“If you want others to be happy, practise compassion. If you want to be happy, practise compassion.” HH Dalai Lama

None of us wants to suffer. We want to experience fulfilment, health and genuine happiness. We want to live in a peaceful, just and stable society, in a beautiful and flourishing world. And yet difficult, painful situations arise, causing mental and physical suffering in our lives, in our communities and in our world.

Is there an answer?

According to the ancient teachings of Buddhism, there certainly is – it is compassion. It may seem to be in short supply, but they tell us it is possible for each of us to nurture and expand our experience of compassion, for ourselves and others.

Imagine the impact on our world if we could do that – if everyone could do that. I don’t believe HH Dalai Lama is exaggerating when he describes it as the new radicalism and calls for the ‘mother of all revolutions’.

This is what we will be examining in this retreat. We will explore:
◦ what do we mean by compassion?
◦ what difference can it make to my life, to my communities and to the world?
◦ practical methods for nurturing and developing our compassion for self and others

“A human being is part of the whole called by us ‘the universe’, a part limited by time and space. They experience themselves, their thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and affection for a few persons nearest to us.

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening the circle of understanding and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert Einstein

Since first meeting the Buddhist teachings about 40 years ago, I have always been impressed with just how practical the advice is, and how it impacts my daily life in a positive way. I have especially valued the instruction, from the Buddha himself, to check everything carefully against one’s own intelligence and experience.

In my journey along this path I have been extremely fortunate to receive teachings from some wonderful teachers, and to engage in several retreats.

It is therefore my great joy to share whatever experience I have with others, in a way that connects with our everyday life.