R and R Book Club » Mindfulness Training Institute

R & R (Reading & Reflecting) - Book Club

Stoke the fires of what interests you using contemporary texts from divergent views around the subject of awareness practices. Have a rich yarn with your peers.

Typical session reflections:

What resonated with you?
What questions do you have that we can grapple with together?
What do you see as implications for your practice?

Structure:

Sit, Explore, Reflect , Sit

Next book:

The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh

Beginning Monday 26 August 2024

Fortnightly, four sessions until Monday 7 October
6pm- 7.15pm (AEST)

Details below.

100% of the proceeds from the book club go to a scholarship fund.
Please note participants are responsible for obtaining their own copy of the book.

Who is this for?

For people with an interest in mindfulness and those who have completed Level I or Level II training and beyond, even if you do not yet teach.

Why?

To enhance our understanding of mindfulness, its gifts and complexities and to explore the implications for our practice.

How?

Commit to one book at a time. One hour fifteen minute sessions via Zoom.

Location

At your place

Register Now

The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh

We hope you'll join us as we delve into Thich Nhat Hanh's book The Art of Living.

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was a global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist, renowned for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. he was exiled from his native Vietnam for almost four decades. Thich Nhat Hanh has been described as the most important figure in Western Buddhism in terms of direct influence through the number of students taught and his emphasis on mindfulness within the context of ethics. He promoted ‘engaged Buddhism’ with the aim of connecting traditional Buddhist beliefs to protest and social action. He also coined the term ‘interbeing’ to describe how all things exist in a state of interconnected being, a state of being interwoven and mutually dependent.

‘True mindfulness is a path, an ethical way of living, and every step along that path can already bring happiness, freedom and wellbeing, to ourselves and others. Happiness and wellbeing are not an individual matter. We inter-are with all people and all species.’

Thich Nhat Hanh has written over 100 books, so selecting one is no easy matter! We have chosen The Art of Living based on his last full talks before his sudden hospitalisation. The book focuses on “The Three Doors of Liberation" (Emptiness, Signlessness and Aimlessness), plus four additional concentrations of Impermanence, Non-Craving, Letting Go and Nirvana. In addition to these seven transformative meditations, the book draws on intimate examples from his own life. Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how we can live a happy, peaceful and active life, and face aging and dying with curiosity and joy and without fear.

We hope this simple to read book, that frequently ties into issues in the modern world such as climate, politics, and the pace of life, will bring buddhism to life in a way that will feel relatable and practical. We look forward to more in-depth discussions with you!

The selection is readily available in paperback, ebook and as an audible book on various platforms.

Jan Haworth and Steve Pozel (first meeting through their MTIA level 1 training in 2016) host this book before Pamela Lovell returns from her overseas sabbatical in October.

Dates and Chapters

26 August		(pg vii – 42)- from Foreword through to end of Chapter 1 (45 pages).
9 Sept		(pg 43 – 95)- from beginning of Chapter 2 through to ending with completing the sub-section You are Enough in Chapter 3 (52 pages).
23 Sept		(pg 96 – 150) from Chapter 3 beginning with the subsection Being Business-less (pg 96) – through all of Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 - ending with completing the sub-section Practice: The Art of Relaxation (56 pages)
7 October		(pg 151 – 206)- from Chapter 5 beginning with the subsection Mindfulness is a Source of Happiness (pg 151) – through all of Chapter 6 and to the end of Afterword (55 pages).

Your Facilitators / Hosts

Steve Pozel

Steve has worked with hundreds of the world’s leading innovators and creative minds since the 1980’s. It has been the foundation to his research focusing on the convergence of innovation, creativity and the contemplative.

After a 3-decade career leading cultural institutions in Canada and Australia, Steve now divides his time between consulting within the creative sector and supporting social enterprises through his experience in leadership and innovation.

Beginning with the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2017, Steve has been presenting sessions of contemplative exploration (artofdeeplooking.com) at major arts organisations including Sydney Opera House; Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery of NSW; MCA; UTS; Brisbane Arts Festival and as a regular presenter at Sydney’s VIVID Ideas festival.

Steve and Timothea Goddard will be co-facilitating The Art of Deep Listening program for the VIVID Ideas Festival in 2024.

Since 2023, Steve has been developing a prototype for a virtual platform to combine art and contemplation. ILLUME (artmindfully.com) is an audio-driven experience to connect people to art in a deeper, more mindful way and features a wide range of artworks from international galleries.

Jan Haworth

Jan is a Certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher whose journey into mindfulness began during her experience of cancer during her mid-30s. Introduced to mindfulness as a means to navigate the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges of illness, Jan soon discovered its transformative impact beyond mere coping mechanisms and was inspired to train as a teacher and share mindfulness with others.

Jan brings a wealth of experience, and her company, Mindfulness Aotearoa, has delivered courses to over 2,000 individuals across diverse organisations in both the public and private sectors with a particular dedication to supporting healthcare workers in District Health Boards. Jan also runs MBSR courses in Auckland for the general public, and is passionate about supporting individuals navigating health challenges.

Trevor, 2019

I don’t like to read books on meditation even though I know I should and I know they are helpful. So I forced myself (with kindness and compassion) to join the MTI book club to help break through.

And I read the book (all of it). And I sat with others and asked questions and had many of them answered. And I learnt a lot of helpful things about mindfulness that is helping my practice and helping me to help others.

So while I still don’t like reading books on meditation the book club helps.

Refund Policy

There are no refunds for the Alumni Book Club

Reading and Reflecting Book Club