A sacred journey - rediscovering our deep ecology through mindfulness and meditation in nature
What is Yatra?
Yatra is the Sanskrit word for journey or pilgrimage. Recognising that an important part of the “ill-being” manifest in our bodies, in our minds and in the world stems from a perceived disconnection between ourselves and nature, in Yatra we create a space for the exploration of mindfulness, meditation and nature reconnection. Interweaving Buddhist theory and practice with “Deep Ecology” inspired process - a yatra becomes a “Sacred Journey” both inner and outer, a process of cultivating inner stillness and tranquility, at the same time as connecting to country and community.
A “Sacred Ecology” Yatra
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh has said that our most urgent task in the world today is to “hear within ourselves the sound of the Earth crying”. Satish Kumar has called for a “reverential ecology” that unites our spiritual experience of the “world as sacred” with our scientific understanding of ecology. In a “Sacred Ecology” Yatra we combine Buddhist practices of meditation and mindfulness in daily life, embodied movement and processes inspired by Deep Ecology. We explore and nourish our connection to country through immersion in beautiful wild spaces, at the same time as we build community connection within the group.
In this immersive experiential workshop we will explore a brief version of this multi-day process - including some embodied movement practice - guided meditation on the breath - a silent walking in nature, and a guided total relaxation exploring our interconnection with the cosmos through the four elements.
Duration ~ 2.5 hours - spaces required indoor and outdoor - (weather dependent)
Br. Tenzin Alex Anderson
Ven. Ngawang Tenzin (Dr. Alex Anderson) began with a research ecologist’s understanding of interdependence - studying impacts of climate change on biodiversity. The rainforest soon led him to Buddhist meditation however. Now ordained as a monk in the Buddhist tradition, he has been fortunate to study and practice under Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village in France, His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin in Nepal, and at Pa Auk Tawya in the Burmese Forest tradition.
A qualified martial arts and Hatha Yoga teacher, Ven. Tenzin is also ordained in the Plum Village Order of Interbeing, a worldwide community of engaged mindfulness practitioners. With a passion for Yatra - walking retreats in wild places - his work is an exploration of “Sacred Ecology” - and lies at the intersection between Buddhist meditation, embodied movement, nature connection and deep ecology.
He currently resides on Gumbaynggirr country on the Dorrigo Plateau, where he has a project to co-create community space for meditation, forest restoration and nature connection: http://www.gaiaforest.org