Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment. It means tuning in to what is happening in the present moment and letting go of focusing on the past or future.

It involves cultivating a gentle, nurturing acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment.

Insight Meditation is a tradition of practice that originates from the 2600 year old Theravada teachings of the Buddha. It is primarily concerned with seeing clearly into the nature of life as we experience it, and finding a place of clear knowing and freedom in the heart. From this place we can discover for ourselves how to live beautifully and skilfully in the world, and relate to our lives with integrity and self respect.

The Buddha taught that the development of wisdom goes hand in hand with the development of the heart qualities of compassion and loving-kindness, making this practice not only for our own benefit, but also for the benefit of all others with whom we have contact. Since the practice of Insight Meditation is based upon self inquiry and our own direct experience, it is accessible to people of any or all spiritual traditions.

Qigong is based in thousands of years of wisdom and understanding of human energy systems. Simple energy practices can help to rebalance and restore energy-flow, bringing more calmness, vitality and joy to body and mind.

Qigong is a valuable support for meditation practice. It helps cultivate mindfulness through reconnecting body and mind. It enhances well-being and present moment awareness (mindfulness). It helps the body relax and the mind soften and open. Qigong exercises are simple to learn and suitable for people of all ages and levels of fitness.

Dana is a word the Buddha used to describe the quality of generosity in the heart.

Dana has the power to transform the sense of separation and alienation that can limit our lives into one of connectedness and value. The Buddha said that this development is an essential foundation for the arising of insight.

Open-heartedness and dana are foundational values in developing mindful living, and in our relationships with ourselves and each other.

Some Original Nature events are offered with dana as the system of payment, which means it is up to participants to decide what they wish to give. We encourage participants to use these opportunities to explore directly the benefits of this quality of heart, and to taste the effects of dana in one’s meditation and daily life.

“About this mind… in truth there is nothing really wrong with it. It is intrinsically pure. Within itself it is already peaceful. “

– Ajahn Chah