Decolonising the Dharma January 2027

‘The holding of the space was beautifully done. You tackled a massively complicated thing with clarity and intelligence.’ 

- Nic, part of the Hermes Amara Foundation 

Decolonising the Dharma

This three-month fortnightly online course invites Buddhist practitioners to explore how colonial histories shape the Dharma and our practice today.

Intention of the course

This will be a collaborative and practice-oriented learning community rather than a traditional classroom. The maximum number of participants in intentionally kept small, at 16 people, with 50% or more People of Colour. The course, of seven sessions in total, combines readings, talks, and facilitated discussions to explore these questions:

• How did European colonialism reshape Buddhist institutions and teachings?
• How does Western Buddhism still reproduce colonial assumptions about Asia, religion, and the self?
• How have contemporary Buddhist movements responded to these questions?
• How can we skillfully and ethically practice a dharma that counters colonial assumptions and mindsets?

Outcomes

By the end of the course, we hope participants will have:

• A nuanced understanding of how colonial histories and assumptions have shaped and continue to shape contemporary Buddhist practice.
• Practical and ethical strategies for cultivating practices and communities which resist colonial practice and ways of knowing.
• Reflected deeply on the opportunities and responsibilities of resisting colonial practice, both individually and collectively
• Participated in a supportive learning community committed to honest enquiry, reflection, and ethical action.

‘I think it was an excellent course. The readings were great and the small group interactions really useful. I really felt it deepened my understanding of the impact of colonialism on Buddhism and the continuing effects on our practice today.’ 

- Nikki van der Gaag

Course cost

We have two sliding scales: for POC at £70 - £200 and for white people at £120 - £200, with bursary places available if needed. Please see below for further detail.

Who is it for?

This iteration of the course is for everyone.  

Participant requirements include:

• A strong foundation in Buddhist practice and knowledge.
• Experience with anti-racism, anti-oppression, justice-orientated or white-awareness work.
• A willingness to engage openly, reflectively, and respectfully in group discussions.
• Ability to attend at least six out of the seven sessions.

The course is being shared by UK-based practitioners and will be focused on the UK context. If you would like to join from elsewhere in the world, you are also welcome. 

If you would like to apply for the January 2027 course please complete this APPLICATION FORM (or click on ‘apply’ at the top of this page).

Application and invitation process

In our  application form we ask some questions about you and your experiences to help us to foster an in-depth learning experience for the group. Once we have received the applications we will review them, then reach out either to invite people to pay to secure their place, or to discuss other ways to engage. Our intended timescale is:

• Until 25th November: receive applications
• 25th November: initial application review
• 27th November: application approval and invitations to book onto the course
• 27th November - 2nd January: applications reviewed on a rolling basis with approvals/ invitations shared within five working days of application receipt
• 6th January: course starts

If you would like to be kept updated about any future offers, please let us know by completing our 

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM. 

You can also use this to share your ideas and feedback. We actively welcome and encourage your input.

Structure and learning approach for the January- March 2027 course

The upcoming course will happen online fortnightly on  Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm (UK time). For those who miss a session, there will be recordings of the whole group (not breakout group) parts of the session. 

Short readings or talks will be provided before each session module to ground our discussions, along with longer optional resources for those who wish to explore further.

This is a participatory course, with everyone bringing their own experience and insight to the learning process. 

We plan to cover the following topics, although the exact formation may shift as we continue to develop the materials.   

6 January 2027: Introduction to the core ideas and approach, meeting one another and reflecting on our experiences as practitioners 

20 January 2027: Tradition in Turmoil (Asian Buddhist responses to colonial efforts)

3 February 2027: Buddhism Reimagined (19th Century European interpretations of Buddhism)

17 February 2027: Emergence of the “Western Buddhist” (Buddhist modernism, individualism and Victorian filters)

3 March 2027: Secular Buddhism and mindfulness  (and their relationships with coloniality)

17 March 2027: Race and affinity work within and beyond practice communities (UK focus)

31 March 2027: Decolonising the Dharma: reflections and looking ahead 

How much should I pay?

When you apply, you can select the appropriate payment scale, £70 - £200 for POC and £120 - £200 for white people. We provide the following information as a guide to support your decision:

£200: You have enough income to cover your bills comfortably and save money, and can easily afford meals/ nights out

£120/£160: You have enough income to cover your bills, you have some savings that you rarely need to use for daily living costs, and can afford the occasional meal out

£70/£120: You are able to cover your daily living costs but sometimes dip into savings for these. It would be a challenge to have a meal out more than once a month

Bursary request: You would be unable to attend the course at any of the payment levels listed above

If you would like to request a bursary place, please contact us at dharma.totnes@proton.me

What's next?

We hope you will apply if you meet the requirements and feel ready to engage! This is important work for us as practitioners both individually and for the wider Buddhist context in the UK. If you have any questions or feedback you can email us at dharma.totnes@proton.me. 

If you're ready to apply for Decolonising the Dharma, January 2027, please go ahead and complete our APPLICATION FORM. 

We look forward to being in touch.

Who we are

Viren Jeram

Viren found Buddhist practice in 2015 and has practiced in a range of traditions, primarily Insight Meditation. Viren spent a year living in an intentional community facilitating Buddhist retreats at the Barn Retreat Centre, part of Sharpham Trust, supporting retreatants in their exploration of mindfulness and buddhadharma.

Viren has spent the last decade in the NHS, in senior leadership positions including training staff in group coaching and facilitation. He continues working in the NHS and, alongside this, leads retreats across the UK and co-leads Sharpham’s retreats for People of Colour. He is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leader through Gaia House.

Tasha Bassingthwaighte

Tasha’s work focuses on practices of transformation toward a healthier human society. How can we live in right relation with each other, and with all beings both now and into the future? Informed by years of living in intentional communities and facilitating groups, her ethical and embodied dharma includes an awareness of the impacts of colonisation and other forms of systemic oppression. For the past ten years Tasha has run The Barn Retreat at Sharpham, a small retreat centre in rural Devon in the UK, which weaves Buddhist meditation, nature connection, and community life. She is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Path of Engagement and a Community Dharma Leader through Gaia House. 

Tasha grew up on unceded Indigenous land of Musquem, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (in Vancouver Canada) as a white cis-woman. She has practiced Buddhism since 1996, finding a home within the Plum Village and Insight traditions. In addition to the Dharma, her path is rooted in animism, land connection, craft skills, and her training as an ecologist.