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 of an integrated practice. They are being offered by independent organisations we resonate with, and/or run by 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.
To more easily accommodate everyone we will have a group that meets and practices from 8am Central time in US and Canada, and another that starts at 8am UK time. The retreat days will have the same form, but please register for the one in your most convenient time zone.
“There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.” - Wendell Berry
This retreat is an opportunity to meet together online to support working for good in our locality.
By tuning into the feeling of sangha as a community of support, we can go beyond what we feel is possible alone.
This is a chance to experience being empowered to act from our heart’s deepest wishes, and go
beyond the human habitual norms of care in our actions.
The first style of Sacred Places retreats will be a clean up. We will have a day of action in each of our local areas, perhaps you’ve already noticed a nature spot you would love to see cleaner than it is right now.
If you’re near an ocean or a waterway, a woodland or fields, or a scrubland or a side of road, you will have noticed and can feel how our human nature is living in mother nature. This living planet is home to countless other beings, and it is time to act for them too.
Human lifestyles generate quite a lot of waste, some of this escapes the waste collection system and collects instead in areas of natural beauty. We're not just talking about the countryside – even a flower by the side of the road is beautiful and natural.
During the time of Covid we have seen a slipping back from the progress we’ve made in recycling and plastic reduction. This is understandable, thinking of the environment is hard when we’re in a panic or a pandemic. Yet when plastic isn’t taken care of well it finds its way through our streets towards the sea. It's not hard to see the impact of our decreased care and consideration around plastics along our shorelines and riverbanks.
Let’s work together remotely yet deeply connected to each other and to great nature to make these desecrated (neglected) places sacred again for all beings.
We'll meet in the morning via a Zoom call to establish our connection as a community of actors. We’ll have a meditation session together and a time for sharing our intentions. Then spend the day with the activity of cleaning. In the afternoon/evening we’ll meet again to share how our day has been: what we’ve learned, achieved, and transformed. Then we’ll close with a meditation.
This is the next in a series of retreats that takes place with a distributed community, supported by a feeling of togetherness. Later we may open to other humanitarian and envirnomental issues and activities in other fields. Each event will be treated as an individual event, and registration for each day of action does not require former attendance on other Sacred Places days.
The Sacred Places retreat in European time zones will be facilitated by Helen Cotter and Gareth Fysh-Foskett.
Register your interest in Sacred
Places European time zones to receive more information.
The Sacred Places retreat in North American time zones will be facilitated by Deanna Burkett.
Register your interest in Sacred
Places North American time zone to receive more information.
“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.
If you are already in the area you could join us for a long weekend either 12-15 or 19-22 October, or for one day on Friday 21 October. Please, also read more information and register your interest for a partial time.
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now” -
Anon
This retreat is an opportunity to touch the earth and lay down roots of peace and
restoration;
A time for supporting inner and outer growth in and for nature;
This is a chance to aid greater diversity, range, and plenitude
for the wild places of the planet.
The aim of this retreat is to gather in community around Moor Trees' mission to restore native woodland. Then while we work in the land, we will deepening our connection to ourselves and to nature.
We will stay near Dartmoor in the beauty of Eden Rise, where we will have space and time for meditation and community.
The retreat will comprise four days of tree planting. These days will not be hard work, and
we will adapt to the abilities of the group. But please be aware that tree planting does require
bending and working in the wild
outdoors. In the middle day of the retreat we will have a restful day of meditative silence,
reflection, and inquiry.
We hope this event will support community, positive action, and support
our meditative practices.
The retreat will be facilitated by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested in exploring what it is to express "Earth Care" with some meditative tree planting, please read more and register your interest for the Earth Care retreat.
“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 NGOs 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.
We will be working with grassroots organisations formed by volunteers that came to support the crisis before the camps were demolished and residents evicted.
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. Our morning work will probably be in the warehouses where we may be sorting donations, and preparing food and other necessities into parcels for distribution. In the afternoon we may engage with the distribution, and offering other services: like hot drinks, sewing, hair station, games… to those in need.
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 day 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 day retreat.
Read more about SanghaSeva's facilitators.
Visit DependentOrigination.org for more information about Zohar and Nathan's silent retreat schedule.