectives on confronting the reality of the climate crisis. Blue Mountains backburn - photograph by John Orme US dharma teacher James Baraz As a Dharma teacher who is very concerned about climate, I have been aware for some time that practitioners are often resistant to hearing Dharma talks on this subject. I haveContinue reading "Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 1: Confrontation"