Alan's blog Events News: group London meeting relationship model teaching
by Alan
12 comments
The London Open Enlightenment Group
I recently posted a pledge to start an ‘Open Enlightenment group’ in London if ten people were interested. Well, it turns out that ten people are interested, and so I will indeed set up the group.
The first step is for everyone to meet up in central London somewhere (that’s free, say a pub or cafe) to discuss exactly what I have in mind, what everyone would like from the group and where might be the best place in terms of location to start weekly sessions.
Even if you haven’t signed the pledge, or you missed it, the invite still remains open to join in!
I have a proposed learning structure based upon my three major awakenings, which I describe as the ‘relationship model’. Sitting or meditation is a relationship with yourself (my first peak awakening occurred during a daily sit), discussion between peers is a group relationship (my partial awakening occurred during a discussion with a friend), and Q&A (satsang) or a 1-to-1 session is a relationship with a teacher (my final awakening occurred during a satsang with a guru in India). I think a good spiritual practice should include all three.
This means that there are 3 major components to the structure: daily sitting (with weekly meet ups to instruct/provide support), group meetings to discuss everything and anything related to enlightenment/dharma/practice – especially as an emerging 21st century spiritual culture, and group/1-to-1 meetings with a teacher (me) to ask questions directly about awakening or to take instruction.
It should be noted that although I will be fulfilling the role of teacher within this structure, that relationship is only 1/3 of the model. So although a teacher – as an example of an awakened human – is important, it doesn’t take precedent over having access to a group of peers (of which a teacher is ultimately but one of many), or the development of the necessary relationship with yourself.
Before I timetable any of this though, I thought it would be best to allow you (should you be attending) to have some input as to what form these three components take (how many group sits a week? Will the group sits and questioning naturally merge?), hence the initial meeting.
Needless to say I’m very excited about getting group up and running in London, and I’ll post details of a proposed time and place shortly.
Any comments/suggestions welcome!
The structure sounds great.
My only concern is time as I am already very busy and I suspect that everyone else will be as well (including you), this is London after all.
For me personally a weekly meeting combining both sitting + instruction, as well as group discussion would be far preferable to two separate events.
I love the idea of this. Is it for all levels of attainment (speaking as a relative beginner) ?
@Zac: I’m not teaching Buddhism! By all means read Dan’s book (I think it’s great) but I’ll be teaching what I believe is the best means of approaching/practising enlightenment from a completely non-sectarian viewpoint, based on everything I’ve learned from magick or Advaita Vedanta and all the other traditions I’ve had the good fortune to find useful.
@Pavel: My original idea was to have a ‘community’ meeting once a month, free, at some public venue, with a sitting class or satsang on a weekly basis. But we can discuss this when we meet up!
@Martin: absolutely! What an ‘advanced’ practitioner practices happens to be the same thing as a ‘beginner’, so there is no barrier based on experience.
sounds good
just name the time and place 
i played around with something we called
listening evenings
where an individual was asked to talk
but the emphasis is on the listeners not the talkers
more in line with buddhism and enlightenment imho…
worked well
something like that may be useful
Just to let everyone know that I’ll be naming a time and place early next week (very busy weekend approaching!).
Would love to come to that first meeting! I won’t be able to attend on a weekly basis, since I live on the continent. Are you planning to have retreats as well? I guess I’d be able to attend the community meetings about every other month, though.
Looking forward to meeting you guys
Hi, my name is Dan
I have been reading about Buddhism and experimenting with meditation techniques for a year or so, so I’m pretty new to it all and also feeling a little directionless with my practice.
I’ve recently moved to London and am looking for some sort of Sangha/group (call it what you will) to join that speaks to me as a western, person living in the 21st century.
It has become clear how important (to me anyway) being surrounded by a like-minded group of individuals will be if I’m going to really explore this new aspect of my life and I would be very interested in meeting up.
Is there room for one more?
I’d be interested in meeting up too!
Hello everyone!
If you are interested in joining the group please send me your e-mail address so I can send you a google group invite:
alan (at) openenlightenment.org
Let’s get this show on the road!
Alan.
I have just found your site through the Giving What You Can website, only this evening. I am intrigued and inspired. Although I do not live in London, I am often a visitor, for various reasons. I hope I can come to one of your group meetings at some time.
Best wishes
Paulus
Hi all,
After reading your blog Alan, I would like to meet up and discuss the practical application of the enlightment.
I live in London and would like to join the group.
All the best
Michal
Sounds great! My only regret is that I don’t live in London. I will anyway try to drop by whenever I get a chance.
-Alex