Events

I shall be at my retreat house in France for the three months October to December 2016. If you have a yearning to establish your life on a new footing and to do so via the medium of Buddhist practice, then I invite you to come and join me. This is not a commercial venture so, depending upon your means, we can agree an individual financial contribution to board and lodging. The regime here is one of serious application to the teachings, practical work, and wholesome community life. Those who come should not be feeble, self-indulgent or with head in the clouds but should have a willingness to examine oneself and a will to contribute to community life. Basic Buddhist precepts are maintained - no alcohol, no drugs, no tobacco, no meat. However, our life here is not regimented, but is pervaded by a spirit of lightness and good humour as any of our guests can attest. There are daily teachings to study, yet the  exploration of the great spaciousness of the Dharma, both inner and outer, is primarily experiential. We follow broadly the style of Pureland Nembutsu Buddhism, yet also adhere to the dictum of Dogen: To know the Tao of Buddha is to know the self. To know the self is to forget the self. This dimming of self is confirmed by the appearance of myriad Dharmas.

Theme: The quotation from Dogen is from the text Genjo Koan, often taken to be his most important writing. I have recently been writing a book about it tentatively entitled, The Dark Side of the Mirror. Teachings given in this retreat will include extracts from the new book and discussion of the principles behind this seminal work revealing aspects of Zen, and of Buddhism generally, not commonly known.

Booking contact dharmavidya@fastmail.fm

Suggested donation: realistically, in the region of 800-1800 euro. If you can pay more that will help others. If you cannot pay so much, tell us what you can do.

Endorsement Charlene Jones has kindly endorsed this event on Facebook as follows: "A warm, wonderful man, who truly walks the spiritual walk, and by the way, does a good talk too...if you are thinking of a longer retreat, this is the place to be, this is the person to be with...he includes everyone in his love..."

Thoughts about the Retreat Here