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News & EventsPeace SitWake Up London

Meditation Flash Mob on International Women’s Day!

Wakeupwomensday IMAGE

March 8th is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women’s past, present and future. It is a day that offers the opportunity for all to acknowledge all of women’s accomplishments and to re-dedicate ourselves to the empowerment of all women and girls around the world.

Join us for a 1/2 hour silent sitting/meditation and hold in our hearts all the great women who have graced our lives and the world at large. May we send our compassion and love to all women who live in the despair of poverty, inequality, violence, trafficking, slavery, and abuse. May we envision a world where no woman is marginalised or abused, and where we can all live together as brothers and sisters, in peace and freedom.

When: Friday 8 March 6:30pm to 7:10pm

Where: In between Gabriel’s Wharf and National Theatre, Southbank, SE1 9PP in the space directly above Thames Beach (see picture: http://bit.ly/130LXgJ)

Nearest stations: Southwark & Waterloo

Bring (optional): Something comfortable to sit on. A candle. Something meaningful to you that honours an important woman/women in your life – eg, a photo. A small gift such as a flower or a handwritten poem/quote to give away to a friend or stranger at the end of the event.

After the sitting, we will have a 10 minute soundbath where we chant any sounds we like, such as Om, Ah, Nah.

This event is open to everyone, women and men, children, people from any religion, faith and culture.

Find out more about International Women’s Day and ways to support women all year round.

Join us on MeetUp for updates on future meditation flash mobs.

RSVP on Facebook

News & EventsPeace SitWake Up London

Upcoming Afternoon of Mindfulness + Festive Evening + Meditation Flash Mob

You are invited to go within.

Our next fortnightly Afternoon of Mindfulness is on Saturday 8th December, at our usual time from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM at our usual venue. We will practice various mindfulness practices in the tradition of our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay, as he is affectionately known.

FESTIVE EVENING – SATURDAY NIGHT 8TH DECEMBER
After the session, we invite you to a festive mindful meal. It will be a wonderful opportunity to spend some informal time with one another before many of us depart for our holidays. You are welcome to bring a vegetarian dish to share with us. Feel free to bring musical instruments and games too.

WRITE FOR RIGHTS
We will also be taking part in Amnesty International’s greeting card campaign, where we will be writing a message of support to prisoners of conscience. You can bring along some prepared cards, or we can make cards on the night.

MEDITATION FLASH MOB IN BRITISH MUSEUM – 14TH DECEMBER
Join us for the final meditation flash mob of the year in the magnificent Great Court of the British Museum, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. In the spirit of the festive season, we invite you to bring a handmade gift to give to a stranger or friend afterwards.

Click here for the Facebook invitation

MindfulnessNews & EventsWake Up London

Mindfulness Workshop in London

The Mindfulness Workshop at Kings College Chapel on 20 October was a great success!

Around 100 young people gathered together to practice mindfulness as guided by monastic students from Plum Village, international monastery and meditation centre of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. Thank you to everyone who came! Your practice and openness was a gift to us and made the day feel very peaceful and at ease. A big thank you to the chaplain at Kings College for allowing us to transform the beautiful space into a meditation hall.

You can see pictures of the event here

Also check out the pictures of the meditation flash mob that took place after the workshop.

News & EventsPlum VillageRetreats

London Educators Retreat 2012

Non-residential mindfulness retreat for teachers, youth workers and all who work with young people.

From Saturday, 27 (8am) to Sunday, 28 October (5pm) 2012 (non-residential)
The American School in London, 1 Waverley Place, London NW8 0NP

The Educators Retreat is an opportunity to develop mindfulness both in ourselves and in our work with children and young people and to practice ways to cultivate mindfulness in educational contexts such as classrooms, college and universities, staffrooms and communities. We will explore the workings of our bodies and minds and learn how to use the power of silence, appreciation, self-care and compassion for others to increase clear and ethical thinking and action. During the retreat, we will share our lived experience of working with young people. We will also consider how we may use the techniques and practices of the retreat to help us form and sustain more mindful communities at school and at home.

This retreat is part of a wider long term initiative by Plum Village which is attempting to help school staff and students to develop mindfulness using Plum Village principles and practices. This initiative seeks to help teachers and other school staff to:

– develop a personal practice of mindfulness
– cultivate mindfulness in their students including the skilful use of classroom based activities materials based in the unique Plum Village – tradition
– build supportive schools and surrounding communities for teachers, parents and students.

For more information: http://educatorsretreatuk.co.uk/londonoctober2012/

News & EventsWake Up London

Upcoming events

Just to remind you that our next fortnightly Afternoon of Mindfulness is Saturday 25th, 2:30pm to 5pm at the Friends Meeting House. Check out this page for directions. Do come a little before 2:30pm so we can start promptly.

The stuff we do in our Afternoons of Mindfulness is practice sitting and walking meditation, listen to a teaching by our teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, and share and listen to one another mindfully. We deepen our practice of mindfully, with the help each other, our brothers and sisters on the path. We welcome a donation to help support our sangha. Herbal tea and cushions available.

Other events:

Thursday 16 August – 7pm to 8:30pm: Public Display of Positive Messages
Millennium Bridge
With all the good vibes in the air lately in London, lets get together and expand it! Bring a sign with a positive message and show your beautiful smile!
More info: http://www.facebook.com/events/389638957756123/

Saturday 18 August – Action packed day!


1. Going Deeper 2.30-5pm – Friends Meeting House

A chance for those already grounded in the practice to explore The Five Mindfulness Trainings more deeply together. We look deeply into our own practice with the trainings through meditations, dharma discussion and touching the earth! Please bring some vegetarian food to share if you would like to stay for dinner or film night!

2. Film Night 7pm – 9pm – Friends Meeting House (first ever film screening!!)

A screening of Werner Herzog’s Wheel of Time – A look at the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, India. Amazing scenes and stories from this Tibetan festival, including interviews with the Dalai Lama. An estimated 500,000 Buddhists attended the initiation at Bodh Gaya, some travelling years on foot to participate, the film contains footage of never before seen rituals and unbelievable scenes of devotion from the pilgrims. Should be a lovely night, I hope you can join us, Please bring some vegetarian snacks to share!

3. Meditation flash mob on the Roof Terrace, near St. Pauls Cathedral 7pm – 7:40pm

Yep, we have a clash with the film night – oops!
But here’s the info: http://www.facebook.com/events/330997976983612/?ref=ts

News & EventsPeace SitRetreatsWake Up London

Upcoming events

We all have the seeds of love in us.
We can develop this wonderful source of energy,
nurturing the unconditional love
that does not expect anything in return.


– Thich Nhat Hanh

Dear friends,

I hope you’re enjoying this warm and sunny weekend.

Thanks to everyone who came to practice together at our bi-monthly
Afternoon of Mindfulness. Here is the full transcript of the dharma
talk
that we read together. And here is the guided self love
meditation:

May I be happy
May I be peaceful and at ease
May I be free from suffering
May I be safe from harm
May I learn to love and accept myself unconditionally
May I learn to recognize what is good, beautiful and true in me

Our next Afternoons of Mindfulness for young people (from 16 to early
30s) is Saturday 14th July.

Other stuff happening:

DAY TRIP TO AMARAVATI BUDDHIST MONASTERY – JULY 7

A few of us are going to Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hemel
Hempstead next Saturday. We will get the 9:54am train from Euston and
then get a taxi to the monastery. Lunch is at 11:30 am and there is a
meditation workshop from 2 pm to 4 pm. Please let me know if you’re
interested in coming along so I know who to wait for in station next
week. You can also contact me on 07910675357.

WAKE UP YOUTH RETREAT IN PLUM VILLAGE – JULY 13 TO 21

The annual Wake Up youth retreat is happening from July 13 to 21 in
Plum Village, monastery and practice centre of our teacher Thich Nhat
Hanh. Please click here for more information.

MEDITATION FLASH MOB BY LONDON EYE – JULY 14

For those who are not going to be away in Plum Village, or Buddhafield
festival etc… there’s going to be a meditation flash mob by the
London Eye on Saturday 14th July – so straight after our Afternoon of
Mindfulness. Please come! RSVP and invite your friends to the Facebook
event here.

WAKE UP T SHIRTS FOR SALE

We have some medium to large navy t shirts with the ‘Wake Up’ in white
letters. They are £15 each and you can buy them at the next Afternoon
of Mindfulness. Or you can order them and I can pop one in the post to
you. Let me know.

Have a great weekend, dear friends.

Elina
info@wkuplondon.org

News & EventsWake Up London

Save The Date – Yoga Flash Mob!

We are excited to be collaborating with Wellicious for a Yoga Flash Mob this Summer to get into the Olympics spirit.

The location and teacher will be announced soon, but sign up to the event via this link below, so we can keep you posted on the details.

https://www.facebook.com/events/254340681333023/

Share this event with all your friends – we hope to see you there!

Don’t forget to come to the meditation flash mob in Leicester Square next Wednesday!

News & EventsPeace SitWake Up London

Upcoming Wake Up London events

AFTERNOON OF MINDFULNESS THIS SATURDAY

Just a note to remind you that our next Afternoon of Mindfulness is this Saturday 26th. For those that are new, our Afternoons of Mindfulness is a space for young people, from 16 to early 30s, to practice mindfulness together, in the tradition of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. It is from 2:30pm to 5pm, and we practice sitting and walking meditation, listen to a teaching, practice mindful speech and deep listening and recite the 5 Mindfulness Trainings, which we use as a guiding light on our path. Read more here. We welcome a donation for every meeting.

If you’re coming for the first time, we will gently guide you through our meeting and offer some explanation on the practices (though, none of us are teachers, but peer practitioners).

OTHER EVENTS

Monday 28th May – Public Display of Positve Messages
6pm to 7:30pm
Bring a sign with a positive message – make the words BIG and BOLD.
Read more

Saturday 2nd June – Meditation // Drum Circle // Social Gathering at Thames Beach, Southbank
3pm onwards
Celebrating our 1 year anniversary of meditation flash mobs in London. Come along for a meditation by River Thames, drum circle and time for chilling out afterwards. Bring veggie food and drinks, musical instruments (especially DRUMS for a drum circle) and outdoor games (does anyone have twister?!)
Read more

Saturday 9th June – Afternoon of Mindfulness
2:30pm to 5pm
Our next bi-monthly meeting to practice mindfulness

Wednesday 20th June – Meditation Flash Mob in Leicester Square
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Meditate in the garden of Leicester Square, which has re-opened again after a period of refurbishment. Be the change!
Read more

Save the Date – Saturday 30th June – Walking Meditation Flash Mob (maybe)
We may organize another walking meditation flash mob since our 1st one in Oxford Street was rather enjoyable (see pictures) . If you’re interested – email us with a YES at info@wkuplondon.org

See you then! We love you!

Heart of London SanghaMindfulnessNews & EventsWake Up London

Day of Mindfulness with Zen teacher Edward Espe Brown

****** bookings now full – registration is closed *************

Dear friends,

We are happy to announce an upcoming Day of Mindfulness with Zen teacher Edward Espe Brown on 5th May, organized by Heart of London and Wake Up London sanghas. Please register as soon as possible to book your place.

This is a a rare opportunity to experience a Day of Mindfulness with this inspirational teacher (who is also well known for being really funny too). Day will consist of guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, dharma teaching, Qi gong and mindful eating. Exact schedule not confirmed yet.

When: Saturday 5th May 2012, 09:30am to 5pm
Where: Friends Meeting House, 52 St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4EA (entrance at 8 Hop Gardens)
Nearest tube and overground: Leicester Sq and Charing Cross
Cost: £10 or £7 for student/unwaged – you can pay on the door.
For: All ages, experienced meditation pracitiotioners, beginners, curious people

Please bring a vegetarian lunch to share. Weather permitting, we will have a picnic in St. James Park, then return to the Friends Meeting House for the session in the afternoon.

REGISTRATION

Register your place by sending an email to info@wkuplondon.org

ABOUT EDWARD

Edward Espe Brown is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest, teacher and chef.

Edward was ordained as a Zen Priest by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in 1971 and has been practicing in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition of Suzuki Roshi since 1965. He has however developed an eclectic practice over the years, with extensive Vipassana training, many years practising Yoga and Chi Gung, and has taken a number of retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh in the USA, as well as visiting Plum Village during the 1990s.

Edward wrote the famous Tassajara Bread Book in the early 70s, co-founded Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, and a documentary film was recently made about him called How To Cook Your Life. He currently teaches at Tassajara Zen Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Spirit Rock, as well as heading his own Sangha in Marin County.

Watch trailer for How To Cook Your Life
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHy-hNklpAk]

His website and bio is available here.

WHAT EDWARD IS UP TO IN THE UK

Edward will be visiting the UK as a Guest Speaker at The Do Lectures in Wales during the last week of April.

He will then be in London from April 29th to May 7th:

April 29th – Day retreat with London Insight

May 2nd – Talk at The Buddhist Society in London

May 3rd – The International Zen Association in London

(May 5th – Day of Mindfulness with us)

May 6th – Workshop with Alternatives at St. James Church

We look forward to spending the day with you!

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Wake Up London is a community of individuals practicing together to promote peace and reconciliation within ourselves and for our planet. We’d love to highlight what’s happening within our community, and how the practice is positively impacting our society.

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