Opening to Vast Awareness: A 5-week Meditation Course

There's a sense of touching something really awesome in the vastness.. something you can't even begin to fathom
~ Rob Burbea

There are many different approaches to meditation, and the range of possible benefits and effects is huge. Yet throughout history, certain experiences have opened up again and again for people, across traditions and cultures. One of the most striking of these we might call the “vastness of awareness”. It’s the sense of being surrounded by an infinite, spacious stillness — a profound quiet out of which all things (sounds, sensations, thoughts, emotions..) seem to effortlessly arise and fade away. At times it may even feel as though nothing exists but awareness itself, and that all perceived phenomena are but waves on the ocean of that awareness. This experience can be so moving, so beautiful, and so seemingly fundamental that some practitioners have gone so far as to declare it the “ultimate truth” or the “ground of being”.

On this course we'll explore how to gently guide our attention towards this sense of spacious, peaceful awareness. One doesn't need to open to the fullness of the experience described above for the practice to be profoundly beneficial — simply leaning the mind in this direction already brings numerous gifts. Including, not least, some fascinating insights into the very nature of perception and reality.

The course and the practice are suitable for all levels of experience, and for people of all faiths and none. Each session will include a short talk, some meditation instruction, a guided practice, and time for questions and comments. Between sessions you'll be invited to continue playing with the techniques that are offered, both formally in meditation (for  20-30mins each day) and more informally during daily life. This is optional, but will allow you to make the most of the course.

Dana

Mark is part of a Buddhist tradition in which teachings are offered freely, within a culture of ‘dana’ or generosity. For that reason there is no fee for this course. If you would like to support Mark in his livelihood, and support the continued free sharing of these teachings, he will gratefully accept any donations, large or small. He will give details during the course, of how donations can be made. Those not able to contribute financially are just as welcome onto this course as those who are. 

Course Dates

All sessions will be held 7-9pm UK time

Thursday 6th November
Thursday 13th November
Thursday 20th November
Thursday 27th November
Thursday 4th December

Mark will offer a further follow-up support session after the main course has ended. This drop-in session is optional and will be held at 7-8pm UK time on:

Thursday 11th December
 

Mark Ovland

Mark began practising meditation in 2008. Since then he has lived and worked in various monasteries and retreat centres around India and the UK, and spent a further two years on intensive silent retreat. He was a close student of meditation master Rob Burbea and was blessed to have lived with and assisted Rob during the last years of his life.

Aside from offering retreats and teachings in traditional Buddhist settings, Mark has also taught in schools, universities, prisons, and the workplace. In 2013 he co-founded Freely Given Retreats, a charity in the UK that runs weeklong silent meditation retreats on a donation basis. He believes that no one should be excluded from these opportunities and teachings due to a simple lack of money.

Mark's relationship to psychedelics
The path Mark teaches does not involve the use of psychedelics, and by leading courses for the Psychedelic Society he is not intending to make any link between psychedelics and Buddhism. He does however recognise that Buddhist philosophy and practice can potentially help to contextualise experiences that are brought about by psychedelic use and is happy to speak with participants on this question should it be raised within the context of the course material. 

Mark's website: markovland.uk
 

REFUNDS: Please note that we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. We welcome swapping or reselling your tickets with people you know.