From 10th April 2014, Wake Up London and Heart of London sanghas will now be co-hosting evenings of mindfulness on Thursdays for all ages at our regular venue, Westminster Quaker Meeting House (see directions).

These evenings are suitable for all those who have attended a morning of mindfulness or afternoon of mindfulness. There will be minimal guidance.

The evening schedule will be based on the Saturday sessions of mindfulness and may include other practices and teachings in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. It will be an opportunity to explore and go deeper into the practice.

Please feel free to arrive from 6pm and enjoy a cup of tea.

by wakeuplondon

Audio Dharma Talk Plum Village Wake Up London

Sister Jewel’s talk on nourishing and healing ourselves and the world

24 March 2014

On Saturday 15th March at our weekly afternoon of mindfulness, we were delighted to have Sister Jewel, a monastic student of Thich Nhat Hanh and teacher, practice with us and offer a fun session of Interplay and a talk.

In this talk, Sister Jewel shares about the ecological crisis of our world – climate change through the perspective of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Nutriments. One kind of nutriment is volition – what is it that is deeply motivating us in our lives? It is so important to investigate this, because if we don’t have a clear sense of where we are going, our volition can get easily hijacked by our society, a consumer driven society that sees humans as consumers. Consuming keeps our economic system functioning. We are being told that’s where our happiness is.

Sr. Jewel also mentions that she is working on setting up a global council of elders to address the issues facing our planet. If you are interested in supporting this idea, please get in touch and we will pass on your email address to Sr. Jewel.

You can listen or download the talk here.

by wakeuplondon

Action Community Video Wake Up London

Positive messages flash mob for Intl’ Day of Happiness

10 March 2014

What are you doing to celebrate the 2nd year of the United Nations International Day of Happiness on 20th March?

Wake Up London will be spreading some positivity in the morning during rush hour on Hungerford Bridge, by Southbank with inspiring messages.

Please join us for breakfast at 7.50am at EAT at The Southbank Centre and then we will start the flash mob at 8.15am until 9am.

Bring a sign with a simple, inspiring, uplifting message.

Watch this video to give you an example what happens:

For more details – see the Facebook event.

Supporting the campaign by Action for Happiness.

by wakeuplondon

News & Events Peace Sit Wake Up London

Peace in Ukraine vigil

9 March 2014

A simultaneous, international Peace Vigil with meditation or silent prayer.

“Peace in Ukraine” is an invitation to unite around those qualities that can help to resolve the conflict, such as compassion, understanding, wisdom, honesty and dialogue.

THIS SUNDAY 9th MARCH at the same time in different countries all around the world, we will – sit for one hour in silence to collect all of our good intentions, aspirations and hope – and to offer it as a source of support to all who are suffering in this crisis.

You are warmly welcome to join with us in your thoughts…
Or come together in a place of your city!

Participating places:
16.00 in London, UK, GMT – north-west entrance corner of St James Park, closest to Trafalgar Sq, under a big tree
16.00 in Milton Keynes, UK
18.00 in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
18.00 in Donetsk, Ukraine
18.00 in Lviv, Ukraine
17.00 in Madrid, Spain
17.00 in Budapest, Hungary
17.00 in Paris, France
17.00 in Stockholm, Sweden
10.00 in Mexico City, Mexico
And the corresponding time in your area – Feel free to get in touch if you want to create an assembly place in your city!
We invite you to bring candles and something to sit on.

It is not an imposition of a view or a choice of a side.
It’s a call for peace, love and understanding.

May our leaders have the wisdom to look deeply, the courage to speak openly and the insight to find a compassionate and just path through the storm.

Bringing people together of all backgrounds, beliefs and cultures through meditation and prayer, we believe that it is possible to inspire and motivate for a positive change.

We come together to celebrate our very real capacity to generate peace, already, in the here and now. This is the peace we offer to our cities and to the world.

An independent, non-aligned event,
initiated by people from west and east Ukraine,
brought together with the support of Wake Up London.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1412940635629192/

by wakeuplondon

News & Events Peace Sit Wake Up London

Meditation flash mob for World Water Day

23 February 2014

Sign up to www.meetup.com/meditationflashmob to receive future invitations to your email.

Join us for a global meditation flash mob co-ordinated with over 300 cities around the world, on the occasion of World Water Day.

Every year the UN designates 22 March as World Water Day. It’s a chance for us to think about what freshwater means to us. And what it could mean to the millions of people around the world living without it.

This meditation is an opportunity to reflect collectively on the importance of water in our lives and in the world, and send out our love and gratitude.

We Love Water.

We Thank Water.

We Respect Water.

We Are All Water.

We Are All One.

– Masaru Emoto, Messages from Water

When: Saturday 22nd March 2014

Time: 11.30am to 12.10pm

Where: Potters Field Park, next to City Hall

Where: Potters Fields Park can be accessed either via Tooley St, Tower Bridge Road, the Queen’s Walk from More London, or from Shad Thames. The best postcode to use for SATNAV or Google maps is SE1 2AA.

Map: http://tinyurl.com/3hrveh4

Nearest station: London Bridge

What will happen:

11.30am: The sound of the bell will mark the start of silent sitting meditation. The purpose is to stop in the here and now, and to simply observe our in-breath and out-breath. By practising mindful breathing, we can share our inner peace with those around us. By sitting simply to sit, we can just be in the moment.

Please feel free to follow your own practice if you have one. Feel free to mindfully stretch or move if your begin to ache from your sitting posture.

During this meditation, you can also reflect on the importance of water in our lives and in the world, and send out our love and gratitude.

12.00pm: The sound of the bell will mark the start of the sound bath. Use any mantra or sounds, for example, Om, Ah, Ong, Nah or any other sound that calls you personally. You can move closer to one another, donate your physical presence, your positive energy and your voice. Feel free to bring instruments to add to the sounds.

12.10pm: The final sound of the bell will mark the end of the meditation.

Bring: Feel free to bring a cushion, mat or stool if you have one. Instruments to add to the sound bath, such as singing bowls.

You will be responsible for keeping your personal belongings safe.

For: This is an event open and free to everyone, of all ages, from every path, experienced or not.

Links:

Pictures of previous meditation flash mobs: http://www.facebook.com/wakeuplondon/photos

Videos of previous meditation flash mobs:
http://wakeuplondon.org/meditation-flash-mobs/videos/

Our intentions:

1. To create an environment for people from all walks of life to come together in meditation.

2. To spread awareness of meditation to the public.

3. To come together as a community to send positive intentions out into the world.

4. To show that leading by example is the best way to lead. Simple acts can stimulate major paradigm shifts in thinking

Co-ordinated with Unify.

We are choosing to support WaterAid UK, an international charity that transforms lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation. Please go their website and read about the wonderful work they do and consider making a donation.

www.wateraid.org/uk

“Clean water, the essence of life and a birthright for everyone, must become available to all people now.” – Jean-Michel Cousteau

by wakeuplondon

News & Events Retreats Wake Up London

Wake Up UK Retreat in August – Open for registration…

18 February 2014

Dear friends,

We are delighted to announce that there will be a Wake Up UK Retreat for young adults in August this year at the beautiful Binley Farm again.

This year’s retreat, entitled, ‘Touching Freedom’ will be for 5 nights and co-facilitated by practitioners from Wake Up communities around the UK and former monastic disciple of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, Michael Schwammberger.

“For me, there is no happiness without freedom and freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

Registration is open now! Check out the retreat page for more details. We hope to see you there!

With love,

Elina, Jasmine, Kareem and Felipe

Retreat organisers

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Mindfulness Course News & Events Wake Up London

Awake in the World festival – 12 – 15th September 2013

5 September 2013

Join us for a four-day festival of meditation, arts and social vision exploring the notion of creating an ‘awake’ or ‘enlightened’ society, and developing the practice of being fully alive in the present moment.

How do we nurture the inner resources needed for the challenges of living and working today? Can creating space for a practice of meditation or creativity transform what we do in the world?

Highlights will include:

• Workshops & discussions with professionals from fields as diverse as social action, climate change, mindfulness, education, psychotherapy and the arts
• Sessions on Non-violent Communication , Working with Emotions and Running with the mind of meditation , plus a workshop with Wake Up London on the Path of Generation Y
• Teachings from Sakyong Mipham and a day on Chogyam Trungpa – celebrating their vision of enlightened society

Also “Awake in the Park” – a meditation flash mob in Russell Square Gardens on 14 September:

Wake Up London and our friends at Awake in the World invite everyone to come and meditate together at Awake in the Park, and be part of creating an awake society in the heart of London.

Meditating together in public is a way to celebrate our very real capacity to generate wakefulness, already, in the here and now – and to use this as a force for positive change in the world around us.

A short guided meditation instruction will be given at the beginning of the meditation, and then we will sit together until the meditation ends with the sound of a bell. Please bring a cushion to sit on if needed. We will be in front of the Lime Tree Cloister on the North side of the Gardens – nearest tubes are Russell Square or Euston.

All welcome – whether experienced or new to meditation, and of any faith or none. The more we connect together, the stronger the benefit for ourselves and our society – and an awake world.

Awake in the Park takes place during Awake in the World – a festival of meditation, arts & social vision at nearby SOAS – including a workshop & teachings offered by Wake Up London.

More information: http://awakeintheworld2013.org/

by wakeuplondon

News & Events Peace Sit Wake Up London

Meditation flash mob and picnic in Regent’s Park this Sunday

19 July 2013

This Sunday, we are joining our meditation flash mob with Arvind Devalia’s legendary picnic that takes place every year. Elina from Wake Up London interviewed Arvind Devalia recently:

Arvind Devalia

Elina: Arvind welcome to Wake Up London! Though we have seen you at various Meditation Flash Mob events in London over the last year with your camera, most people may have no idea who you are and what you do.

Arvind: Elina, thanks for the warm welcome today. And for welcoming me to your events over the last year.

I must say I really enjoy your events and I always feel truly uplifted every time I share the space with you and your friends.

In simplest terms, I am here to put the “sizzle” back into the world and into people’s lives. I do this through my coaching, books, blog posts, speaking gigs and of course my events.

I have been coaching now for a decade and have published 10 books, one of which is a major Amazon bestseller in its category – “Get the Life you Love”.

And of course this year it’s the 12th year of my annual “Friends & Friend’s Friends Picnic” which is happening this Sunday (21st July) in Regents Park.

Elina: Arvind, one of the things you talk about in your work is your 3Cs – “Commitment, Connection and Contribution”. Please explain more what you mean by this?

Arvind: I believe that we should all lead a life of Contribution, Connection and Celebration. Let me go through each one in turn.

Contribution is all about making a difference to other and looking for ways to serve.

Connection is about connecting with people at a deeper level and seeing how you can bring people together and create a community.

Celebration is about living life to the full and looking for ways to bring joy into your life and that of others each day.

Which brings me nicely to my annual picnic in Regents Park which is on this Sunday (21st July).

Every year I organise a picnic in Regents Park called “Friends and Friend’s Friends Picnic” whereby I bring together 100’s of people and this is the highlight of my year every year. I have been so lucky and blessed with the people I have in my life that it’s my privilege to bring people together not just individually but on a bigger scale.

Elina: Yes, your legendary picnic! Almost everyone in London seems to have heard about it! Tell us more how this came about?

Arvind: 11 years ago, I had this vision of bringing together the various people in my life for a day of celebration of life.

I invited all my friends and immediate family for a fun day in Regents Park and the first year we had about 40 people turn up despite it being a typical British summer day i.e. it was raining!

My intention was to create a community from all the people in the different spheres of my life – friends, family, neighbours, coaching clients, business associates and really anyone I had interacted with in the previous few years.

Since then, the picnic has really grown and some years we have had almost 300 people!

Elina: Great! I can see how the picnic fits in nicely with your philosophy of the 3Cs – contribution, connection and celebration!

Arvind: Indeed. I am contributing to a lot of people by creating a fun and special day with the intention of everyone having a super, fun day in the park.

At the same time, I am also connecting a lot of people in a unique setting and with a common goal of celebrating life. I have been amazed and blown away with some of the connections that have come about through my picnic. One day soon, I am sure we’re going to have a wedding between a couple who first met at the picnic!

And of course, the day is a day of celebration!

If you can’t celebrate life and have a lot of fun with such amazing people in a beautiful setting, what’s the point of living!?

So yes, my annual picnic is a super day of contribution, connection and celebration!

Elina: Why did you choose Regents Park?

Arvind: For the simple reason that I believe it’s the best park in London! It’s so well kept and offers so many things to do and see on a Sunday.

Besides, it’s convenient and easily reached since it’s in central London.

Actually – the real reason I chose Regents Park – it’s near to my home in St Johns Wood;-).

Elina: I am really looking forward to finally attending this Sunday for the first time, after hearing so much about it all these years. What should people bring?

Arvind: Firstly brings lots of energy! Bring your own food & drinks for yourself – plus a bit extra to share. And bring any musical instruments and games you would like to play.

As it’s going to be another very hot weekend, do also bring sun protective cream and lots of water.

Elina: Super. And what’s the agenda or format of the day?

Arvind: There’s no agenda – except you must be willing to be chilled out and enjoy yourself!

The format is free-flowing and I just let things flow and happen as they are meant to. However I do frequently go around the group and ensure everyone is okay and enjoying themselves.

I always bring my African drums so we’ll be doing a lot of drumming and dancing – so everyone please do bring any portable musical instruments!

I’ll also be bringing my hula hoops, Frisbees and other games.

And Elina, thanks for suggesting a session of laughter yoga – that’ll bring even more joy and laughter to the picnic this year!

We usually end up having a mad game of mixed football – and of course we also eat a lot

Elina: I know you have also created a separate Facebook event page for the picnic. How can people find out more about the day and the exact location in Regents Park?

The best way to find out more about the picnic is the special page on my website:-

Friends & Friend’s Friends Picnic 2022 (Year 20!)

Then the Facebook event page is here:-

https://www.facebook.com/events/270974653044210/

Do visit the Facebook page and confirm your attendance.

And of course, please bring all your friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues etc.

This year, the event has even been featured in TimeOut London magazine and you can read the online version here:-

http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/friends-and-friends-friends-picnic-1

TimeOut magazine has described the picnic beautifully:-

Indian author Arvind Devalia is on a mission to ‘create a movement of people who want to make the world a better place whilst also improving their own lives’. One of the ways he reaches out is through his annual FAFF picnic – which is in its twelfth year now – inviting people to bring their families and friends down for a day of pleasant picnicking (bring your own food), games, African drumming, dancing and guided meditation. The picnic will take place whatever the weather. NB: Enter the park via Hanover Gate.

Elina: And where is the picnic held in Regents Park?

Arvind: The picnic is held in the same spot every year. Please refer to the map on this page:-

Friends & Friend’s Friends Picnic 2022 (Year 20!)

All those years ago, I chose the exact picnic spot very carefully – it’s easy to find, it’s near the toilets, a café and a kiddies playground. There is also a paddling pool and a boating lake nearby. So there’s a lot to do!

Elina: What’s the best way of finding the exact picnic spot?

Arvind: This weekend is the cricket test match at Lords and it’ll be really buzzing on Sunday all around St Johns Wood and Regents Park, unless the match finishes early in less than 4 days!

There’ll be thousands of people in the area, looking for our picnic and meditation spot:-)

The cricket authorities have therefore very kindly provided us with a SpecSavers hot air balloon to mark the EXACT spot of our picnic!

It’s now very easy for all of you to find exactly where the picnic is. We’ll be based at the far end from where the cordoned off area is for the balloon.

So wherever you are in Regents Park, just look for the SpecSavers balloon and walk to its base!

Elina: What about people who are not able to attend this weekend? Any suggestions for them?

Arvind: If you are not able to come to London for this picnic, then no matter where you are in the UK or in the world, how about organising your own?

Check out my simple guide on how to hold your own picnic anywhere in the world:-

http://www.arvinddevalia.com/friends-picnic-guide/

Elina: Thanks Arvind for organising this – and for inviting the Wake-Up community to your picnic on Sunday!

Arvind: It’s truly an honour and a privilege to have you all join us and co-creating this gathering. Thanks for accepting – and I am so looking forward to joining you all for the meditation and creating a wonderful sacred space for the picnic!

by wakeuplondon

Mindfulness News & Events Wake Up London

Join us for an Evening of Mindfulness this Thursday!

18 June 2013

This evening with Wake Up London offers us time and space to come together to disengage from all the busyness and begin to reclaim our freedom.

Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive and present with those around you and with what you are doing. With the tools of mindfulness practice, we will learn how to stop and listen more deeply to ourselves and others, to explore what binds us and what can make us more free.

When: 20 June 2013
Where: The Scoop At More London, 2A More London Riverside, London, SE1 2DB.
Cost: Free
Nearest tube: London Bridge or Tower Bridge
Directions: The Scoop is an outdoor amphitheatre situated between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, for directions, click here http://www.morelondon.com/venue_info.asp
For: Everyone
Bring: Feel free to bring a cushion/stool and mat if you have one.

Schedule:

18:30 Introduction to silent meditation
18:35 Silent meditation
18:40 Introduction to mindfulness
18:45 Guided meditation
19:15 Mindful movements
19:25 Silent meditation
19:40 Sound bath – invitation to chant whatever sounds or mantra resonates and bathe the amphitheatre with our collective voices
19:50 Event finishes

This event is in collaboration with London College of Spirituality and is part of the More London Free Festival running between June to September 2013. For more information, click here: http://www.morelondon.com/events.asp

If you’re interested in exploring mindfulness practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, you can check out these communities in London:

Wake Up London – for people aged 16 to 35
Heart of London Sangha – for people of all ages
The Community of Interbeing UK– entire listing of communities in the UK

by wakeuplondon

News & Events Peace Sit Wake Up London

Meditation Flash Mob on International Women’s Day!

19 February 2013

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

by wakeuplondon

Evenings of mindfulness on Thursdays in April

Sister Jewel’s talk on nourishing and healing ourselves and the world

Positive messages flash mob for Intl’ Day of Happiness

Peace in Ukraine vigil

Meditation flash mob for World Water Day

Wake Up UK Retreat in August – Open for registration…

Awake in the World festival – 12 – 15th September 2013

Meditation flash mob and picnic in Regent’s Park this Sunday

Join us for an Evening of Mindfulness this Thursday!

Meditation Flash Mob on International Women’s Day!

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