On this page we have a brief explanation of our next retreats with links to get more information. For the long retreats we have more information on the site, for the shorter (day or weekend) events please register your interest for more information via email.
In addition to SanghaSeva's own retreats we are also listing events we wish to promote that closely share our vision. Some are being offered by independent organisations and some in collaboration with SanghaSeva facilitators. To make this as clear as possible they are listed under the heading SanghaSeva Supports. These are not adverts, and no money or favours have changed hands in creating this expanded listing.
“Refugees are going to continue to come, and the only question is what we are going to do to help them.”
- Davan Yahya Khalil
An opportunity to embody our humane response to crisis, and take the chance to care for others.
To embrace our shared humanity and see the person beyond the label 'refugee'.
To open to this painful reality and make a difference by helping create a safe haven for those who have seen the worst of humanity.
We will be helping NGO's created to support refugees who are experiencing real hardship. This is essential work that continues even though the Calais camps were shut down towards the end of 2016. Our time there will be an act of solidarity and contribute to a real difference for those who truly need help.
The Humanity in Action retreat will combine this positive action with meditation, discussions, and group processing. This will be immediately followed by a less structured Sangha Volunteer Period for those who wish to continue working in the same spirit as the retreat. You are free to choose to come to both parts or just the Humanity in Action retreat.
We will be working with Help Refugees, a grassroots organisation formed by volunteers that came to support the crisis before the camps were demolished and residents evicted.
Our main work will be in the warehouses where we may be sorting donations, working in the kitchen, or preparing parcels for distribution. It is not possible to know ahead of time exactly what we will do nor what is needed to support the noble humanitarian work, but we aim to find work suitable for all ages and energy levels.
If you are touched by this project but cannot join us, you could also help by sponsoring someone else to go. If you would like to use Paypal please donate here.
If you would like to use another method to support this retreat please contact us.
The retreat will be facilitated by Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested read more information and register your interest for this retreat.
This is an opportunity to spend a day outdoors together, working gently with the earth as an expression of our hearts.
The day will be framed by periods of meditation and contemplation cultivating greater awareness in a daily life setting.
Bringing positive action and spiritual practice together gives us an opportunity to express our care and love for our planet, while also offering an opportunity to meet and connect with like minded people.
We will be working at and with the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, participating in wildlife and habitat conservation work.
This could include weeding, pruning, brambling, habitat creation, path repairing etc.
No skills or previous experience required; everyone is welcome.
Times: 9:30 to 17:00
Cost: £12 to cover organisational costs.
There will be the possibility to offer dana to the facilitators at the end of the day.
The retreat will be facilitated by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
This event is run jointly with London Insight Meditation.
If you are interested to receive more information please register your interest for this Saturday retreat.
Walking in simplicity and nature through the French Mountains, supported by silence and mediation through the days.
With Zohar Lavie, Christopher Titmuss, Denis Roberect and Nathan Glyde
For more information visit DharmaYatra.org
This silent meditation retreat will use heartful practices that calm our minds and soothe our bodies, so that we gently and sincerely journey towards our “sure heart’s release”.
With Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde
For more information visit FreelyGivenRetreats.org
“Be the change you want to see” - Mahatma Gandhi
An opportunity to open your heart to the complex situation in Israel and Palestine.
To connect directly with the people and their pain beyond media reportage, views and opinions.
To develop our ability to be with difficulty, conflict, and blame.
To stay steady with strong emotions and expand our capacity for peacefulness, kindness and care.
To meet and be inspired by those who choose peace when all around them pushes towards conflict.
We will be spending time both in Palestine and in Israel, meeting Palestinians and Israelis whose lives are directly affected by the conflict. We will harvest olives with Palestinian villagers who have difficulties accessing their olive groves due to the Israeli army and settlers.
The aim of this retreat is to bring love, compassion, and an openness of heart and mind to a place of pain, suffering and confusion.
We will be working with both Palestinians and Jews dedicated to a nonviolent transformation of their lives. Our wish is to bring support and understanding to all those living this conflict and its effects. There will be silent days of meditation and reflection, and group explorations into being with our experience.
If you are touched by this project but cannot join us, you could also help by sponsoring someone else to go. If you would like to use Paypal please donate here.
With Paypal you can pay securely with credit cards or freely create your own Paypal account.
If you would like to use another method please contact us.
If you would like to join the retreat but require financial assistance please contact us.
The retreat will be facilitated by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested read more information and register your interest for this retreat.
“Be the change you want to see” - Mahatma Gandhi
This retreat is an opportunity to reach out beyond the walls that separate Israelis from Palestinians; both walls built by human hands and those built within us.
By not allowing ourselves to be limited by the constructed roles we play, we can directly express our basic human goodness.
This is a chance to experience the situation more directly; beyond stereotypes, media images and fearful projections.
The aim of this retreat is to cross the real and imagined border between these countries; so close and yet often so far apart.
To create a supportive environment for opening to the situation, we will be spending time in a Palestinian village meeting and working with Palestinian villagers, whose lives are impacted by the Israeli army and settlers.
Our wish is to bring support and understanding to all those living in this conflict, and to make the meeting of Jews and Arabs, Israeli and Palestinian, a reality.
We hope to bring more understanding, more compassion and more peace, both to the moments of the retreat and to the situation as a whole.
This is a short version of the Being Peace retreat listed above. This weekend retreat is primarily aimed at people who are already living or spending time in the region.
The retreat will be facilitated by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested in exploring what it is to "Be Peace" register your interest for this retreat to receive more information.
"We can do no great things, only small things with great love" - Mother Teresa
An opportunity to open to joy and sorrow and see where and how they meet.
To share care and love in different ways; experiencing how much we receive when we express natural compassion.
To inquire into what is really helpful and how love comes through us when all of us shows up.
To explore remaining open to all the inner qualities we may have outcast, while supporting those who know this in the world.
Anandwan is a vibrant and inspiring community, comprising cured leprosy patients and people with any "disability" that has led them to be cast out from their families and societies.
The work retreat is an expression of compassion to those who have been excluded. Simply offering our time by living and working in the community alongside the residents, developing friendships and learning new skills weakens the feeling of isolation.
There will also be time for daily meditations, group explorations and a silent meditation day once a week.
We have made a short video, with film maker Tom Riddle, showing more of what happens on this retreat:
The work retreat will be preceded by a silent meditation retreat in Anandwan's agricultural lands. We feel this adds to the experience of being in Anandwan, but it is not compulsory.
The silent retreat offers time to explore our inner nature, and see what we discover within. Days will include guidance in mediation techniques and practices, talks and time for personal interviews with facilitators. As well as group meditations in the hall, there will be time for walking meditation outside.
If you wish to only attend the silent meditation retreat select the appropriate retreat on the registration form.
When we first came upon Anandwan we saw it as a rare jewel; an embodiment of compassion; and a vision of the future.
We want to offer the opportunity for others to experience the wonder, the empowerment, and the beauty of this precious place.
Both retreats will be led by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested read more information and register for the Anandwan retreat.
"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves" - Mahatma Gandhi
An opportunity to live in a community sharing our deepest intentions, living lightly on the earth while co-creating a centre of connection and positivity.
To nurture gentleness; bringing it into being on the retreat and enlivening it in our lives and in the world.
To harmonise with the elements; connecting to nature by living and working outdoors in the Himalayan mountains.
On this retreat we will participate in the creation of the Dharmalaya institute for compassionate living.
The work retreat offers time for living and working as a community, developing friendships and learning new skills. We will be participating in the creation of food gardens, permaculture landscaping, and earth building.
There will also be time for daily meditations, group explorations and silent meditation days.
Preceding the work retreat there will be a silent meditation retreat, we find this adds to the experience of being in Dharmalaya.
The silent retreat offers time to explore our inner nature, and see what we discover within. Days will include guidance in mediation techniques and practices, talks and time for personal interviews with facilitators. As well as the group meditations in the hall, there will be time for walking meditation outside.
If you wish to only attend the silent meditation retreat select the appropriate retreat on the registration form.
Dharmalaya is dedicated to bringing together sustainable development, ecological building, and spiritual growth.
We hope this retreat will be a time of connected action to develop connection to ourselves and the world.
Both retreats will be led by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested read more information and register your interest for the retreats.
Read more about SanghaSeva's facilitators.
Visit DependentOrigination.org for more information about Zohar and Nathan's silent retreat schedule.
This 10 day silent meditation retreat will use heartful practices that calm our minds and soothe our bodies, so that we gently and sincerely journey towards our “sure heart’s release”. Along the way we will see deeper, understand more profoundly, and learn to live more wholeheartedly.
With Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde
For more information visit FreelyGivenRetreats.org