Gavin has been practising the Dharma since 2004, and teaching at Gaia House Meditation Centre since 2015. He is particularly interested in the role Dharma teachings and practices can have in responding to our unfolding ecological situation in a transformative way, and turning towards and awakening to the interdependent nature of our collective crisis. He originally trained as an aerodynamics design engineer, studied sustainable development, and has been influenced by the holistic perspectives of Charles Eisenstein and Ajahn Sucitto.
The practice of radical allowing - shifting energy from that which obscures (the usual status-quo), into that which opens.
An alive attitude, and the wings of awakening.
The imminent experience of life through our 6 senses, as our fluid object of awareness.
Continuity of kind awareness.
Relaxing into practice, taking care of the causes of awakening and freedom. To support this - refreshing wise attitude, keeping Yoniso manasikāra simple, and seeing the eight worldly winds.
Embracing the first three factors of awakening, as the ones we always have some agency in. Linking them to connecting with the vertical.
Relating to the next four factors, more as results of the first three - qualities of our depth.
Guided meditation, exploring experience through the senses, and how things build from the raw sense contact.
The imminence of all experience through the senses, and becoming curious about the feeling tone of all sense contact.
Including feeling the experience of craving and aversion, as the 'suffering that leads to the end of suffering'.
Embracing continuity of practice. Including the ways in which we lose our way - and taking ourselves less personally.
The inward turning - parallels across tradition, a natural maturation.
Exploring a vertical and horizontal perspective on awakening, and how these trajectories interact.
Disentangling from Samsara.
Connecting with the vertical - attention, the ground of awareness, and inner peace.
Normalising common challenges encountered.
The value of beginning again, and infusing the body with wise mindfulness.
How making teachings more explicit can be helpful for practicing in daily life.
Bringing some background assumptions and ideas into the light.
Using the 'crossing the river' metaphor for how the path of cultivation works, as a support for gaining trust and momentum in daily life practice.
Getting a feel for wise effort and beginners mind.
The 'how' of practice - the aliveness of wise attitude, aligning with the timeless, and orientating in terms of the three wholesome roots.
The importance of wise attention (Yoniso manasikāra), especially outside of retreat centres, and being curious about how it comes and goes.
Experiencing life through the six senses.
