The Art of Zen course was formerly called Be Calm Be Happy
SCHEDULE
Friday: 7 – 9 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
We recommend that you arrive by 6.45 pm on Friday to settle in before the course starts. The Friday evening session is key to the whole course and includes the first and foundational teaching session. Please make sure you are able to attend this session (and both full days) before booking.
Course Overview
Mindfulness encourages a sense of wellbeing moment by moment, as well as being aware of what is happening in the present moment without reacting to it.
The course offers a deeper understanding of mindfulness and how it can support many aspects of your daily life.
The wisdom of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced “Tik Nat Harn”) teaches us to find a sense of peace within ourselves, and serenity in the face of suffering. In a supportive community of like-minded people we experience developing more kindness and compassion.
We will introduce and explore new ways of bringing mindfulness into our day, not only in meditation, but also in how we eat, behave, speak to ourselves and others, and take care of ourselves.
Course Content
- Stopping and Calming
- Turning to the Positive
- Loving Communication
- Nourishing Happiness
- Interdependence and Community
- Guidelines for a Happier Life
This Course Offers
— An introduction to Thich Nhat Hanh’s approach to mindfulness from experienced practitioners. How it works and how to build a mindfulness practice that is stable and self-reliant.
— A sense of support, connection and community by practising and sharing with course participants.
— Understanding ways to cope with life’s stresses, reducing feelings such as loneliness, anxiety, anger and depression by establishing a stable and lasting mindfulness practice.
— Understanding ways to develop a greater sense of wellbeing and inner peace in everyday life as a means of generating compassion, joy and calm for yourself and others.
— Practical exercises to help you bring more awareness to your experiences, understand the importance of rest, and what it means to be more Zen.
— Practical ways to connect more deeply with family and friends by learning the art of compassionate speech and deep listening.
Throughout the course, you will be supported in finding ways to bring mindfulness more fully into your life through formal and informal exercises practised in each session.
We assist you to look at making incremental, sustainable changes to your daily life. This allows you to make time and space for mindfulness and meditation.
We encourage you to look honestly at how you currently operate and to be willing to make adjustments to help you live a more authentic life.
Reported Benefits
— Increased enjoyment of life
— Increased ability to be calm and relaxed
— Increased control of emotions such as anger and anxiety
— Improved sleep quality
— Fewer feelings of anxiety and low mood
Who Can Attend?
This course is suitable for adults who are beginners, as well as more experienced practitioners wishing to gain a fuller understanding of how mindfulness can support calm and peaceful living. Mindfulness is a practice originating in Buddhism and supported by neuroscience and psychology; it may be practised by those of all faiths and none.
Many of our participants learn new ways to care for their wellbeing and can develop positive responses to challenging situations.
Course Leaders
Jan Cook
Jan has been practising meditation and a Zen lifestyle since 2011. When she met Thich Nhat Hanh’s (Thay) teachings, she realised that she had found her spiritual home and a day to day mindfulness practice to experience a calmer and happier life. She still knows this was the right decision for her and has continued to put mindfulness practice at the centre of her life.
Jan is now offering the Art of Zen courses with other course leaders and is committed to enabling others to connect and to share with others in a community of practice (Sangha). She knows that each course offers new perspectives and insights into the teachings and enjoys the freshness and challenges that each group brings as they engage with the course content.
Jan’s background is in education and she has organised and led events in many different places in the world, training adults in a variety of skills (including IT). She is firmly committed to the Plum Village approach to mindfulness and received the transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings in 2015, and is now an Aspirant to become an Order member.
Jan’s (dharma) name is Inner Peace of the Heart.
Pascale Scheurer
Pascale has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2012, and discovered Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings around 2014, taking their family to Plum Village in France for a week in the Summer of 2018. They were given the dharma name “Patient Joy of the Heart” in 2019, along with the Five Mindfulness Trainings, and trained to give this course in early 2020 just before the pandemic.
Living in Marlow since 2018, Pascale has led meditation sessions and dharma sharing circles in their home and garden, and aspires to co-host a Marlow Sangha (community circle) meeting regularly in person for mindfulness practice. They have taught Thich Nhan Hanh’s “Ten Mindful Movements”, simple Tai Chi movements that anyone can follow or adapt to suit their capabilities.
Pascale is an architect by background, specialising in public education and school design for children with social, emotional, behavioural and mental health challenges. They trained as a coach 2019-2020 to help parents and schools support children and teens who don’t enjoy attending mainstream school.
Pascale is passionate about intersectional equity, diversity and inclusion, striving to make all their mindfulness offerings a safe, accessible and welcoming space for BAME/BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse and disabled participants. If you have any questions or requirements, please ask.
Both course leaders follow the Five Mindfulness Trainings which are Thich Nhat Hanh’s version of the 5 precepts of the Buddha. You will learn about this ethical code of conduct on the course.
Practical Information
Venue
The Garden Room, Liston Hall, , Chapel Street (corner of Liston Road), Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1DD
Liston Hall is in the centre of Marlow town.
Car Parking
The venue is accessible with disabled parking nearby. There is a bus stop very close and the train station is a ten minute walk away. Liston Road Pay & Display car park is just next door.
Refreshments
Tea / coffee / herbal teas will be available. You are invited to bring a vegetarian packed lunch to eat during the lunch breaks together. There are also cafes and shops close by.
Accessibility
Liston Hall is a single-storey building, fully accessible for wheelchair users / restricted mobility including accessible toilets.
Pricing
Standard Rate | £145
This rate helps us to sustain the course.
Supporter Rate | £175
Support others on lower income to attend.
Sponsor Rate | £200
This rate helps us to sustain the course, and allows us to offer it to those on a lower income.
Discounted Rate | £95
For students and participants on a low income who cannot afford the standard rate.
Supported Rate | £30
Limited availability ticket for those with no income or specific circumstances.
Plum Village UK is a not for profit charity based in the UK, dedicated to sharing the practice of mindfulness and mindful living in the Plum Village tradition.
The pricing range enables us to cover marketing and admin costs, and ensure the continuation of the courses well into the future. If you are not sure which rate to choose and would like some guidance, please contact us and we will be happy to help you. Nobody should be excluded from taking part based on their income or life circumstances.
Refund Policy
If you cancel your booking at least 14 days before the start of the course we will refund your course fee. We shall be unable to refund you later than this.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring with me?
- A pen and notebook for journaling.
- A meditation cushion, stool, mat or blanket – or whatever helps you to be comfortable, particularly during the meditation sessions. Chairs will be provided.
- A packed lunch. We will be invited to eat together during the break for lunch. Local cafes and shops are also a short walk away.
- A selection of hot drinks will be available. But if you have a favourite drink, or wish to bring a snack for yourself or to share, please bring this.
- Please advise us of any allergies or intolerances.
What should I wear?
Please dress casually and comfortably. You may find it helpful to wear several layers, so that you can remove/add a layer to maintain a comfortable body temperature during the day and particularly while meditating. Some people bring slippers or a blanket.
What do I need to do to prepare?
You do not need to do anything to prepare for the course. This course is designed to be suitable for beginners and all the information you need will be provided.
During the course we will propose some home practices and routine activities to help you integrate mindfulness and meditation into your daily life, including apps and links to guided meditations online.
Mobile phones
In the spirit of sustaining mindfulness, shared experience and practice, we invite participants to turn off their phones during the course and not use them around other participants during breaks. If this will be a concern for you, please get in touch.
What further information will I receive?
You will receive a confirmation email once you have registered. You will also receive an invitation email from the course leaders near to the start date with additional information about the venue, local accommodation and eateries, and the detailed course schedule. We will endeavour to answer all participants’ questions at least two weeks before the course.
Contact Us
If there is anything else you would like to know before the course starts please do not hesitate to contact either of us. Please allow a week or so for replies. Closer to the course start date, emails will be checked daily.
Pascale (primary contact) pascale@plumvillage.uk
