Talks by SanghaSeva Facilitators
We would like to share some talks with you that were given by Nathan Glyde, Rob Burbea and Zohar Lavie. Some of these talks were given during meditation retreats but we feel they are still relevant to service work.
Nathan, Rob and Zohar are all co-founders of SanghaSeva, you can read more about Nathan, Rob and Zohar here.
Nathan Glyde
Talks from SanghaSeva Retreats
Dharmalaya 2013
Somnath 2012
Somnath 2011
Talks from Other Retreats
Sarnath 2008
Rob Burbea
The Meditator as Revolutionary
Selflessness and a Life of Love
Blessing Life (The Power of the Generous Heart)
The Self and Its Search for Security
Zohar Lavie
Talks from SanghaSeva Retreats
Dharmalaya 2013
Wheel Of Karma, Wheel Of Dharma
Somnath 2012
The Meditation Cave - Bodhichitta practice
Talks from Other Retreats
Sarnath 2013
Independence and interconnectedness
Tiru 2013
Yatra 2012
A Question of Desire - With french translation. (Avec traduction en français.)
Sarnath 2012
Sarnath 2011
Yatra 2010
Guided Meditations
Loving Kindness Retreat Sheffield 2012
Caring and Presence Retreat Sheffield 2012
Spirtuality around the world
These groups or organisations either offer meditation or other spiritual practices, or are doing actions with spirituality.
Sangha Calendar – a listing of many of our sister organisations listed below in an easy to use calendar format. Including retreats and events for Christopher Titmuss, Open Dharma, SanghaSeva and guests.
– www.sanghacalendar.org
Among Friends – a network of collaborating friends expressing a common heart's aspiration to share what has been gained through life. Some of us teach, others pursue meditative activism, enlightened agriculture, social work, art, education... Meditation retreats are offered in Canada and the UK.
– www.among-friends.ca
Christopher Titmuss – a former Buddhist monk in Thailand and India, teaches Awakening and Insight Meditation around the world. He gives retreats, participates in pilgrimages (yatras) and leads Dharma gatherings. As well as writing Dharma books and campaigning for peace and other global issues.
– www.insightmeditation.org
Bodhi Tree Brighton – is a charity that has its roots in the teachings of the Buddha. We run groups and activities where you can learn meditation and explore practice as it relates to daily life. We host workshops on creative themes. There is the opportunity to make connections with others and build supportive spiritual community.
– www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk
Gaia House – offers Insight Meditation (known as
Vipassana in the Buddhist tradition) and Zen Retreats throughout the year.
The Centre provides comprehensive Dharma teachings and spiritual practices
to realize wisdom and compassion in daily life. The Centre is not tied
to any religion. (UK)
– www.gaiahouse.co.uk
London Insight Meditation– offers a programme of events based in the insight (vipassana) meditation tradition. Together with a group of leading teachers, we explore the modern application of authentic Buddhist teachings in our lives.
– www.londoninsight.org
Sheffield Insight – offer weekend retreats, day-long retreats and evening courses led by teachers associated with Gaia House retreat centre in Devon. They also offer regular groups to share meditation practice and discussion.
– www.sheffieldinsightmeditation.org.uk
Engaged Dharma Israel – Working in combination and solidarity with various Palestinian partners on many levels of direct action; peaceful protest, positive actions, tours showing the impacts of the occupation, and supporting health, social and legal progress.
– more information about their work
Tovana – offer Meditation retreats in Israel, that encourage the development of serenity, wisdom, and loving-kindness, and point us towards a life of freedom and awakening. All retreats offered on dana.
– www.tovana.org.il
Open Dharma – offers retreats as a platform where each person
can experiment and improvise her or his own unique path. Settled in India
they also offer their teachings worldwide.
– www.opendharma.org
Dharma Yatra – A Dharma Yatra is a "pilgrimage,"
where dharma friends from around the world walk peacefully together.
– www.dharmayatra.org
Free Meditation Info – learn all about meditation, the benefits of meditation, how to meditate, places to meditate, free guided meditations, mantras, free books, articles, and much more.
– www.freemeditationinfo.com
Le Moulin Meditation Centre – is first and foremost a place 'to be', a place for connection with oneself, with others and with Nature. We offer a beautiful setting, caring supportive conditions, and practices and teachings for awakening our life, awakening to Life itself. (France)
– www.moulindechaves.org
Mindfulness Training Course – Mindfulness is a natural and effortless ability to be with what is happening right now. We can decide to be mindful right now. Yet it takes training to learn to remember to be mindful. The tools of mindfulness training bring us into the present moment to fully experience life as it happens. By developing this natural skill we are able to open to all of life in its joys and sorrows, and find greater spaciousness, calmness and care.
– www.mindfulnesstrainingcourse.org
Yellow River Voluntary Alliance – Based in China serving China, organising and sourcing a variety of projects bringing together people desiring to serve and those in need.
– www.soupkitchen.cn
The Mandala Trust – UK based NGO working in partnership with a variety of grass roots organisations overseas. Currently active in Southern Africa, Cambodia and India supporting vulnerable children.
– www.mandala-trust.co.uk
The Khuphuka Project – a HIV and AIDS community care and support program serving the uMqatsheni tribal area falling within the Kwa Sani municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. An initiative of Dharmagiri Outreach and The Mandala Trust.
– www.khuphuka.org
Human Kindness Foundation-Prison Ashram Project – Working with people in prison and helping them when they come out. (USA)
– www.humankindness.org
Breaking the Silence – an organisation that collects testimonies from hundreds of Israeli soldiers who served in the Occupied Territories. These testimonies break the soldiers silence and open Israeli eyes to what is happening in their name to the Palestinian people. These interviews are published on their website we also endorse their eye opening tour of Hebron. (Israel)
–www.shovrimshtika.org
Middle Way-Shvil Zahav – offer Spiritual Actions in Israel and Palestine to develop peace and understanding, including Peace Walks, Dialogue and Conflict Resolution work and Humanitarian Activities.
– www.middleway.org
SEVA*– Ram Dass' organisation promoting service. (USA)
– www.seva.org
BASE* – Buddhist Peace Fellowship's 6 month Buddhist Alliance for Social Engagement program. (USA)
– www.bpf.org
The Prison Phoenix Trust* – Working in prisons in the UK, affiliated with the Human Kindness Foundation.
– www.prisonphoenixtrust.org.uk
Angulimala *– Working to give spiritual support to Buddhists
or those interested in Buddhist practice in prisons. (UK)
– www.angulimala.org.uk
Amida Trust *– Buddhist aid work
around the world.
–www.amidatrust.com
Kiva*– a non-profit organisation that allows you to lend as little as $25 to a specific low-income entrepreneur across the globe. Creating a model of Micro Finance to bring people out of poverty.
–www.kiva.org
Here is where they explain the system very clearly www.kiva.org/about/pic
Volunteering around the world
Disabled holidays
The following organisations offer volunteer positions helping a disabled person go on holiday.
Vitalise*
– www.vitalise.org.uk
3Hfund *
– www.3hfund.org.uk
Break *
– www.break-charity.org
Conservation and Environmental work
The following organisations work to conserve the environment.
Trees for health
A South Devon organisation working to foster healthy communities
and healthy ecosystems through seasonal tree activities.
- www.treesforhealth.org
Trees for life
Reforestation of the scottish highlands.
- www.treesforlife.org.uk
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
*
- www.btcv.org.uk
National Trust *
– www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Wildlife Trust *
– www.wildlifetrusts.org
Wwoof international * – an
international network of volunteering on organic farms.
– www.wwoof.org
*SanghaSeva
recommends these organisations
trusting they are doing good work. |
Recommended Books
Books combining Meditation and Service
Ram Dass - How can I Help? & Grist for the Mill.
Ram Dass & Mirabai Bush - Compassion in Action.
Steven Levine - Who Dies? Healing into Life and Death, Meetings at the Edge
Ken Wilber - Grace and Grit.
Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Divine One).
A Sanskrit text from the Mahabharata epic, which advocates selfless action over goal oriented action as the ideal path to realize Truth.
"Its nice to have Krishna's appeal to duty with me when I work everyday and want to escape. Instead of escaping, I relax into it and and let God come closer to God." Jens Lingsberg
Books about Service
Gandhi - My experiments with Truth.
Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin - Three cups of tea.
This book is about one mans' dedication and NGO work in Pakistan and Afghanistan building schools in remote areas with a focus on providing education for girls.
"This is a totally inspiring book and deeply moving." Lizzie Jacobs
Please bear in mind this book has been questioned for it's accurate documentation of fact, and for a low percentage of money raised by the NGO getting to the schools.
Natacha Calestreme - Les Heros de la Nature.
A collection of accounts of conservation work with endangered species. (French)
"It tells about selfless service and courage, and says in its beautiful way how any form of life is precious, beautiful and worth being protected and respected." Kevin Dancelme
Neesha Mirchandani - Wisdom Song.
The Life of Baba Amte; founder of Anandwan.
Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan - The Prison Angel.
Mother Antonia's journey from Beverly Hills to a life of service in a Mexican jail.
Rachel Naomi Remen - In the Service of Life.
A short online text about the beauty of service.
Books about Meditation
Pema Chodron - Start Where You Are, The Wisdom of No Escape, The Places that Scare You.
Steven Batchelor - Buddhism without Beliefs.
Stephen Levine - A Gradual Awakening.
Help make these lists more comprehensive. If you know of a book you feel should be on the above lists, or one that shouldn't, please let us know. We will love to share that here.