Mindfulness and Race, a day for People of Colour with Salma Darling of Brighton Insight Meditation

Below is information on a third party event that we feel MNPC users may be interested in. All bookings are subject to their T&Cs, you can find out more on their website: Bodhi Tree Brighton

We will be creating a supportive sanctuary for People of Colour to explore mindfulness in the context of the Buddha’s teachings.

Through sitting and walking meditation, guided instructions, dharma talks and discussion, we will explore experientially how best we can access, and keep exploring, what it is to be present with ourselves and others.

We’ll also be turning towards the issues of race in dharma and mindfulness practice and communities, and exploring racial bias.

What is the impact of race in our bodies, minds and practice?

How can practicing mindfulness explore and work with racial bias?

What are the teachings that help support our understanding and waking up?

How might neuroscience help us in understanding of unconscious bias?

What common learnings and wisdom can we share together to serve each of us to wake up personally, and with and for our world?

This day will focus on the practical application of teachings in our everyday lives, and is suitable for beginners as well as those with more experience.

What defines a Person of Colour?

The term "person of color" sometimes abbreviated POC, is used primarily in the United States to describe any person who is not white. The term encompasses all non-white people, emphasizing common experiences of systemic racism. I have also sat in POC groups with people who appear white, but are mixed race, latinos and from a variety of backgrounds and experience racial bias. POC is growing in usage in the UK as the common term in the UK 'BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic)' is often considered diminutive.

This day is organised by the Bodhi Tree Brighton.

Booking is via the Bodhi Tree website and offered on a dana/ donation basis http://www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk/events/.

Booking fees go towards room hire and the essential costs of putting on an event.

Cash and cheque donations will also be invited for the teacher, during the day.

If you will not be attending but would like to support by donation dharma teaching for POC's, you can donate via paypal: paypal.me/SalmaDarling

Salma Darling

I'm recommended to teach dharma and mentored by Ajaan Amaro the Abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hertfordshire. Primarily my practice has been in the Buddhist Theravada ‘vipassana’ or Insight tradition with particular interest in early buddhist teachings, including meditation practice of deep absorptions (jhanas). I’ve spent extended periods in Thai Forest monasteries and retreat centres since 1989, undertaking a number of silent retreats up to 6 months duration. In the way of Burmese monk Sayadaw U Tejaniya my approach to practice is practical and relaxed. I’m a visiting dharma teacher at Heartcamp, San Francisco and a mentor on Insight Meditation Center’s online dharma course based in Redwood City, California.

I’ve been a body-oriented psychotherapist for 20 years, practicing meditation since 1989 and have been teaching meditation and mindfulness since 2002 including in NHS mental health. I trained in MBSR at University of Massachusettes and in MBCT at Bangor University. I'm a mindfulness consultant and conscious dance facilitator alongside teaching dharma.

DANA

The teachings are offered in the traditional ‘dana’ basis. This means that you give how much you feel moved to give with respect to your circumstance and how much you value the teachings and this way of freely offering.

When you give dana you are supporting the teacher to continue to work in this way, and are paying for future people to benefit from the teaching. No-one is turned away for lack of funds.

Sunday 25th November 2018, 10am-4pm, In the South Wing Conference Room, Community Base, Queens Road, Brighton.

You can get in touch with Salma directly on her email dharmadancing[at]hotmail.com