A weekend on loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity with David Oromith, in Leeds or online. Everyone welcome, new or experienced.

A two-day weekend retreat: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April 2027, 9.30am to 5pm each day.

During this weekend, we’ll immerse ourselves in the profound practices of the Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness (metta), compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. These four timeless practices open the heart and bring joy into our lives.

The Dalai Lama has often commented that the essence of spiritual practice is cultivating a good heart. Science agrees with the benefits: compassion and warmheartedness have been shown to be key aspects of human wellbeing and happiness. Given we’re a species that thrives on community and belonging, this makes sense.

As important as meditative quiescence (shamatha) and insight meditation (vipashyana) are within the Buddhist tradition, it is crucial to balance such practices with the cultivation of altruism and a warm heart.

While many teachings on Buddhist meditation fill us with a longing to spend more time in quiet, solitary meditation, these practices bring us back to life, to the active world of living with others. The optimal situation to apply these teachings on cultivating a good heart is active life, socially engaged with other people, moving away from habitual self-centeredness to greater empathy and loving concern for the welfare of those around us.

The profound benefits of these practices are immediate and enduring. As soon as we generate an attitude of loving-kindness, for example, we start feeling more calm and peaceful, and we naturally share and radiate this feeling towards others.

With regular practice, we can notice our empathy and love grow, resulting in a more joyful and fulfilling life enriched by meaningful connections.

Everyone is welcome, whether you are new to this or have practised for years.

A non-residential retreat

This is a non-residential retreat, without accommodation included. There are a number of accommodation options in the local area and further afield.

Seating

Chairs are available. There will also be meditation cushions and mats, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Breaks & Lunch

The centre’s onsite cafe, the Happy Yak Cafe, has vegetarian and vegan options for lunch and refreshments. You’re also welcome to head out for lunch, or bring in your own. David has requested that we eat a plant-based lunch, or at least vegetarian if this is not possible for you. Our abstaining from meat and dairy is an expression of non-harm and compassion for all beings, taking into account the welfare of our planet and fellow inhabitants.

Each day, Saturday and Sunday

9.30am to 10am: Arriving & settling in

10am to 11.15am: Session 1, Meditation & teachings

11.15am to 11.45am: Tea break

11.45am to 1pm: Session 2, Meditation & teachings

1pm to 2.30pm: Lunch

2.30pm to 3.15pm: Session 3, Meditation & teachings

3.15pm to 3.45pm: Tea break

3.45pm to 4.45pm: Session 4, Questions & answers

5pm: Day ends

Parking & getting here

Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds is on Ingram Road, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 9RQ. There is free on-street parking, it is less than 10 minutes by car from the city centre, and there is direct access to nearby motorways.

By bus from the city centre, take the 55, 65 or 75 from the Wellington (M) stop on Whitehall Road, outside Whitehall Quay, and get off at Top Moor Side (about 10 minutes). Walk back to the KASA shop on the corner of Crosby Street and walk to the very end of Crosby Street, where you will see the Jamyang banners and mural. The entrance is on the corner at the end of the street.

On foot or by bike from Leeds train station, walk behind the Queens Hotel onto Whitehall Road. Follow it as it turns left at Dunelm, go over the roundabout and carry on towards the viaduct. Once under the viaduct, cross to the footpath beside the houses on your right, which leads onto Ingram Road. The entrance is on the corner of Ingram Road and Crosby Street.

Booking & Donations

Join us in person at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, where places are limited, or online, with the whole weekend streamed live on Zoom. One booking covers both days. You are welcome to join us for just one of the days, though the booking is for the whole weekend. Please book in advance using the options below.

We offer a sliding scale, guided by the Buddhist principle of generosity. The suggested rates help cover the cost of the weekend and support our ongoing activities. If you’re unable to afford the suggested rates, please get in touch (https://www.samadhi.org.uk/contact/). No one is excluded because they cannot afford to come.

All the teachings will be recorded, and everyone who books, in person or online, will receive the recordings after the weekend.

Description supplied by the event organiser.