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Reading and Reflecting Book Club

1 hour 15 min per fortnight
Register Now

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: 
Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle.
Beginning Monday 27 October 2025

Fortnightly, four sessions until Monday 8 December
6pm- 7.15pm (AEDT)

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.

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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.

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Why?

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

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How?

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

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Location

At your place

Register Now

FINDING YOUR COURSE

Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle.

From Amazon:“In a world increasingly marked by division and discord, beloved Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle offers a transformative vision of community and compassion.

Over the past thirty years, Gregory Boyle has transformed tens of thousands of lives through his work as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program in the world. The program runs on two unwavering principles: 1)We are all inherently good (no exceptions), and 2) we belong to each other (no exceptions).

Boyle believes that these two ideas allow all of us to cultivate a new way of seeing the world. Rather than the tribalism that excludes and punishes, this new narrative proposes a village that cherishes. Pooka, a former gang member, puts it plainly. “Here, love is our lens. It is how we see things.”

From Pamela Lovell, host, MTIA Bookclub: The invitation with this book is to dive in to the teachings, see how they relate to the Buddhist teachings on how we can be in the world, feeling less divided in ourselves and with each other. We can be inspired to take on a lens that frankly, sometimes eludes us when we find ourselves caught up either locally or globally. Because Greg Boyle is a Jesuit priest, he will use the words ‘God' and ‘Jesus'. Can we insert the words ‘Buddha' or ‘Bodhisattva’ in their place and see how it lands? He will quote scriptures in the Bible. Can we ask ourselves if this same passage could appear in the Dharmapada? 

At the MTIA Bookclub, we support one another in learning and growing together, challenging ideas and learning to open to and take on ideas and practices to see for ourselves. For Gregory Boyle, there is a cultivation of a ‘Community of Tenderness’. Come help us foster and cultivate this kind of community.
Join the bookclub for this last book of 2025 

Dates and Chapters

October 27   Introduction - Chapter 3
November 10   Chapters 4-5
November 24   Chapters 6-7
December 8   Chapters 8-9

Your facilitators / hosts

Pamela Lovell

BSc, MSc, MA Counselling 

Pamela Lovell - mindfulness teacher - HobartPamela trained with the Center for Mindfulness and Openground and is a certified MBSR teacher with the Centre of Mindfulness, UMass.   She is an Organisational Development Consultant with 20 years of experience working with leaders, managers and staff to effectively handle change and improve communication and behaviours for a better workplace. Pamela’s interest in teaching MBSR came through her work with organisations where work/life balance seemed elusive and many people were finding the stress of everyday life overwhelming. Since 2007 Pamela has taught MBSR privately and in organisation settings. Pamela has 13 years of experience with mindfulness and has studied this work for 20 years.

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.
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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.

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Refund Policy

There are no refunds for the Alumni Book Club