Shamatha English

Cycle of 9 Sunday mornings including (tea) break

DATES, TIME AND LOCATION
25 September, 16 October, 20 November, 18 December 2022,
15 January, 19 February, 19 March, 16 April, 21 May 2023.

Time: 10:00 to 11:30 AM

Location: Laan van Meerdervoort 200 A, The Hague

FOR WHOM
. Anyone who wants to become acquainted with meditating within a Buddhist context;
. Anyone who wants to develop a solid foundation around shamatha and compassion.

COURSE MATERIAL
One handout per lesson.

CONTENTS
Shamatha meditation is the foundation for various Buddhist meditation forms and methods. Shamatha teaches us how to calm our constantly active mind and how to develop calmness, clarity and concentration.
Compassion is one of the four immeasurables. It is defined as the wish that others might be free from suffering and its causes. Our innate capacity for empathy is the source of that most precious of all human qualities. In this beginners course we will use the meditation on Avalokiteshvara to develop compassion.

The practical composition and constructive structure ensures that after the course you can continue to meditate independently at home with the help of the handouts. Meditating with each other is guided and then mainly in silence with feedback moments. We also pay attention to your sitting position.

The course is given in the Sakya center, we meditate on a chair, cushion or bench. Mats, meditation cushions and benches are provided. Please bring your own pair of warm socks and/or shawl.

COST
€ 10 per morning;
5 euros for people with a minimum income. If this is still too burdensome, then this can be deviated from in consultation.
This course is free for participants who pay an annual contribution to Sakya (in one lump sum or monthly).

REGISTER FOR THE COURSE
You can register for the course via the link below:

Zoe Tait-Sargent (1974) since 2001 working as an accounts payable specialist for an international sports company. Originally from the UK naturalized as Dutch Citizen in 2017.

In 1994 Zoe took refuge with Lama Nagpa Jampa Thaye in Bristol, Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling and followed teachings and initiations all over the UK as part of the Dechen community.

Studied the Kunzang lama I shelung (The words of my perfect teacher) by Patrul Rinpoche with Lama Nagpa Jampa Thaye for three years during weekend teachings.

Zoe moved to the Netherlands in 1999.

2002 Zoe started going to a Kagyu Diamond Way Buddhist center in Utrecht whilst she was living in Hilversum and looking for a Sangha.

2006 Zoe was part of a group of Diamond way students who were looking for more a traditional practice who founded Karma Trinley Ling in Den Haag under the supervision of HH 17th Karmarpa Thaye Dorje. Zoe studied the The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa and Gateway to Knowledge by Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche and Mipham Rinpoche. A fair number of the group had studied at KIBI in India. Zoe also received teachings and initiations from various Kagyu lamas. The group was disbanded in 2016 as some members moved away.

2012 Zoe found Sakya Thegchen Ling and followed the teachings and initiations given by Khenchen Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa an since his death in 2014 by Khenpo Tashi Sangpo Amipo.
Over the years Zoe has helped with various functions at Sakya Thegchen Ling, from helping in the kitchen to helping with taking money at events, to the finance committee.

Since 2020 Zoe has been part of the zoom hosting team at Kuttolsheim.