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.
“Be the change you want to see” - Mahatma Gandhi
This retreat lovingly flows through the walls of separation that have been built up
between Israelis and Palestinians; physical walls, but also those built within our
hearts.
The aim of this retreat is to cross the real
and imagined border between these countries; so close and yet often so far apart.
By not allowing ourselves to be limited by the constructed roles we have been taught to
play, we can directly express our human goodness
ourselves.
This is a chance to experience the situation more directly; beyond stereotypes,
media images and fearful projections.
We have been running this retreat since 2006, and through almost 20 years of Being Peace we have established a relationship of trust and friendship in the villages and communities we work with. To support us all in opening to this complex situation with peace and intimacy we will be spending a few days in a Palestinian village. While there we will meet and work with Palestinian families in the olives, and hear how life under occupation is affecting them.
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 shorter version of the Being Peace retreat that happens later in the year. These weekend and day retreats are primarily aimed at people who are already living or spending time in the region.
These retreat will be facilitated by Zohar Lavie and Nathan Glyde.
If you are interested in exploring what it is to "Be Peace":
להרשמה ולקבלת מידע נוסף על סופהשבוע בעברית
Contact Us to register your interest for the Being Peace day retreats to receive more information in English.
To more easily accommodate everyone we will have a group that meets and practices from 8.30 am Central time in US and Canada, and another that starts at 8.30 am 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 there was a significant slipping back from the progress we had 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 environmental 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 Nathan
Glyde
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.
“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, please donate to the assistance fund.
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 Nathan Glyde and James Blake.
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.
“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 non-violent 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 help by sponsoring someone else to go. If you would like to, please donate to the assistance fund.
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 Being Peace weekend either 1-7, 3-7, or 9-14 October, also read more information and register your interest for a partial time.
להרשמה ולקבלת מידע נוסף על סופהשבוע בעברית
The links above will take you to a google form to complete, other ones use our own private web service.
A chance to visit Palestine for the evening and meet an activist who is seeking an peace despite the impact of occupation. An opportunity to practice compassionate listening, and to build bridges over barriers of separation, and participate in our shared humanity.
This event is co-run with Spring Up Foundation. Read more and sign up for this freely offered event
“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.
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.