Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom

Hybrid: Sunday Morning Meditations for a Meaningful Life Organized by the Kadampa Centre
2025-07-20 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-07-27 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-08-03 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-08-10 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-08-17 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-08-24 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Halifax) | Online
“Many people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
About the Sessions
Join us on Sunday morning ( ET) for an hour to pause, center, and restore to a happier and more peaceful mind to support you in being a bit more resilient in a world which does not always make sense anymore. These guided meditations are to help you calm your mind, explore your own nature and develop a more peaceful perception on life. When you are well with yourself, you will be more able to be well with others and the world.
These meditations are very practical, they are not within a religious context, so they are suitable for people of different beliefs, ages and abilities, for beginners as well as for those with more experience.

Registrations are not required.
What are the meditations based on?
They are based on a set of values and principles aimed at helping individuals cultivate a more peaceful and meaningful life. They are divided into four categories:

how we think (humility, patience, contentment and delight)
how we act (kindness, honesty, generosity and right speech)
how we relate to others (respect, forgiveness, gratitude and loyalty)
how we find meaning (aspiration, principles, service and courage).

These guidelines provide a framework for personal growth, encouraging individuals to think, act, relate, and find meaning in ways that foster a harmonious and fulfilling life.
How to Join
The sessions are offered in person at the Kadampa Centre and online:

TIME: 9.00 – 10.00 am ET
DATES: Sundays from 11th May – 24th August 2025
ONLINE: Register to join Zoom here
IN PERSON: at the Kadampa Centre

The meditations are freely offered but if you would like to make to support the Kadampa Centre, please make a donation using this link .

Why meditate?
When you control your mind with wisdom you create the space you need to discover peace and joy. Your life then becomes peaceful and joyful and somewhat protected from the ups and downs of the external world. For beginner to advanced meditators.
More info
For more information please visit the Kadampa Centre website

Summer Empathy Circles with Janna Weiss
2025-07-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-29 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Empathy Circle with Janna Weiss
Overview of the Sessions:
In this series of Empathy Circles with the 16 Guidelines, we will explore the first Wisdom Theme: How We Think, and its four Guidelines:

Humility
Patience
Contentment
and Joy at the success of others / Delight.

Empathy Circles are an opportunity to practice and strengthen our active listening “empathy muscle” in an “empathy gym.” During the reflective listening practice, we not only discuss the Guidelines, but also embody and experience the Guidelines firsthand.
Both the 16 Guidelines and the Empathy Circle help grow and deepen our appreciation of our common humanity, essential for cultivating genuine happiness, and beneficial social action and harmony.
The first four Guidelines, Humility, Patience, Contentment, and Joy at the success of others, are direct antidotes to our main afflictive minds: pride and self-centeredness that arise from our mistaken, exaggerated view of self; anger and hatred; craving and greed; envy and jealousy.
Janna will introduce each session with excerpts from the 16 Guidelines for Life: The Basics (included in the Conversations That Matter free resource), quotes, and suggested topic questions, or you can share whatever is alive in you. When it’s your turn to speak, whatever is on your heart and mind is always welcome in an Empathy Circle.
Join any session—or all five!
Please come on time and plan on staying for the full 1.5 hours.
About the Empathy Circles:
The Empathy Circle practice is the most effective gateway practice for learning, practicing deep listening and empathy skills, as well as nurturing an empathic way of being.

The Empathy Circle provides a structured dialogue process where each person feels fully heard; fostering mutual understanding and connection. The Empathy Circle practice not only hones empathy but also helps to develop a range of valuable skills, such as communication and conflict management skills; making it a powerful tool for personal growth, conflict resolution, and meaningful dialogue.
The four core values of the Empathy Circle are empathy, mutuality, openness and caring. Sharing our experiences and practicing listening together can help us feel connected to others in a meaningful and supportive way.
These online Empathy Circles are for people of all ages and backgrounds, who are looking for practical tools to create positive transformation in their homes, individual lives, relationships, community, or workplace.
Curious? You can watch Janna introducing the Empathy Circles in a short video here

Sessions Schedule:
Tuesdays, Jul 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 6:30–8pm EDT. You can join on any session!
There will be no recordings made.
For more information on how to join and to access support materials, please visit the Shantideva Center website
Who are these sessions for?
These Online Empathy Circles are for people of all ages, backgrounds and ideas, who are looking for practical tools to create positive transformation in their homes, individual lives, relationships, community, or workplace.
About the facilitator:
Janna is an acupuncturist and herbalist, and teaches mind science in New York City. She holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in Biological Sciences—Botany (ethnobotany). Janna is also a human rights activist, for peace, for Tibet, for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, and for the real rights of children and families. Janna began studying Tibetan Buddhism in 2005. She is an accredited 16 Guidelines Level 1 & 2 and Unlocking Your Potential Facilitator, and an Empathy Circle Facilitator.

In Person and in Nature- Enhancing Positive Qualities with Anne Porteous
2025-07-24 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-31 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-07 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-14 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-21 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Sierra Acres, 3188 Eramosa-Milton Townline Rockwood,, Ontario, N0B 2K0, Canada
Why Join this Workshop?
The pursuit of enhanced well-being has become a cornerstone of modern life, as individuals seek to balance the demands of daily routines with emotional and mental health.
Focusing on positive qualities and spending time in nature are both powerful strategies that contribute significantly to improved well-being. These practices offer profound benefits, including enhanced mood, reduced stress, and heightened focus, making them essential components of a balanced life.
There is a transformation when we give ourselves permission to slow down. We step closer to a life infused with meaning and grace, a life that reminds us that sometimes, the greatest strength lies in simply slowing down.
Workshop overview
These sessions offer a supportive space to reconnect with yourself. Guided by Anne and set in the peaceful surroundings of Sierra Acres, the group will explore mindfulness meditation and the 16 Guidelines, practices designed to deepen well-being and inner peace.
Schedule
Thursdays: July 10 – August 21th | 16:00 – 17:00 (ET)
Rates
1 session : $20
3 sessions: $50 –
7 sessions: $100
Registration
To register or for more info, please contact Anne Porteous at eanneporteous@gmail.com
Facilitator

Anne Porteous:
Anne lives in Ontario, Canada. A nurse for over 45 years, Anne is committed to being a life -long learner and continuing her passion for education and facilitation She has developed and provides equine assisted learning programs and workshops for youth and adults, including Equine Assisted Mindfulness. Anne teaches mindfulness courses offered at the University of Toronto. She is a registered FDCW facilitator and delivers workshops in English

In person -Conversations that Matter at Kunsang Yeshe Centre in Katoomba
2025-08-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-06 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-20 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-27 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Kunsang Yeshe centre, 116 Bathurst Road, Katoomba, North South Wales, NSW 2780, Australia
Conversations That Matter
Conversations That Matter offers a new way of bringing inspiration for wise and compassionate action based on the 16 Guidelines for Life.
Explore some of the core values of life such as kindness, patience and forgiveness through discussion and meditation.
A new series based on the 16 Guidelines resource: Conversations That Matter
Sessions Schedule:
Saturdays from July to November – You can join any session!
Time: 10.00-11.30am local time
Location: in person only at Kunsang Yeshe, 116 Bathurst Road, Katoomba.
Dates:
19th July – delight
16th August – forgiveness
6th September – courage
18th October – humility
15th November – generosity
Sharing our experiences and practicing together can help us feel connected to others in a meaningful and supportive way. Drop-ins welcome!
For more info, please check the website dedicated page
Who are these sessions for?
These sessions are for people of all ages, backgrounds and ideas, who are looking for practical tools to create positive transformation in their homes, individual lives, relationships, community, or workplace.

Online and in person- Weekly Meditations on Ethics for a Meaningful Life
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-10 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Online
About the Sessions
Join a wonderful team of facilitators for a series of Meditations and meaningful discussions based on the 16 Guidelines for Life, an ethics and resilience program to build inner strength organized by Jamyang Buddhist Centre in Leeds (UK).
This series is structured into 1 hour sessions and is offered Wednesdays 7:00-8:00pm (online) and Sundays 10:30-11:30 (in-person). If you join in person you are warmly invited to join a 30minutes coffee catch up after the session :).
Why joining
Are you keen to work on your well-being and want to connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them?
Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a core human value, like patience for example, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embody that value fully.
And if you join in person on Sundays, you are invited to wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.

Open to all, beginners and experienced students alike! No registration required, absolutely everyone welcome.

Schedule:
In Person Sundays 10:30 – 11:30 plus 30 mins cafe / social time.

September:
7th: Courage
14th: Patience
21st Contentment
28th : Delight

October:
5th: Kindness
12th: Honesty
19th: Generosity
26th: Right Speech

November:
2nd: Respect
9th: Forgiveness
16th: Gratitude
23rd: Loyalty
30th: Aspiration

December:
7th: Principles
14th: Service
21st: Humility

Online Wednesday evenings 7pm to 8pm

September:
3rd: Courage
10th: Patience
17th: Contentment
24th: Delight

October:
1st: Kindness
8th: Honesty
15th: Generosity
22nd: Right Speech
29th: Respect

November:
5th: Forgiveness
12th: Gratitude
19th: Loyalty
26th: Aspiration

December:
3rd: Principles
10th: Service
17th: Humility

How to Join

In person at Jamyang Leeds Buddhist Centre, Sundays 10:30-11:30 am local time

Online -Wednesdays from 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm local time. Join here

For more information please visit the Jamyang Leeds Centre event calendar
Cost
This program is offered by donation. Please consider make an offering here.

Join us in person or online to feel inspired and connected!

Weekly Meditations for a Fulfilling Life | en Français
2025-09-08 19:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-15 19:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-22 19:30 - 20:30 (Europe/Paris) | Online
*Please note this series is offered in French.
Aperçu des Seánces :
Ces méditations sont extraites du programme “les 16 Attitudes* pour mieux vivre”. Chacune de ces “Attitudes” est basée sur une qualité positive. Leur pratique peut nous aider à renforcer nos qualités existantes et à approfondir nos liens avec les autres, favorisant une vie pleine de sens, plus épanouie et heureuse.
Les “16 Attitudes” fournissent un cadre simple et robuste pour développer la résilience émotionnelle, transformer nos relations et nous apporter la paix intérieure, même dans les circonstances difficiles. Elles contribuent au bonheur, à la résolution des problèmes et à un monde meilleur grâce à des pratiques concrètes et accessibles.
Schedule

DATE: Chaque lundi, du 8 septembre 2025 au 5 janvier 2026
HORAIRE:19h30 à 20h30 ( CET)
LIEU: En Ligne ( Zoom)
FACILITATRICES: Virginie Cornet-Butcher et Isabelle
INSCRIPTIONS ICI

Il n’est pas obligatoire de suivre toutes les séances mais nous vous invitons à le faire dans la mesure du possible afin de mieux en ressentir les bénéfices dans votre vie quotidienne.

Les 16 Attitudes sont : l’humilité, la patience, le contentement, la joie, la gentillesse, l’honnêteté, la générosité, la parole juste, le respect, le pardon, la gratitude, la loyauté, l’aspiration, les principes, le service, le courage

Meet the Facilitator:

Psychologue de formation, Virginie CB étudie le bouddhisme depuis une vingtaine d’années et elle est enseignante certifiée de la FPMT. Elle facilite différents ateliers au centre, associant les savoirs de la psychologie occidentale et ceux de la psychologie bouddhiste.

Bi-weekly Meditations for a more Peaceful Life Organized by the Centre for Wisdom and Compassion
2025-09-16 19:30 - 20:30 (Europe/Copenhagen) | Online
“Many people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
About the Sessions
Join us online for an hour to pause, center, and restore to a happier and more peaceful mind to support you in being a bit more resilient in a world which does not always make sense anymore. These guided meditations are to help you calm your mind, explore your own nature and develop a more peaceful perception on life. When you are well with yourself, you will be more able to be well with others and the world.
These meditations are very practical, they are not within a religious context, so they are suitable for people of different beliefs, ages and abilities, for beginners as well as for those with more experience.

What are the meditations based on?
They are based on a set of values and principles aimed at helping individuals cultivate a more peaceful and meaningful life. They are divided into four categories:

how we think (humility, patience, contentment and delight)
how we act (kindness, honesty, generosity and right speech)
how we relate to others (respect, forgiveness, gratitude and loyalty)
how we find meaning (aspiration, principles, service and courage).

These guidelines provide a framework for personal growth, encouraging individuals to think, act, relate, and find meaning in ways that foster a harmonious and fulfilling life.
How to Join
The sessions are offered online with a few of the sessions also being offered with the option of meeting physically in Phendeling’s rooms in Copenhagen. You will receive all details once you register.
Schedule
The first 4 meditations are around How We Think – with the subtitle: Change Your Mind. Change Your Life.
We will meditate on:

2nd September 19.30-20.30 (online): Humility
16th September 19.30-20.30 (online): Patience
30th September 19.00-20.30 (online and on site at Phendeling): Contentment
14th October 19.30-20.30 (online): Delight.

The next 4 meditations are on How We Act – with the subtitle: Every Skillful Action Makes a Better World.
We will meditate on

28th October 19.30-20.30 (online): Kindness
11th November 19.00-20.30 (online and on site at Phendeling): Honesty
25th November 19.30-20.30 (online): Generosity
9th December 19.00-20.30 (online and on site at Phendeling): Right Speech.

Sessions with the next 8 meditations will be offered in spring 2026.

Cost

The meditations are freely offered with a suggested donation is 25 kr. for each online session and 50 kr. for the onsite sessions.

Why meditate?
When you control your mind with wisdom you create the space you need to discover peace and joy. Your life then becomes peaceful and joyful and somewhat protected from the ups and downs of the external world. For beginner to advanced meditators.
More info
For more information please visit the Centre’s website

Meditando Juntos | Encuentros Mensuales y Presenciales | Nagarjuna Granada
2025-09-26 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Madrid) | Nagarjuna Granada, Calle Compás de San Jerónimo nº 2, Granada, 18001, Spain
These sessions are led in Spanish.
Sobre las sesiones:
En estas sesiones te invitamos investigar, a través de la reflexion y la meditación en grupo, las ventajas y las desventajas de utilizar cada una de las 16 Actitudes y su opuesta, respectivamente; así como la forma de aplicarlas en nuestra vida cotidiana.
Esta encuentros mensuales forman parte de un ciclo de meditaciones interactivas inspiradas en 16 Actitudes para una Vida con Sentido (16A).
Si quieres saber más sobre las 16 Actitudes y como llevarlas a tu vida y a tu familia, te invitamos a explorar nuestra página de recursos inspirados en las 16A, desde juegos para los más jóvenes hasta meditaciones!
A quien van dirigidas estas sesiones?
Estas sesiones son aptas para personas de cualquier fe, religión o creencia. y culturas, y no requieren conocimientos previos.
Calendario de las Próximas sesiones:
Septiembre. Viernes 26
Octubre. Viernes 24
Noviembre. Viernes 21
Más información:
Las sesiones se ofrecen periodicamente en el centro Nagarjuna de Granada, de 6pm a 7pm horas ( hora de la peninsula). Para mas información y detalles sobre como inscribirte, por favor visita la web del Centro Nagarjuna.

Parenting with Compassion & Wisdom
2025-09-28 10:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Land of Medicine Buddha, Prescott Road, Soquel, CA, 5800, United States
This program is connected to our Children’s series, hosted at the Tara Redwood School at the same time.
In-Person and online via Zoom
Creating Compassionate Cultures for Children Series
This series of 4 classes leads us along a journey of reflection, discussion, and practical application for our everyday lives as parents.
We follow the framework developed over 35 years at Tara Redwood School, the model school for Creating Compassionate Cultures. It is a secular program based on ancient wisdom and contemporary science and was inspired by Lama Thubten Yeshe, who talked about his concept of Universal Education.
CLASS ONE: Parent as Guide and Role Model
Through reflection, we connect with aspects of our lives that have influenced our parenting styles. We explore the questions: What do we want to strengthen, and what would we like to change? What are our deepest wishes for our home, ourselves, and our children?
CLASS TWO: Creating Our Dreams
We explore practical and constructive ways to guide and nurture our children towards what we really want for our children and family. Through understanding the nature of all things as interconnected and in the nature of change, we find we have infinite possibilities to achieve our dreams.
CLASS THREE
Our journey continues as we explore the psychology of ourselves as parents. We explore how emotions are triggered and how we can start to change our own emotional triggers. We also learn about practical tools to help our children develop skills for transforming their emotions.
CLASS FOUR
We now expand our deeper understanding to include others in our families, communities, and the world. What we have discovered together and integrated into our home has nurtured empathy and compassion. We explore ways to empower ourselves and engage in compassion in action
This program is for everyone, no background or experience in Buddhism is required. You can drop into the classes as it suits your schedule or come to all of them.
Leader

Pam Cayton
Pam Cayton lived in Nepal from 1978-88 where she studied Buddhism, taught English and helped organize courses in Buddhist philosophy and meditation. In 1981, she founded The Himalayan Yogic Institute, now the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Center in Kathmandu. After moving to the United States in 1988 with her husband…
Learn more about Pam Cayton

REGISTER HERE
