10,000 Joys and 10,000 Sorrows: a Day Retreat on Working with Emotions

“There’s nothing as real and direct and counter-habitual as being present, just as it is, with yourself just as you are, with your emotions just as they are. As difficult as that can be, the result of that training is non-struggle: not rejecting your experience, fully engaged with yourself, with the world, there for other people. Another result of coming back to being with yourself, just as you are, is that emotions don’t escalate.” Pema Chödrön

Buddhist teaching is not about trying to escape feeling, nor is it a lifehack that helps us pick and choose what we experience. What it does offer is ways to recognise emotions as natural expressions of body and mind and, through being present, liberate us from the pain of rigid identification with the narratives that fuel them into overdrive. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche defines emotions as energy mixed with thoughts. We often try to resolve discomforting emotion (whether it is elation or depression) by engaging with the thought element, but there is another way. By cultivating awareness and relaxation, we can learn to allow the energy of emotions to arise and dissolve without trying to suppress, indulge, bypass or cure.  On this day retreat you will learn practices that support you to rest in open awareness of the energetic aspect of our body, transforming reactive patterns into wisdom and inner freedom.

David Morris lives in London where he works as a chaplain in healthcare, with responsibility for staff wellbeing at a hospital. He writes, records and performs songs under his own name and with bands, and spends a lot of time fantasising about living somewhere more rural and rugged, like Cornwall, where he grew up. David has studied religions academically (at the School of Oriental and African Studies) and has been on a Buddhist journey since his teens, mainly with Shambhala for the last decade. He spent 9 months on retreat as a monastic at Gampo Abbey in 2018/19, and looks to Pema Chodron as a teacher alongside Anam Thubten. David is a Trustee of the London Shambhala Meditation Centre and has held various volunteer roles there in the past before becoming a teacher and meditation instructor.

Timings

Arrival from 9.30am, sitting will start at 10.00am, the day closes at 5pm. 

Cost

The cost is £35. This goes towards the rental and running costs of the premises as well as the ingredients for lunch. 

A concession fee of £25 is available to anyone that has an annual income below £25,000, and of £20 is available to anyone that has an annual income below £20,000. Please contact [email protected] to arrange a concession or with any other questions.

We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone attending and understand that these are challenging times financially for many people - please do not hesitate to contact us if you require a further concession.

The teachers do not receive payment and there will be an opportunity to make a donation towards them if you so wish on the day. This is completely anonymous and voluntary and in accordance with the principle of dana, a pali word, meaning generosity and giving in the spirit of joy.