About DHARMA GAIA
ABOUT DHARMA GAIA
The practice at Dharma Gaia is grounded in the teachings and tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who was in his life, an inspiring embodiment of the power and the beauty of living a mindful life. Although he is a much beloved Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings go beyond all 'isms' and all doctrines. To be mindful is to be truly there. It is to be able to touch the present moment with our peace, our joy, our compassion our insight. When we are able to live like that, our actions and our thinking are clear, we know what to do and what not to do.
“The greatest gift you can offer to anyone is your True Presence.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
We are a small community of people who live simply and in harmony, sharing and growing through the art of Living Mindfully. Our focus is on developing a calm, clear attention to each moment of life.
Many people come to learn about meditation and mindfulness, others come for personal retreat, self-care and for time to . ‘Be’ in nature, and rest with a quieter mind.. We are happy to receive people from all walks of life to simply be here to rest, rejuvenate and experience the deep peace and joy of the Mindfulness Practice.
Welcome to Dharma Gaia …a manifestation in physical form of the practice of Presence
If you look at the pictures on this website you might be caught in the images and then the ‘ideas’ of what Dharma Gaia is. The physical manifestation is indeed truly wonderful. It has evolved simply and gently over more than 20 years and it is a great invitation to all to return to the depth of Presence … to return to our true home, Our True Home is indeed as wonderous as this physical manifestation is.
WHAT TO EXPECT IF YOU VISIT US
The beauty and wonder of this living centre has come through the deep teachings and practices transmitted from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Everything encourages us to cultivate those understandings in our everyday lives rather than the study and accumulation of theory. Dharma Gaia is not a ‘Buddhist Centre” (if you understand Thich Nhat Hanh’s transmission you will also know that it is not ‘Not a Buddhist Centre) Dharma Gaia is not even a venue - and yet you can come here to stay and to cultivate wisdom and compassion.. Some of us have lived ‘here’ for more than 20 years and we know that the physical manifestation is nothing concrete permanent or even dependable. It is simply an external manifestation of years of living practice.
It is true you can learn and find support through conceptual teaching here … some words, traditional practices, forms and formalities. These are all skillful guiding means. but they are not the true essence of what you can find here.
OUR REAL TEACHERS
Our real teachers here are the land, the garden, the forest, the stream, the peace of the practice community, and all sentient and non-sentient life. If you come here you will recognise that your teacher is also your own body … your mind, your feelings and your perceptions. You will learn to see them very clearly. You will be supported in taking great care of these inner teachers and going beyond the idea that they are your true essence.
Our teachers are the truths of impermanence, Interbeing and presence
Our commitment is to cultivate a calm, clear compassionate consciousness
LIVING PRESENCE IN COMMUNITY
In the earlier years, retreats and public offerings were the main hub of our work, but in the past 3 years we have been much more involved in offering long-term training in the art of Living in Presence. Living together in Mindful Community. is a most powerful and care-ful way to experience and to grow collective awakening.
Sister Shalom is the Spiritual Director of Dharma Gaia, supported by long-term practitioner and practice Guardian Seonaid Espenier and the residential sangha. Behind the residents we acknowledge many beloved local, national and international practitioners and supporters who offer material and spiritual support. We also acknowledge the many retreatants and volunteers who join the community in service and practice
We acknowledge in gratitude the Tangata Whenua iwi Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Whanaunga, and Ngāti Maru. and all the countless ancestral protectors of this precious land.
The Retreats at Dharma Gaia
Generally, the Community of practice enables the unfolding of retreats and courses organically throughout the year
Our retreats are always grounded in Presence practice - To live with awareness of who we truly are. From this basis, we offer areas of focus for each retreat. Retreats vary in length - a day, a weekend and longer retreats.. Every year we enable a small number of people to join us for the extended three-month Winter Retreat where we can deepen gently into the natural state of Presence and the richness of community support.
The Dharma Gaia Guardians also at times can respond to requests to offer retreats for community groups, and organisations, particularly in the helping professions. These retreats are held at Dharma Gaia, as well as at other centres around New Zealand.
Personal Time to simply ‘Be’ at Dharma Gaia
We enjoy welcoming many people to spend time here outside of organised programmes and retreats, to simply ‘be’ here and to feel the deep support of the practice. . People come for many different reasons… to have quiet space, to rest, contemplate, to be nourished by nature, heal a sorrow, clear the mind and heart, do their practices or in order to complete an important piece of work or writing within the support of a focussed environment. Some guests have a Meditation or Mindfulness background and others come with no knowledge at all, just a strong understanding of the need for rest, peace and time to reflect.
DHARMA GAIA ALSO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES for PRACTITIONER VOLUNTEER
Details about the volunteer programmes can be found on the volunteer programme pages here.
The great blessing of the Garden, the forest and the nature
The garden is a major focus of our practice. We know from experience and the experience of hundreds of guests that even the most simple work of caring for the garden and the forest is the work of healing for the human too.
We are not outside of Nature … we are Nature
The forest is a refuge… it welcomes all. The garden is a refuge …. welcoming all …And the beautiful walkways and profound sanctuaries on the land invite us home.
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For those who enjoy knowing some historical context: HOW DHARMA GAIA MANIFESTED IN PHYSICAL FORM
Dharma Gaia was originally set up by a small group led by Sister Shalom — that was in 2001. Sister Shalom had been studying and practicing in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh since the early 1990s. In 2004 she received Lamp Transmission (Approval to Teach) from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In 2007 she took monastic novice precepts with Thay Thich Tu Luc and received full Bhikshuni ordination from Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village in 2011.
Over the past 20+ years, hundreds of people from around the world have attended retreats and come to volunteer at Dharma Gaia learning and contributing to the energy of PRESENCE and practice.