I loved this weekend! I found it so inspirational and learned a lot, especially from other people in the group – 2024 participant

For the third year running at Land of Joy, Alison and Anna will be bringing their unique mix of head and heart, warmth, insight and humour to the pressing topic of how we can respond more skilfully to the problems and challenges that we each face.

Tibetan Buddhism proposes that our problems are a precious opportunity for personal growth. It’s hard to argue with this, and there are many inspiring traditional texts on the subject. The question is: how do we actually put this advice into practice in the messy arena of our twenty-first century lives? How can we transform everyday difficulties and discomforts such as aversion, stress and the ever-present inner critic into opportunities for self-compassion, insight and creativity? What practical steps can we take to embrace reality in a more wholesome, wise and compassionate way?

If you’d like to explore these questions with a group of like-minded and mutually-supportive people, via a mixture of reflection, discussion and meditation – and a little bit of optional artwork – then please join us for this practical and straight-talking weekend, with the aim of bringing about a happier and more peaceful year for both ourselves and others.

Alison Murdoch is the former director of Jamyang Buddhist Centre (London) and of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, and for many years was a regular Buddhist contributor to BBC Radio. She is a graduate of the FPMT Basic Programme and the lead editor of the book and web app Lamrim Year, published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. In 2018 she founded The Good Heart, an award– winning centre for exploring kindness in Frome, Somerset.

Anna Colao is a practising Buddhist of over 25 years whose goal is to bring meditation, values and internal transformation to a variety of audiences in an authentic, fun and accessible way.
She is currently employed by Common Purpose, a global not-for-profit in the leadership development space, and has previously worked for organisations such as Crisis, Kids Company and The School for Social Entrepreneurs.