Offerings

 

 

Courses, sessions and retreats convene at the Open Path teaching space in Shoreham, on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, or at the Open Path teaching space on French Island, accessible by ferry from the Mornington Peninsula at Stony Point. Some sessions are offered via Zoom. Let us know if you wish to attend and we can assist you with advice regarding directions and access (contact details below). If you have previously indicated an intention to attend, please advise us of your absence in advance.. The offerings are, in the spirit of dana, the universal flow of responsive relating – gifting and acceptance – by donation.

Deepening Dharma Practice

We offer fortnightly sessions, ‘Deepening the Dharma’ exploring the universal teachings of awakening drawing upon diverse spiritual teachings from around the planet, in particular, classical and contemporary Buddhadharma.

Each session introduces a contemplative theme complemented by guided, gentle mindfulness through movement practice and sitting meditation. This provides a deep foundation of easeful body awareness that also settles the mind. This, in turn, enables the arising of metta (Pali) “loving kindness” and heartfelt interest both furthering curiosity, awareness and a concomitant sense of joy. The foundation of calm (samatha) enables and supports contemplative exploration (vipassana) and greater discernment of what is supportive of a wholesome, healthy life. With ongoing cultivation, more awareness and discernment enables the release of unhelpful habitual patternings of body, speech and mind enabling a standpoint of naturalness and openness. The sessions are further enabled throuigh group discussion and guidelines for individual practice at home.

Current Sessions


Mindfulness through Movement

Mindfulness Through Movement is a contemporary approach to the classical Buddhist practice of kaya-nupassana (Pali) - awareness of body. Offered fortnightly, these sessions employ both a micro and macro lens in the observation of gentle movement sequences of the body: initially, a micro lens enabling attention to detail, observing associated sensations in the muscular-skeletal response of the active physical body; subsequently, a macro lens to discern overall body-mind arisings of experience in the resting body; for instance, direct experience of qualities such as centeredness, groundedness or openness. This focused, mindful way of working establishes deep bodily and mental calm and shifts unhelpful habitual bodily formations, associated emotions and mindstates. With ongoing practice, experiences of greater clarity of mind, enhanced self-awareness and increased responsiveness arise that can be further cultivated in everyday life.
By donation.
Fortnightly, July 13 - December 14.
Please register in advance: contact@openpathmeditation.com.au

Retreats

Monthly Retreat Days

Our monthly retreat day provides an opporunity to set aside a whole day for Dharma practice in a supportive environment. We provide a general theme for the day, lead a session of movement and a group sit. Participants are then free to undertake their own individual contemplative work using the available practice space and surrounds. The day concludes with group sharing and discussion on arising questions and themes of exploration.

Current Sessions

Longer Retreats

We offer two (2) nine-day retreats annually focused on specific theme in May and October commencing on a Saturday and finishing the following Sunday week. The schedule generally includes a morning and occasionally an afternoon teaching session with space between for personal exploration and practice – sitting, standing, lying down and walking – both indoors and outdoors in the beautiful Shoreham bushland and beach environments.

Current Sessions

There are no retreats scheduled at this time

For registration and further information for all courses contact Kathryn: ph:+61 (0)3 5989 8179; mob: +61 (0)457 203 630; contact@openpathmeditation.com.au

Open Path
Welcome
Offerings
Teaching Space
Garden
Environs
About
Schedule