Past event — August 2025

This course has ended. The original programme below is kept for reference.

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Original course description

We all experience dukkha, or dissatisfaction and suffering, but why? In this weekend course you will be introduced to simple techniques to unravel the dukkha we experience and uncover the basic goodness present in everyone.

Saturday 23 August, 9 am–4:30 pm

On Saturday we will see how to develop a simple practice that can cut through all of our mental patterns. We will take a close look at the technique itself, highlighting the common mistakes that we make when beginning to work with our mind. By clearly understanding the practice we will see how to effortlessly sidestep many of the difficulties we face in meditation.

Sunday 24 August, 9 am–4:30 pm

On Sunday we will see how to refine and develop this practice to take us beyond our ordinary experience. This simple practice can lead us directly into the heart of the Buddha’s wisdom. In this way, we come to see how gaining an understanding of our basic goodness can take us far beyond what we may have thought possible.

About the teacher

Ben Isbel has over 30 years of experience practicing and teaching both traditional Buddhist meditation techniques and contemporary psychological approaches to mindfulness. Ben has studied in both the Theravadin and Mahayana Buddhist traditions and holds a B. of Psychology (Honours) and a PhD in neuroscience of mindfulness.

Historical attendance information

The August 2025 course was offered free of charge with support from the Khyentse Foundation. Participants brought their own lunch; morning and afternoon tea were provided.

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