Why join?
The Dharma Gathering offers a precious opportunity to integrate practice into areas of our lives beyond silent meditation. We will deepen our exploration of the Dharma by combining periods of silent reflection and meditation with periods for group discussions and activities. These will focus on themes such as relationship, communication and community.
We are open to practitioners of all ages and levels of experience; from first timers to the fully enlightened, and we welcome families too.
This event can be a time for bringing together our diversity of experience into an arena of connection, and the insights of our practice into the melting pot of real life interactivity.
On this gathering we will practice Insight meditation, also known as vipassana. The word vipassana means seeing things clearly and deeply. This meditation practice is over 2500 years old and draws from the Theravada Buddhist tradition. However, taking part in the gathering does not require an adherence to Buddhism or any adaptation of personal faith.
What happens in the Dharma Gathering? How about children?
The program includes periods of meditation, teachings, discussions on dharma-related topics and different activities supporting our practice, as well as time for being together more freely, enjoying the summer and going to sauna. Part of the day will be spent in silence and part tin communication. Teachings are in English; if needed, it is possible to arrange Finnish-speaking discussion groups and translation to Finnish.
Families are welcome to the Dharma Gathering. For children, we offer both organized program and free playing time under the supervision of adults for part of the day; this gives parents an opportunity to join other activities. We welcome children of various ages, but expect that they can take care of dressing and going to the loo themselves, and are able to listen to and obey instructions and to function in a group. It is also possible to come to the gathering with smaller children, but parents are responsible for organizing their care.
We will offer three vegetarian meals a day: breakfast, lunch and a light dinner, plus some snacks for children. Accommodation is mainly in shared rooms of 2-4 people. The retreat Venue is Friendship Inn in Kruusila, near Salo, at the shore of lake Pernjärvi.
Who are the teachers?
The retreat will be taught by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
Zohar has been practicing meditation in different traditions since 1995. This journey has taken her from the meditation cushion into exploring further ways of expressing truth and love and in 2004 she co-founded SanghaSeva. She now spends most of her time facilitating retreats that offer service as a spiritual path around the world. Since 2006 she has been teaching on silent retreats and in India, Europe and Israel, and since 2007 facilitating Dharma gatherings in India.
Nathan began meditating in 1997 and began teaching on silent meditation retreats in 2006. From a continued exploration of meditation on silent retreats grew a deep love of silence and the power of stillness. The realisation of the potential of every moment to become a moment of awakening provoked an exploration of meditation in daily life activities. An urge to offer retreats that offer deep connection in an active life led to the initiative in 2004 of SanghaSeva. Nathan has been facilitating Dharma gatherings in India since 2007.
Talks and guided meditations by Zohar and Nathan.
How much does it cost? How can I sign up?
Prices:
Adults 170 €
Child / bed 110 €
Child / mattress 70 €
It is also possible to pay less or more than the base price. You can sign up for the gathering by filling in the application form. Details about the price, registration and other practicalities.
Warmly,
Liisa Lähteenmäki +358 40 580 2668
Markku Ilo + 358 40 413 6833, applications