Shamata Retreat Resources
With Ven Mary Reavey: 23rd – 30th September 2022
Shamatha is the development of attention which enables us to focus our attention on an object without agitation or dullness, eventually reaching the clear mind of. Shamata (calm abiding) is the clear mind that provides us with the focus we need to positively transform our minds for ourselves and others. We all need to start where we are so no matter what our level of meditation might be, you will find benefit from training your attention.
We can use this skills you will learn to:
- uproot negative habits,
- develop Bodhicitta,
- experience insights into the nature of reality and radically
- alter our relationship to the rest of the world (B. Alan Wallace)
This retreat will include teachings, many 24 minutes meditation sessions with time for reflection, Q&A and discussion. The structure will be based on the B. Alan Wallace book ‘The Attention Revolution’. Participants are gently encouraged to review this short text and, if possible, bring it with them to the retreat.
Ven Mary has attended long retreats on this topic with Lama Alan Wallace as well as completing a one year solitary retreat under his guidance on Holy Island off the west coast of Scotland.
About Ven Mary
Born in Dundee, Scotland, Ven Mary was a staff nurse when she first encountered Buddhism at the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition’s mother monastery – Kopan – in Nepal in 1978. It was her love of adventure and trekking that led her to Kopan. Ven Mary attended a month long course taught by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa who emphasised the importance of meditation and taking complete responsibility for your own actions and their effects.
In 2001 Ven Mary took ordination as a nun with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, then until 2012 taught meditation and Buddhist philosophy at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, Buddhist centres in Preston, Liverpool and at Armley Prison, Dumfries Prison, Leeds General Infirmary, St James’ Hospital and Wheatfields Hospice where she held regular meditation sessions. Ven Mary went on to take full Bikshuni ordination in 2015
Over the years Ven Mary has undertaken and led many meditation retreats. She completed a one year solitary retreat in 2014 and completes a three month personal retreat each year. She continues to regularly teach at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, Jamyang Liverpool and in York.
Recommended Reading
Ven Mary’s teachings will be based on the B. Alan Wallace book ‘The Attention Revolution’. Having a copy of this book to hand will be very useful throughout the retreat, as it will be referred to often.
Resources for Zoom Sessions
Audio Recordings of Zoom Sessions
Day 1
Session One
Day 2
Session One
Day 3
Session One
Session Two
Day 4
Session One
Session Two
Day 5
Session One
Day 6
Session One
Session Two
Day 7
Session One
Session Two
Day 8
Session One
A Way to Say Thank You
Please use the form below if you would like to make an offering to Land of Joy as a thank you for making these resources available. Any offering will be a big help and very gratefully received as the unexpected closure of the centre is having a big impact of our finances. However, we very much appreciate many people are experiencing economical and financial challenges during these unpredictable times and therefore might not be able to support us at the moment.
Thank you and may you be entirely happy.
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