History and context

The paper below was sent to Gaia House trust in 2017. It aimed to encourage the trust to write a detailed statement of the organisation's purpose and development. The paper is reproduced in full as the recommendations made and the perspectives given on Gaia House continue to be relevant.

Recommendations

For Gaia House teachers to write a detailed statement explaining the purpose, development and religious/spiritual context of Gaia House. This statement should explain the function and purpose of Gaia House within the emerging western Insight Meditation tradition, the history and development of the emerging western Insight Meditation tradition and the context in which Gaia House functions as an Insight Meditation retreat centre. This detailed statement would complement the trust’s existing vision statement.
For this statement to reflect the reality of the co-existing range of perspectives and ways of seeing Gaia House which currently exist (rather than attempting to provide a single definitive statement or vision).
For this statement to be given to trustees, paid staff and coordinators as part of their induction process so there is a strong foundation of knowledge on which their work and decision making is based.
For this statement to be placed on the Gaia House website so that retreatants can obtain background and contextual information to complement the current practical emphasis on meditation techniques taught on retreats.

Background

For Gaia House to thrive as a Dharma centre there needs to be a sense of purpose and intention which everyone in the organisation shares. All trustees and key staff therefore require an understanding of Insight Meditation retreats. This requires direct experience as regular retreatants, a knowledge of the history and development of the emerging western Insight Meditation tradition (also sometimes known as the Vipassana movement) and an understanding of the place of Gaia House in the context of contemporary Dharma practice. Trustees and senior staff need a thorough understanding of issues such as the way the Insight Meditation tradition has developed and is developing, the reasons we use particular forms of retreat, the reason Gaia House offers almost exclusively Insight Meditation retreats and an explanation of how Insight Meditation differs from other Buddhist traditions.

For staff and trustees to gain this knowledge and understanding is difficult. The trust’s vision statement is excellent but (necessarily) is very brief. There is no detailed written statement, and no papers or publications currently which give this information about the emerging western Insight Meditation tradition. This information is also not provided verbally in any depth. During meetings there is insufficient time to do this. During retreats Dharma talks are relatively short and generally focus on direct practical meditation instruction. Therefore some trustees and staff may be left lacking some of the core understanding of Insight Meditation which is essential for effective decision making. This understanding is needed because as well as working with the immediacy of running an organisation the decisions made by staff/trustees are also determining the future in the UK of an emerging Buddhist tradition.

Regular retreatants may also struggle to gain an overview of the Insight Meditation tradition and understand where Gaia House fits in relation to other Buddhist retreat opportunities. Even attending retreats two or three times a year will not be sufficient, for many years, to develop this understanding. For some retreatants, this may not be a problem. They may feel quite content to simply continue with the practices they are taught. However, others may be left wondering why different teachers teach contrasting meditation techniques, where these techniques come from and how they relate to each other. So these retreatants would also benefit from a written statement explaining in some detail the background to what Gaia House offers.

This statement would set out a range of perspectives about the purpose of Gaia House and offer complementary perspectives rather than a single vision. It would be possible for this statement to range in length from the current brief vision statement already in existence to an entire (and lengthy!) book. Perhaps a length of 8 - 10 pages is most appropriate. It seems most helpful to settle on a length that gives some detail but is also brief enough for the main themes to be digested in a half hour reading. Use of references would be helpful as readers can use these to read up in greater depth if they are interested.

The attached appendix is a very rough draft of what this statement might look like. Teachers are far more qualified than I am to produce a final version.

Appendix - Gaia House : Purpose, Development and Context

The aims of Gaia House can be expressed in multiple ways. This statement gives a range of perspectives to help retreatants, staff and trustees gain a deeper understanding of the development of the forms of practice we offer and the Dharma context of Gaia House. It aims to both strengthen retreatants’ understanding of what is offered and inform the decision making of staff, teachers and trustees.

Gaia House as the UK centre for the emerging non-sectarian Insight Meditation tradition

As an Insight Meditation centre, we are affiliated to the ‘Vipassana’ (Insight) movement that began in the Theravada schools of Buddhism at the beginning of the twentieth century. As it has evolved, the Vipassana community has embraced other styles of Buddhist practice and other traditions in seeking to establish a culture of awakening in our contemporary world. (Gaia House Vision Statement).

Gaia House is part of an informal network of Buddhist organisations providing retreats in an emerging western tradition of Insight Meditation. The western Insight Meditation tradition initially drew on teachings from several schools of Theravadan1 Buddhism and adapted them to make them suitable for westerners. Three Theravadan schools can be identified as particularly influencing the western Insight Meditation tradition. Most contemporary western lay teachers draw on several of these schools within any one retreat. There are also some teachers who may draw almost entirely on techniques from a single school, particularly in the Mahasi tradition.

The first of these schools uses the ‘Mahasi’ method of mental noting which was widely taught by Mahasi Sayadaw (1904 - 1982). In the early 20th century a radical innovation took place in Burma when monks started to use this method (and Ledi methods outlined below) to teach lay people to meditate. Prior to this the role of Burmese lay people was to support monastics and take part in ritual activity only. At this time even the majority of monks performed ritual duties and only a small number meditated. The method of mental noting is reported to have been originally developed by U Narada (1868 – 1955) and was popularised by his student Mahasi Sayadaw. Many of the early western insight meditation teachers practiced in Burma with Mahasi Sayadaw and his student Sayadaw U Pandita (1921 – 2016) and/or with his Indian students Anagarika Munindra (1915- 2003) and Dipa Ma (1911 – 1989). The second of these schools is derived from the Ledi lineage which began with Ledi Sayadaw (1846 – 1923) and his student Saya Thetgyi (1873 -1945) and was promoted by S N Goenka (1924 – 2013) who, in turn, was taught by the former Burmese minister of Sayagyi U Ba Khin (1899-1971). Meditation centres teaching the method popularized by Goenka exist now in many western countries including the UK. This practice starts with mindfulness of breathing and then moves on to "body sweeping" in which the meditator moves through the body in sections, paying attention to the various sensations that arise without reacting to them. This form of practice introduced a significant innovation in that, unlike other meditation techniques in which instruction was given on a 1:1 basis, it developed the teaching of groups of retreatants who practiced together for set periods of 10 day retreats. This was a formative influence in the development of the taught group retreat format which we now take as a norm in the western Insight Meditation tradition. The third school is the Thai Forest Tradition. This is a monastic tradition. While not a lay movement, the Thai Forest Tradition has been influential in the development of lay meditation methods. The most widely known representative was Ajahn Chah (1918 - 92). Some westerners have taken ordination within this tradition and subsequently taught lay people, either whilst remaining as monastics or after disrobing. To some extent this tradition steps outside the standard Theravadan canonical sources and relies more on direct meditative experience. The primary meditation method which teachers from within this tradition have taught lay people in the west is mindfulness of breathing.

In all three of these traditions initial opportunities for lay meditators were only for men. It is unclear when similar opportunities became available for women. Certainly, by the middle of the twentieth century opportunities for female meditators had developed in the Mahasi tradition as this is the time when Dipa Ma first started to practice.

In the 1960s and 1970s westerners started to receive instruction in all three of the traditions outlined above, either as monastics or lay people. In time a small number of them started to take on a teaching role with other westerners in Asia. In the late 1970s and early 1980s some western teachers returned to the west and started to establish meditation centres. One of these was the first Gaia House which was established in Devon in 1983.

From the 1990s onwards western Insight Meditation teachers have started to incorporate teachings from other Buddhist traditions. Mahayana influences have always been present at Gaia House. In recent years Vajrayana influences are also increasingly significant. Sometimes these influences are explicit, as with specific Zen or Chan retreats. At other times, themes from these traditions are interwoven into Insight Meditation retreats.

Teachers are also continuing to adapt their teaching methods to a western cultural milieu, in particular responding to a need to provide for more heart oriented practices. This has led to a much greater emphasis over time on the Brahmaviharas, practices which cultivate loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity. Whilst these practices have always been taught in the Theravadan tradition, they are given much greater emphasis in the West.

In the last five years or so we have also seen the emergence of forms of practice which have their philosophical origins in Tibetan Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. A progression of teachings and meditative practices is being developed. These start by teaching about emptiness, in other words the lack of inherent or substantial existence of all phenomena. They then go on to use a range of imaginal practices. These can deepen insight into the empty nature of phenomena and explore the infinite number of ways in which pheonomena can appear.

Gaia House therefore offers a rich and growing diversity of meditation methods. These methods reflect differing (and sometimes significantly so) underlying views of what constitutes reality and the purpose of Buddhist meditation. This is a significant contrast with current Buddhist institutions in Asia which generally only offer teachings from one clearly defined tradition. It could be argued that it is over 1500 years since this diversity within one Buddhist institution has been present. There are dangers and weaknesses in this diversity in terms of the difficulty of creating a single overarching vision. Hence the need for this statement of purpose, context and background given here. This diversity can lead to creative tensions within the organisation whilst also enabling a process of rich development. For many of us who are long term practitioners at Gaia House we are attracted by the difference from some other Buddhist institutions, that is, the lack of centralised teaching authority, the diversity of teachings and the exploratory quality of the teachings available. Hopefully we will continue to see this growth and development continuing.

Gaia House as a centre for deepening practice in the Insight Meditation tradition

A spectrum of practice opportunities of increasing intensity is provided by Gaia House. Day long or weekend taught retreats may serve as a useful introduction for some people as well as continuing to provide support for people’s ongoing practice. There is then a wide range of taught group retreats lasting from three days to ten days. Some people may develop the skills and confidence and have the inclination to have periods of personal retreat, either in the main house between group retreats or in the Hermitage Wing. Personal retreats may be of any length. On occasions people have stayed on personal retreat at Gaia House for over a year.

This range of practice opportunities offers retreatants the opportunity for an increasing depth of practice. The development of meditative insight and the cultivation of kindness and compassion will occur in greater depth the more time a person is able to devote to contemplative and meditative practice. Gaia House potentially offers the opportunity for people to engage in lifelong practice, from whatever point in their life they have contact with Insight Meditation. This enables practitioners to experience a progressive shift in meditative experience.

Gaia House as the hub of a community of practitioners in the Insight Meditation tradition

Over the last 30 – 40 years a small informal network, community or ‘sangha’ of people who identify themselves as practitioners in the emerging Insight Meditation tradition has developed. It is difficult to clearly define or quantify this community. Some people may go on retreat at Gaia House but also attend other Dharma centres. Some may move on to practice in other Buddhist traditions, move on to other forms of practice or stop any form of practice completely. However, there is also a core of people who do continue to practice Insight Meditation and attend retreats.

However one may define this ‘community’ certainly one of the functions of Gaia House is to (a) facilitate the development of this network of people with a commitment to Insight Meditation and (b) to serve those who identify themselves in some way with this community.

Gaia House as a source of financial support for Insight Meditation teachers

Teachers do not charge a fee for the time they give in leading retreats. Donations for them are invited when retreats end.

Teacher dana from retreats run by Gaia House and other organisations provides a significant proportion of teachers’ income and for some is their sole source of income. Dana from retreats taught at Gaia House enables many teachers to sustain themselves. The emerging Insight Meditation tradition in the UK is dependent on this system to ensure people can develop teachings skills and continue to teach. There is a therefore system of allocation of a set amount of teaching time for each teacher who serves on the Teacher Council.

Gaia House on a spectrum of practice opportunities for Insight Meditation in the UK

It is also important to place Gaia House on the spectrum of opportunities to practice Insight Meditation that are available. (A diagram could be as helpful here to complement the written information that follows). At the lightest end of the spectrum is the daily practice at home that many of us are committed to. Then there is attendance at sitting groups of which there are about 50 throughout the UK which are loosely affiliated to Gaia House. These meet weekly or fortnightly and generally include a period of sitting and either discussion and/or listening to a recorded Dharma talk. Then there are non-residential day long retreats which are provided currently in Bristol, Frome, London, Oxford and Sheffield in hired venues. An innovation in recent years has been the development of non-residential retreats over two or three days by some of these groups as an extension of the day long format.

Next on the spectrum are residential retreats offered by the Barn at Sharpham in Devon. This centre offers six day residential retreats, with some periods of silence including a fully silent day and includes three sitting periods per day. Although not formally affiliated with the Insight Meditation tradition this centre has similarities with many retreats at Gaia House in offering relatively simple forms of meditation practice without ritual. Further along the spectrum of intensity is Gaia House which, in turn, offers a range of options from occasional non-residential retreats days to weekend residential retreats to periods of personal retreat lasting from two days to over a years. Some experienced insight meditators who do not feel a need for teacher guidance may also have periods of silent personal retreat at other Dharma centres which offer opportunities for solitary retreatants from any Buddhist tradition.

Gaia House as a centre for the emerging Insight Meditation tradition in Europe

Gaia House serves retreatants from within the Insight Meditation tradition from the whole of Europe. It is one of only two centres in Europe in this tradition, the other being Beattenberg which was established in Switzerland in 2000. Retreats are provided in some other European countries but these are few in number and use hired venues. Retreatants come to Gaia House from all other European countries and make up a significant proportion of personal retreatants.

Gaia House as part of an informal international Insight Meditation network

In the early years of the emergence of the Insight Meditation tradition, the only centre was the Insight Meditation Society in the US which was founded in 1976. Gaia House was then created in its original home in Denbury in 1983. Spirit Rock in the US was established on the west coast of the US in 1998. Beatenberg was established in Switzerland in 2000. Now there are several other centres in the US and many other western countries have groups who organise residential retreats in facilities which are hired for the duration of a retreat. Teachers in the Insight Meditation tradition generally teach for several different organisations, sometimes in several countries.

There is an important ongoing exchange of ideas between the teachers who lead retreats in these venues. This provides the opportunity for exploration and shared learning as teachers continue to develop new ways of teaching and working with retreatants.

Gaia House in the context of Dharma retreats and traditions in the UK

All of the main Buddhist traditions are now represented in some form in the UK with several offering residential retreats. Gaia House occupies a particular niche within the range of teachings and practices available. (Again the information given below could be complemented by being shown by a diagram).

Silent residential retreats in the Theravadan tradition are offered by several centres. These retreats are the most similar in terms of retreat form and meditation techniques to the majority of Gaia House’s group retreats. All of them place generosity at the heart of their teaching as they offer retreats without charge, inviting donations at the end of each retreat. The Thai Forest Sangha offer group residential retreats at Amaravati and also at Aruna Ratanagiri of varying lengths. The Mahasi tradition is represented by two centres. Satipanya provides a programme of groups retreats and the founding teacher, Bhante Boddhidhamma, also leads an annual retreat at Gaia House. The other Mahasi centre is in Manchester and offers individual retreats and about three group retreats each year. Goenka retreats are provided at their large centre, Dhamma Dipa in Gloucestershire. Splatts House in Wiltshire is the first dedicated Buddhist retreat centre to have been established in the UK in 1978. It continues to offer retreats in the tradition of U Ba Khin, its founding teacher Mother Mother Sayamagyi having passed away just a few months ago. The Samatha Trust in Wales, with its roots in the Thai tradition, offers retreats emphasising mindfulness of breathing.

Silent retreats are also offered in the Chan and Zen traditions in the UK. The Western Chan Fellowship has offered retreats at its centre at Maenllwyd in Wales since the 1980s and has now branched out to provide retreats at a range of hired venues around the UK as well. Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland offers retreats in a form that originated in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition.

Tibetan retreat centres in the UK offer the Dharma in a very different form, sometimes describing their offerings as retreats and sometimes as teachings. Three of the main Tibetan traditions have UK centres. The Kagyu tradition is particularly well represented by Marpa House in Essex, Samye Ling in Dumfriesshire and Palpung Changchub Dargyeling in Blaenau Gwent. In recent years the Gelug tradition has been represented by the Land of Joy retreat centre in Northumberland and a Nyingma centre has been established at Gomde in Yorkshire. The Dzogchen teacher, Namkhai Norbu, has had a small centre at Kunselling in Wales for many years.

Triratna (formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) has several retreat centres in the UK, offering retreats with varying degrees of silence. Triratna is a western Buddhist movement incorporating elements of all the main Buddhist traditions.

It is common for retreatants coming to Gaia House to have attended (or to go on to attend) retreats at any of the centres described above.

Gaia House in the context of residential retreat opportunities in the UK

Gaia House can also be seen in the context of the considerable number of residential retreat opportunities in the UK. The longest established organisations are the convents and monasteries in the Christian tradition which offer retreats to lay people and clergy. Many other religious and spiritual traditions are represented by retreats in dedicated centres or hired venues.