Deep Ecology Immersion: Coffs Harbour, with John Seed, Niamh Murray, Feya Durkin, and Br. Tenzin,

A three-day experiential deep ecology workshop (11–13 September), co-facilitated by John Seed with Br. Tenzin, Feya Durkin and Niamh Murray, following the Work That Reconnects framework — gratitude, honouring pain for the world, seeing with new eyes, and going forth — including the Council of All Beings ritual. Vegetarian meals provided; 25% of proceeds support the Rainforest Information Centre.

Follow-up

Deep gratitude to all who shared this nourishing weekend of Deep Ecology process with us at the Coffs Botanic Gardens — for your trust, your grief, your joy, and your presence in ritual and circle together. Special thanks also to John, Niamh and Feya for holding the energy and the space, and to Lilli and Jaid for the logistical support that made it all run smoothly.

Research suggests that the shift in perspective these processes open up doesn’t hold indefinitely on its own: Eshana Bragg’s doctoral research found that participants’ sense of ecological self after a Council of All Beings workshop tends to fade within around six months without a renewing practice. Below are some resources to help continue and deepen what we opened together.

Deep Ecology: background and group processes

deepecology.net is a living resource for the philosophy, science, poetry and practice of Deep Ecology, including introductions and instructions for the group processes we explored — the Cosmic Walk, Earth as Peppercorn, and the Council of All Beings. Start with the Praxis page. Feedback on the site is always welcome.

Guided practices

Also: Our Life as Gaia — the guided meditation I shared, retracing the Cosmic Walk as an embodied relaxation practice.

Movement

Qi-gong and mindful movement sequence (video) — the mindful movement practice I shared.

“Sacred ecology”

The path of śamatha-vipaśyanā meditation is specifically designed to help us to “see with new eyes” — training the mind to rest in direct experience rather than the stories we tell about “self” and “other”. For introductory reading on how meditation can help us deepen our understanding of interdependence:

• On interbeing The Sun My Heart Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press)
• Mindfulness of breathing Breathe, You Are Alive- Thich Nhat Hanh, (Parallax Press)
• Basic breath awareness — guided audio practice
• Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet — review, Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press)

Related links

• Deep Ecology
• Work That Reconnects Network — Website focussed on Joanna Macy’s formulation of Deep Ecology process - including the spiral framework (gratitude, honouring our pain, seeing with new eyes, going forth).
• Gaia Forest Project — our forest sanctuary and retreat project on the Mid North Coast. from time to time we offer multi-day immersions combining mindfulness, meditation and nature connection in the form of walking retreats in the beautiful wild places of our region. Sign up to the newsletter for updates
• Support this work — as a monk, all my teaching is offered freely; any offering, however small, is deeply appreciated.

Further resources

Browse all Resources →

Original event listing →

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