A residential course in Land of Joy, Northumberland, UK

When we study Buddhist Philosophy we are actually studying who we are and how we interact with the world. The Introduction to Buddhism ten day course teaches Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and meditation from a modern view point, providing a different perspective from which we can increase the amount of peace, happiness, and compassion we have in our daily lives.

Book through Land of Joy website

Topics covered during the course include:

• The Mind and Emotions
• Karma
• Rebirth
• Love and Compassion
• The Nature of Reality

A typical day on the course will begin with a meditation session at around 7am, followed by a mixture of teaching sessions, meditations, discussions and breaks throughout the day, finishing around 8pm. You must be at the centre by 3pm on 15th June with the first session starting at 3:30pm. The retreat will finish after lunch on the 24th June (around 2pm).

The course ends with two days of intensive meditation which provides a special opportunity for you to familiarise yourself with and gain insight into the topics you learnt during the teachings. The peaceful and still environment at Land of Joy is the perfect setting to complete this course, providing the space to contemplate and reflect on what you hear.

Whether you are Buddhist or not, this is a great way to learn about what ‘Buddhists’ believe and hear about ways to improve your life and fulfil your potential.

If you would like to attend but cannot manage the full ten days you are welcome to attend for a minimum of the first five days

Primary Teacher

Ondy has been a Dharma practitioner since 1979, and established Yeshe Buddhist Study Group (YBG) 2001.She has served as a FPMT Touring Teacher since 2007, and has taught introductory and intermediate courses at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala and Root Institute in Bodhgaya. She specialises in making the teachings accessible and relevant to contemporary life. Having developed a Mindfulness Based Mind Training Programme that encapsulates Buddhist Psychology in a secular framework, she has much experience of delivering teaching and training to professional public sector and private organisations, as well as in Dharma settings. Trained as a Drama teacher, she has been a teacher since 1976 and says that she still has plenty of Drama (and Dharma) left in her.

Assisting Meditation Leader

Beth first discovered Tibetan Buddhism when she completed an Introduction to Buddhism ten day course at Root Institute in Bodhgaya, India in 2012 while volunteering there as a Physiotherapist. Since then, she has received many teachings from Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as attending a number of retreats including the one month November course at Kopan Monastery and her own personal retreat in a remote village in the Nepal Himalayas.

Beth is therefore very aware of the positive and life-changing effect this course can have on those who attend it and is passionate about supporting Ondy by leading the meditations for the retreat.