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Registered Charity Number 1082245 | PRIVACY POLICY
Special Event in Appledore, North Devon
The Wisdom of Self-Esteem
with Heide – Bideford Branch Class Teacher
Saturday 5th October 2024, 10.00am – 1.15pm
What do we base our self-esteem on? Do we have an appropriate and well-founded sense of self-worth and confidence? How can a lack of self-esteem affect us and others in our life?
In this half-day meditation course we will learn to identify the thoughts and feelings which can keep us limited in our outlook, and even feeling discouraged, and understand the potential harm they can do. By understanding these “unhelpful” minds, we can explore an alternative, entirely reliable basis for developing wise and healthy self-esteem. In doing so, we can start to relate to and grow our true potential for inner peace and lasting happiness.
This event is suitable for everyone and no previous experience is required. Everyone is welcome!
Parking
Silencing The Inner Critic
Saturday 12th October 2024, 10am – 1.15pm
It’s so easy to beat ourself when we make mistakes, or be down and harsh with ourselves. Often we’re our own worst enemy. But we can learn to be free of the inner-critic which gives rise to negative thoughts and feelings and feel better about ourselves.
On this half-day course, we will learn how to use wisdom and meditation to reduce and remove our self-critical thoughts and attitudes and recognise and experience our potential for inner peace and mental freedom.
Using these easy meditations and our new understanding we can let go and strive forward to be the person we want to be and live the way we really want to – creating positive attitudes towards ourselves, accepting our limitations and overcoming our self-doubts.
Schedule
Session 1: 10am – 11.15am Teaching with guided meditations
Session 2: 12pm – 1.15pm Teaching with guided meditations
Our Coffee Bar will be open during the break serving hot and cold drinks, delicious home-made cakes and a variety of snacks.
Fees
Drop in or you can book in advance: £15
This event is free to members – become a member HERE
Special Awayday Retreat: Saturday 19th October 2024
The Nature of All Things
A Day of Teachings and Meditations In The Peace of a South Dartmoor Venue
Please note this event must be booked in advance.
The Nature of All Things
Awayday Retreat – Saturday 19th October 2024
10:30am – 4:30pm
Meavy Parish Hall, Nr. Yelverton, Devon
Take time out and away from the city to enjoy a peaceful and inspiring day retreat within the southern boundary of Dartmoor National Park, in the small village of Meavy – only a short journey north of Plymouth.
Please note that all attendees will need to book in advance for this event.
The Awayday Retreat
On this special awayday with Resident Teacher and Kadampa Buddhist Monk, Gen Kelsang Dragden, we will have a wonderful opportunity to receive teachings and spend plenty of time meditating on the profound and most meaningful subject of the wisdom that realises the true nature of all things.
This powerful mind of wisdom, known also as “emptiness”, allows us to understand and eventually experience directly how things actually exist. Through learning, contemplating and meditating on emptiness, we discover that all phenomena are “empty” of existing outside of our mind. When we understand this and start applying it to our daily lives, we can relate to our experience of all the things, situations, people and events we encounter, with a peaceful, happy mind that understands the best way to be with to them.
Gen Dragden will provide clear explanations and guide us in meditations during the day so we can explore and deepen our experience of this life-changing mind of wisdom.
Everyone is welcome and no previous experience is required.
Schedule
- 10:30-11:15 Introduction, Teaching & Meditation
- 11:15-11:45 Tea Break
- 11:45:12:30 Teaching & Meditation
- 12:30-14:30 Lunch Break
- 14:30-15:15 Teaching & Meditation
- 15:15-15:45 Tea Break
- 15:45-16:30 Teaching & Meditation
Fees
- Non-members £25
- Members £20
- To include basic tea, coffee and biscuits during the morning and afternoon breaks
The Venue
We will be holding this wonderful day, in the quiet village setting of Meavy, about 11miles to the north of Plymouth at:
- Meavy Parish Hall, The Green, Meavy, Devon PL20 6PJ
- View on a map HERE
A short distance from Burrator Reservoir and only a couple of minutes’ drive from Yelverton, Meavy is an ideal location to experience the beauty and quiet of the countryside within easy reach of Plymouth by car and by public transport.
Refreshments on The Day & Local Facilities
During the two tea breaks of the day, we will be offering basic* tea, coffee, and biscuits included in the fee for this awayday.
For your lunch, we suggest either a packed lunch, or you can access a number of local venues which serve a wide range of food choices, including the village pub across the road from the hall – more details below.
During the lunch break, and depending on the weather, there will be the option to take a group walk in the local vicinity if you would like to join us. Sheepstor and Burrator Reservoir are close by and are wonderful spots to share to fellow retreaters!
- Food Outlets
Parking & Transport
There is a designated car park for the village hall in Meavy but space is limited. There is also very limited on-road parking in the village but we ask people to be considerate of the local community.
If possible, we suggest car-shares and if you might be able to offer attendees a lift to and from the KMC on Mutley Plain, we would be pleased for you to let us know so we can help people without their own transport: you can email us HERE.
Buses regularly travel from Plymouth to Yelverton and Meavy is about a 1.5mile walk from Yelverton village centre following the main road. Bus information can be found HERE, as well as other sites.
* We regret that we are unable to offer a variety of milk types and decaffeinated and herbal alternatives. If you wish to bring your own supplies of such items we can provide supported access to make such drinks.
Special Visiting Teacher Meditation Event
Finding The Real Meaning of Life
Finding The Real Meaning of Life
KMC Plymouth Event with Visiting Teacher:
Gen Kelsang Chönyi
Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Exeter
Saturday 16 November, 10:00am – 3:45 pm
We seek constant happiness and freedom from the problems, and unhappiness in our lives. But how do we truly free ourselves from life’s troubles and find real purpose and meaning in life?
If we can start to see through the mist of the everyday problems in our life, we can start to understand that despite all that happens to us, we have a precious, rare and most fortunate opportunity right here and now. When we have a true understanding of this, we will have no problem using the tool we need to open the door to peace of mind, lasting joy, and to the true meaning of our human lives.
The tool we need is this mediation. So, during this day course we will learn how precious our human life is, and how to contemplate and meditate effectively on this most valuable wisdom: to be genuinely touched by it, not superficially but deeply. Then with time and effort, our mind will definitely change for the better and our whole life will become meaningful; filled with love, compassion and great joy.
Schedule
Our Coffee Bar will be open during the break serving hot and cold drinks, delicious home-made cakes and a variety of snacks.
10.00am – 11.15am – Teaching and Meditation
Tea Break
12.00pm – 1.15pm – Teaching and Meditation
Lunch Break
2.30pm – 4.00pm – Teaching and Meditation
Fees
Drop in or you can book in advance: £20
This event is free to members – become a member HERE
About The Teacher
Gen Kelsang Chönyi has been ordained since 2002 and is Geshe Kelsang’s representative as the Resident Teacher at the Kadampa Meditation Centre Exeter . She has a deep understanding of Buddha’s teachings which she explains with lightness and gentle humour. KMC Plymouth is delighted to welcome her to our centre to teach.
Body of Light – Urban Half-Day Retreat
Saturday 23rd November 2024, 10am – 1.30pm
On this practical meditation urban half-day retreat, we will explore the beautifully simple and yet profoundly powerful meditation on the “Body of Light” – also known as the “Hollow Body Meditation”.
We can use this meditation practice anywhere, at any time, by combining visualisation and imagination, we can let go of our physical and mental difficulties, allowing us to access a deep sense of inner peace. Then we can start to experience the blissful clarity of our mind.
Using this technique, we will definitely experience a calmer, more peaceful and relaxed body and mind, allowing us to develop a positive and caring view towards ourselves and others as we move through our day. This meditation is also renowned for it’s powerful ability to help us improve our physical wellbeing.
Gen Dragden, Resident Teacher at KMC Plymouth, will explain and guide us in this practice during each session, giving us real experience of this meditation which we can take with us to use in our everyday lives.
No previous experience is needed for this event, at which everyone is welcome.
Schedule
Session 1: 10am – 10.45am Teaching with guided meditations
Session 2: 11.30am – 12.15pm Teaching with guided meditations
Session 3: 12.45pm – 1.30pm Teaching with guided meditations
Our Coffee Bar will be open during the break serving hot and cold drinks, delicious home-made cakes and a variety of snacks.
Fees
Drop in or you can book in advance: £15
This event is free to members – become a member HERE
Vajrasattva Retreat
Saturday 30th November – Sunday 1st December 2024 – Various Times
This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to learn to rely on Vajrasattva, the Buddha of purification, and practice a special meditation to free ourselves from all of our negative karma.
We spend all our time and energy trying to avoid problems by making changes to our external world. However, our unhappiness and difficulties are not caused by the external world but are the result of the negative karma we have created in the past through our own harmful actions.
By relying on Vajrasattva, all our experiences will be positive, we will have a peaceful, pure mind and will easily remove obstacles to our spiritual development.
Attend all, or as few or many of the sessions as you wish.
Schedule
Saturday 30th November
Session 1: 9am with guided meditation*
Session 2: 11am with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2pm with guided meditation*
Session 4: 4pm with guided meditation*
Sunday 1st December
Session 1: 10am Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with offerings (Free to attend for all)
Session 2: 12noon with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2.30pm with guided meditation*
Our Coffee Bar will be open across the weekend serving hot and cold drinks, delicious home-made cakes and a variety of snacks.
Fees
*Advanced Booking or Purchase On the Door: £3 per session
Saturday Day Ticket: £10 (all 4 sessions)
Sunday Day Ticket: £4 (all 3 sessions)
Weekend Ticket: £14 (all 7 sessions)
KMC Plymouth Members: Free (all 7 sessions)
Please note that should you book for a single session but decide to stay longer for more sessions, you’ll be very welcome to do so. Just see a member of the team in our Coffee Bar.
This event is free to members – become a member HERE
Meditation and Meal
Saturday 7th December 2024, from 6:30pm
Enjoy a relaxing guided meditation followed by a delicious home-cooked vegetarian meal to enjoy in the company of spiritual friends. This is a fund-raising event, and all proceeds, as per all our classes and events, go to the upkeep and running of the centre and our branch classes. Your support is greatly appreciated as always. Everyone is welcome!
Please note this event is limited to 30 places so early booking recommended.
Have dietary needs or allergies?
We have vegan and gluten-free options – please simply choose the appropriate ticket when you book. If you have allergies you would like us to know about, please book you appropriate choice of ticket and email us HERE, to advise us of you needs.
Fees & Info:
– Advanced booking only
– All places £15 – book online or in person
– No member’s discount
– Vegan & gluten-free options: Please select the appropriate ticket type.
No Worries
Saturday 14th December 2024 10am-1.15pm
We often experience worry, fear and anxiety, and seek temporary solutions to cheer ourselves up or to “forget” our worries. We may deny our worries, use distractions, self-medicate or try to control the circumstances of our life to escape the unhappy and uncomfortable minds worrying brings to us. However, we can never have complete control of what happens to us, and our distractions never fully remove our problem. Such responses do not address the real problem: our unpeaceful, disturbed states of mind.
Buddha taught what we can rely upon – the ability to transcend our fears and attain a state of fearlessness. But this can only be accomplished through investigating them and uncovering their source in our own uncontrolled and painful minds.
At this event, we will explore the process of learning to transform our fears and anxieties into a positive force that takes us towards a state of fearlessness. In particular, through transforming our fears into joyful, positive minds we will learn to create excellent conditions that are the opposite to those we fear.
Schedule
Session 1: 10am – 11.15am Teaching with guided meditations
Session 2: 12pm – 1.15pm Teaching with guided meditations
Our Coffee Bar will be open during the break serving hot and cold drinks, delicious home-made cakes and a variety of snacks.
Fees
Drop in or you can book in advance: £15
This event is free to members – become a member HERE
Tara 24-Hour Retreat
This is a FREE event.
Tuesday 31st December 2024 – Wednesday 1st January 2025
Start the new year inspired! Everyone is welcome to join us for this 24-hour retreat receiving the blessings of Tara, which are especially powerful for helping those in difficulty. Each session is about an hour long and you can come at any time and to as many or few sessions as you choose.
No previous experience required, there will be plenty of people to help and advise you if this is a new event for you, and as always, everyone is welcome.
Schedule
Tuesday 31st December: 7pm (Introduction) & 11pm
Wednesday 1st January: 3am, 7am, 11am & 3pm
Fees
This is a free event – everyone is welcome! No need to book, just come along.
The Stages of The Path Retreat
Friday 3rd January – Sunday 5th January 2025 – Various times
Join us for any part of this weekend retreat, Stages of the Path.
This is a special presentation of Buddha’s teachings that includes all of the essential instructions and meditations of the stages of the path to enlightenment. This special presentation is easy to follow and put into practice and is particularly suitable for our modern busy lives. The retreat will include prayers and guided meditations to enable a deeper and more focused experience of this special meditation cycle.
During the introduction on the Friday evening, Buddhist Monk Gen Kelsang Dragden will provide an overview of the Stages of the Path, what it is and why it is so important in building the permanently happy, peaceful minds we aspire to attain.
Short retreats provide the ideal opportunity to contemplate the teachings we have received and deepen our understanding and familiarity with them. An oasis of calm in the city, KMC Plymouth provides an ideal location to engage in retreat.
Between sessions you can enjoy a drink and something to nibble in our coffee bar, discuss the teachings with others or enjoy our meditation space for quiet reflection.
Suitable for beginners and those with meditation experience.
Schedule
Friday 3rd
Introduction: 7-8.15pm*
Saturday 4th
Session 1: 9am with guided meditation*
Session 2: 11am with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2pm with guided meditation*
Session 4: 4pm with guided meditation*
Sunday 5th
Session 1: 10am Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with offerings (Free to attend for all)
Session 2: 12noon with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2.30pm with guided meditation*
Fees
*Advanced Booking or Purchase On the Door: £3 per session
Weekend Ticket: £16 (all 8 sessions)
Friday Evening Ticket: £3
Saturday Day Ticket: £10 (all 4 sessions)
Sunday Day Ticket: £4 (all 3 sessions – includes free prayers session at 10am)
KMC Plymouth Members: Free (all 8 sessions). To become a member, CLICK HERE
Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja on Sunday 7th: Free to all
Please note that should you book for a single session but decide to stay longer for more sessions, you’ll be very welcome to do so. Just see a member of the team in our Coffee Bar.
Mahamudra Retreat
Friday 10th January – Sunday 12th January 2025 – Various times
During this weekend retreat, Resident Teacher Gen Keslang Dragden, will give clear and inspiring teachings on laying the foundations and practice of Mahamudra meditation – enabling us to access more subtle and blissful states of mind.
Buddha explained many methods to liberate ourself and others from the suffering we experience in our lives. Of these, the uncommon instructions of Tantric Mahamudra of the Ganden Oral Lineage are an especially powerful way to purify our mind quickly and to reach our fullest potential, the supreme bliss of full enlightenment.
There is no better method for experiencing deep mental peace and no quicker method for tackling negative states of mind at their root and of finding a deep, stable and lasting happiness from within.
Through meditating on these instructions, we will deepen our understanding and experience of this rare and precious lineage of teachings given to us by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
Schedule
Friday 10th
Introduction: 7-8.15pm*
Saturday 11th
Session 1: 9am with guided meditation*
Session 2: 11am with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2pm with guided meditation*
Session 4: 4pm with guided meditation*
Sunday 12th
Session 1: 10am Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with offerings (Free to attend for all)
Session 2: 12noon with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2.30pm with guided meditation*
Fees
*Advanced Booking or Purchase On the Door: £3 per session
Weekend Ticket: £16 (all 8 sessions)
Friday Evening Ticket: £3
Saturday Day Ticket: £10 (all 4 sessions)
Sunday Day Ticket: £4 (all 3 sessions – includes free prayers session at 10am)
KMC Plymouth Members: Free (all 8 sessions). To become a member, CLICK HERE
Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja on Sunday 7th: Free to all
Please note that should you book for a single session but decide to stay longer for more sessions, you’ll be very welcome to do so. Just see a member of the team in our Coffee Bar.
Introduction to Tantra Retreat
Friday 17th January – Sunday 19th January 2025 – Various times
Tantra is the quick path to enlightenment. It is where we let go of our normal sense of self and generate ourself as an enlightened being. We can begin to get a taste of this experience on this weekend retreat.
Tantra uses the power of our imagination to create the pure and perfect world that we would love for everyone.
With beautiful prayers and clear guided meditations we can dissolve away this suffering world and arise in a pure land and start to feel the bliss of enlightenment.
Suitable for beginners.
Schedule
Friday 17th
Introduction: 7-8.15pm*
Saturday 18th
Session 1: 9am with guided meditation*
Session 2: 11am with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2pm with guided meditation*
Session 4: 4pm with guided meditation*
Sunday 19th
Session 1: 10am Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with offerings (Free to attend for all)
Session 2: 12noon with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2.30pm with guided meditation*
Fees
*Advanced Booking or Purchase On the Door: £3 per session
Weekend Ticket: £16 (all 8 sessions)
Friday Evening Ticket: £3
Saturday Day Ticket: £10 (all 4 sessions)
Sunday Day Ticket: £4 (all 3 sessions – includes free prayers session at 10am)
KMC Plymouth Members: Free (all 8 sessions). To become a member, CLICK HERE
Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja on Sunday 7th: Free to all
Please note that should you book for a single session but decide to stay longer for more sessions, you’ll be very welcome to do so. Just see a member of the team in our Coffee Bar.
Highest Yoga Tantra Retreat
Friday 24th January – Sunday 26th January 2025 – Various times
Please note that you need to have been granted a Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment to participate in this retreat. If you are unsure of your suitability to attend, please contact the centre for further information.
During this retreat, Gen Kelsang Dragden, Resident Teacher at KMC Plymouth will lead us in the main meditations throughout the Quick Path to Great Bliss.
This is also a perfect opportunity for those new to the practice or anyone wishing to deepen their familiarity with the essential liberating meditations of Highest Yoga Tantra.
Schedule
Friday 24th
Introduction: 7-8.15pm*
Saturday 25th
Session 1: 9am with guided meditation*
Session 2: 11am with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2pm with guided meditation*
Session 4: 4pm with guided meditation*
Sunday 26th
Session 1: 10am Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with offerings (Free to attend for all)
Session 2: 12noon with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2.30pm with guided meditation*
Fees
*Advanced Booking or Purchase On the Door: £3 per session
Weekend Ticket: £16 (all 8 sessions)
Friday Evening Ticket: £3
Saturday Day Ticket: £10 (all 4 sessions)
Sunday Day Ticket: £4 (all 3 sessions – includes free prayers session at 10am)
KMC Plymouth Members: Free (all 8 sessions). To become a member, CLICK HERE
Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja on Sunday 7th: Free to all
Please note that should you book for a single session but decide to stay longer for more sessions, you’ll be very welcome to do so. Just see a member of the team in our Coffee Bar.