West Midlands Meditation and Mindfulness Group from Samadhi

An open and frank discussion about journeying with low moods and depression – whether of diagnosed disorders or seasonal or life changes.

Join us for this morning event where David will weave together the various strands of his life – his personal lived experience of depression, caring for loved ones with depression, working in inpatient and community mental health, plus his journey of recovery, and helpful insights from Buddhism and meditation. The ups and downs. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

We will finish with a reading and sharing circle hosted by our very own Yangchen (Catriona) – a safe space to openly and honestly explore our own experiences, successes, and pitfalls.

We hope this event will provide a comforting, non-judgemental, and uplifting space for those who journey with depression to come together and feel held and heard.

The entire morning will be unrecorded and only open to those able to attend live. We may host similar sessions in future.

Tentative Schedule
May be subject to change. All times given in UK timezone.
9am-10.00am – 60m – Session & Meditation with David
15 min break
10.15am-11.15am – 60m – Session & Meditation with David (incl. Q&A)
15 min break
11.30am-12.30pm – 60m – Sharing Circle with Yangchen

About the final session, Yangchen says:
“I want to theme my session around the notion of the divided life, the tension between “soul” (heart, essence, inner me) and the roles I occupy in the manifest world. In particular the effect of this tension on my chronic depression and the role of the three jewels in providing sanctuary. Inspired by Parker Palmer’s A Hidden Wholeness.”

The Foundation for Authentic Dharma Practice:
Outer Preliminary Practices for Tibetan Buddhism and Dzogchen

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s easy for our dharma practice to take a backseat.

The Four Revolutions in Outlook radically shift our view of reality and the meaning of life, helping us shift our priorities towards our practice and providing a solid foundation for authentic Dharma.

This inspiring 2-day online retreat with David Oromith, Buddhist contemplative and dharma teacher, will include a deep, practice-oriented exploration of the Four Revolutions in Outlook, aiming to ignite your motivation and offer a powerful boost for your Dharma practice.

In this retreat, we will explore these four indispensable meditations:

1. The Rarity and Preciousness of Our Human Existence: Recognising the unique opportunity of our precious human life.
2. The Significance of Mortality and Impermanence: Understanding the transient and changing nature of life.
3. The Reality of Dukkha: Acknowledging the full extent of suffering in existence.
4. The Nature of Actions and Their Consequences: Comprehending karma and its effects within and beyond this life.

These themes, when studied, contemplated, and meditated upon, radically shift our outlook and priorities. They are regarded as indispensable in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism and are taught as the common, outer preliminaries for Dzogchen practice.

What to Expect
Over the course of 8 sessions (2 on each), we will explore each theme and engage in guided meditations to deeply internalise these contemplations. David’s clear, practical, and relatable teaching style will make these ancient attitudes applicable to modern life.

Who Should Attend
This retreat is suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners who wish to revitalise their motivation for spiritual practice. Whether you are looking to start your journey or deepen your existing practice, this retreat will offer valuable insights and practical guidance.

Session schedule (for both days)
The schedule is given in UK time
11:00 – 12:30 – Session 1
2:00 – 3:30pm – Session 2
4:30 – 6pm – Session 3
7:00 – 8:00pm – Session 4

The entire retreat will include 8 sessions. You are welcome to join the entire retreat for full effect, or catch the sessions you can and then go through the recordings in an orderly manner.

All the participants will receive supporting materials, all the recordings, and additional guided meditations for continuous personal practice.
Any questions related to the theme of the retreat can also be submitted to the teacher throughout the days of the retreat.

If you need bursary assistance or a discount for the retreat, please contact us at [email protected]

Transform daily difficulties and stress into greater wellbeing and happiness

No one likes to experience misfortune. Yet, challenge and change can seem to feature front and centre in our daily lives. Our habits of mind don’t always help - we may have only a brief encounter with a difficulty and then find ourselves hours or days later still dwelling on every slight and minor inconvenience.

By ignoring the power of our own attitudes, we may focus entirely on factors outside ourselves. Soon, we may become paranoid and consumed by our efforts to erase difficult situations and people from our lives. The more we become consumed by negative attitudes such as fear and hostility, the more negative circumstances appear to us.

There is, however, another way to deal with adversity. Lojong (mind training) teachings show us a radically empowering path by turning towards the difficulties and irritations that we have always considered misfortunes. By shifting our attitude 180 degrees, we instead transform these misfortunes into valuable parts of our spiritual journey - the energy that propels us towards greater levels of wellbeing, wisdom and compassion.

In a world as difficult as ours, training in this way is not always easy, but, it is often the only option left to us. Where we cannot control what the world brings to us, we can control what we bring to the world.

As the great Dzogchen master Dodrupchen Tenpey Nyima says, “By training in this way, you will become gentle-minded, easy-going, and courageous; there will be no obstacles to your spiritual practice, all unfavorable circumstances will arise as splendid and auspicious; and your mind will continually be content with the joy of serenity. To follow a spiritual path in a degenerate era, such armor as this is indispensable.”

##### What is a Ghatika Monthly?