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Free Books On Buddhism
Free books on Buddhism from the Thai Forest tradition.
Click here to view a large library of books free to download
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Community Notice Board
The Guide: an online list of resources for gay men: clubs, events, groups
There is also a PDF version, which may be a bit more out of date. For a full list of sports, social and recreational groups in London, compiled by GMFA click here
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Along with your fellow adventurers you’ll embark on an experience of surprising truths, joys and fears as we move and play together. You will be witnessed, supported and encouraged by your ‘inner circle’ and celebrated and embraced by the larger group as you weave your way through a series of exercises designed to harness your curiosity and reveal your power.
OUR TRAVELS TAKE US THROUGH THREE DISTINCT LANDS AND LANDSCAPES:
The mysteries of the AUTHENTIC SELF
The challenges of WHOLE HEARTED CONNECTION
The joys of BELONGING
ESSENTIAL FOR THIS JOURNEY
YOUR HEART, YOUR MAGIC & YOUR PRESENCE.
Heroes is an experiential program utilising mindfulness, movement, play and personal enquiry. It is a large group process that integrates a rich variety of physical, psychological and spiritual practices.
The intention of the program is to enable participants to embody the principle: ‘I’m OK, You’re OK, We’re Ok’.
EARLYBIRD TICKETS JUST RELEASED!
Click here to book
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PROGRAM NAVIGATORS:
Nick Kiensch is a Mindfulness teacher, ordained Buddhist Monk and the Founder of the London Gay/Bi men's meditation group. Nick learnt to meditate in 1990 and taught mindfulness as an undergraduate before moving to live in an urban Buddhist community for three years. In 2009 he set up the gay/bi men’s mindfulness group. In 2012 Nick trained in providing the 8 week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Programme and now facilitates workplace mindfulness courses and private courses following this format.
www.evolvingminds.org.uk
Martin Feaver is a Life Coach, Physical Therapist and Speaker.
Using both coaching and physical therapy and with over 30 years experience, Martin works with gay men and sportsmen to overcome barriers, let go and perform at their full potential. He also delivers workshops on personal resilience, confidence, social anxiety, personal trauma and overcoming shame. www.martinfeaver.com
Bodhi Nicholas Hunt is a Psychotherapist, 5Rhythms Dance & Mindfulness Teacher. Bodhi has been teaching 5Rhythms for over 12 years for the LGBTQ community. He has a therapy practice working with shame and trauma and teaches a weekly movement class in London - Offering workshops in London, Europe, Russia and Asia. He feels passionate that people have the potential to live a full, valuable and meaningful life with the capacity to heal from past difficulty inline with their values. breathmoves@gmail.com
Ade Adeniji is a Certified Coach, Group Facilitator, Organisational Consultant, Spiritual Counsellor & Interfaith Minister. www.walkwithyou.com
Darren Brady is a Certified Coach, Group + Leadership Facilitator and a Social Entrepreneur. www.darrenbrady.com
Both Ade and Darren are Certified Daring Way™ Facilitators, a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. They Co-Founded The Quest for Gay Men, a UK-based social enterprise that delivers personal development programs and events aimed at transforming the relationships gay men have with themselves, others and the world they inhabit.
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EARLYBIRD TICKETS JUST RELEASED!
£79 Earlybird
£67 Concession: low wage/student/unemployed.
Click here to book
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For more information click here
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DANCE OUT LOUD - is a gay community focused group that is mixed and open to both gay and non-gay people who love to dance...
The 5 Rhythms can be seen as a dance workout, a social event or a deep spiritual practice when you get into it. People come to see this movement practice more as a meditation and a therapeutic meeting without words. It can be fun, profound, silly, serious and playful.
Friday, 7 - 9.30pm
Venue: Central YMCA
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Click here for more info
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No More Mr Nice Guy Info
A few people asked for more information about this after last week's email.
To buy the book click here
If you would like tread a free online PDF of the book click here
There is also a Meet Up group on the second and fourth Thursday of the month to meet and discuss issues that arise from the book. For details click here
Nice guys are people pleasers, always putting others first rather than getting their own needs met. That’s how they’ve been conditioned in life, to seek the approval of others and survive life by being just... nice! Giving to get, fixing, keeping the peace, avoiding conflict, seeking approval, hiding mistakes… the list goes on. That’s being 'Nice'. It’s ultimately unfulfilling and prevents us from being the fullest version of ourselves and giving our best to others. Who should join this group?
If you are you looking for a group of like-minded men where you can get to work on yourself and your Nice Guy-ness and have more of what you want in life, this is for you.
• Do you give in order to get?
• Do you avoid conflict and try to keep the peace?
• Do you try and get people to like you?
• Do you want to improve your relationships?
• Do you have more potential but you're just not achieving in life?
• Do you want stop people taking advantage of you?
• Do you want to bring more purpose and passion to your life?
If you are a man aged over 18 and answered 'yes' to one or more of these questions, this is the group for you.
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Open Connections
Sexuality Workshop for Gay/bi Men
Whether it's sex after a couple of drinks, a spliff, other drugs or chemsex, 'non-sober sex' can sometimes be a lot of fun, and often satisfies our transgressive urges and our fantasies to be sexual in an uninhibited way.
But things get problematic when we can only be sexual, or engage with others sexually, by being drunk or high.
The purpose of this workshop is to explore how we each relate to alcohol or drugs in our sexual lives, and what is uncomfortable about the sexual encounter that sometimes makes us prefer not being fully present.
Time: 8 - 9.30pm
Venue: Kobi Nazrul Centre, 30 Hanbury St, London E1 6QR
Cost: £20 (£10 concession)
This is not something I am organising but I am participating in it and it gives an opportunity to have a more detailed discussion about subjects than we have time for in the class. To reserve you place please click on the link above.
Open Connection is a space where gay/bi men can experiment with connecting in more open and authentic ways. Every month we will be discussing a topic that relates generally to men (around the themes of sex/ sexuality/ physicality/ intimacy). The hope is that through personal sharing we can deepen self insight, and learn from each other's similarities and differences.
What to expect? Expect to meet a group of interesting men in a relaxed, non-posturing setting. Most of the time at the gatherings will be allocated to a free group discussion, where everyone is encouraged to share from personal experience - there is however no pressure to share or reveal anything. Sometimes, depending on the topic we carry out some experiential exercises.
What not to expect? This is not a debating society, and so we're staying away from discussing intellectual theories. This is also not group therapy. Although a lot of topics will evoke strong emotions, and we encourage everyone to be supportive of each other, this won't be the place to therapise, change or 'fix' any one.
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For more details click here
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For more details click here
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We provide personal development events and resources for gay and bi men to meet each other on a deeper level and experience a stronger sense of community.
We call our events 'adventures in intimacy' because they give you opportunities to get intimate, try out new things, make connections, step outside of your comfort zone and probably laugh harder than you have for a long time. We hope you find our events supportive, challenging, stimulating and inspiring. That’s all part of the adventure.
We welcome gay and bi men from all walks of life who want to develop their capacity to love other men. Reflecting our own diversity as a group of facilitators, we particularly encourage participation from black and ethnic minority men, HIV positive and negative men, young and older men, trans men and disabled men.
For more details click here
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Men Get Eating Disorders Too is an award winning national charity is run by and for men with eating disorders including their carers and families.
Our website provides essential information that is specific to the unique needs of men and an online space for those affected to get their voices heard (e.g. peer support via our face to face groups and online chat sessions). We also campaign in the media and organise awareness raising events and training for professionals.
For more details click here
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The Thrive Foundation was created to improve the mental, emotional and physical health and wellbeing of people of all ages, backgrounds, genders and races living with HIV.
For more details click here
Book Shop
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Marrying the findings of the new field of social neuroscience together with gripping human stories, award-winning author and psychologist Susan Pinker explores the impact of face-to-face contact from cradle to grave, from city to Sardinian mountain village, from classroom to workplace, from love to marriage to divorce. Her results are enlightening and enlivening, and they challenge our assumptions.
Most of us have left the literal village behind, and don't want to give up our new technologies to go back there. But, as Pinker writes so compellingly, we need close social bonds and uninterrupted face-time with our friends and families in order to thrive - even to survive. Creating our own 'village effect' can make us happier. It can also save our lives.
To buy click here
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Sane New World
Ruby Wax - comedian, writer and mental health campaigner - shows us how our minds can jeopardize our sanity.
With her own periods of depression and now a Masters from Oxford in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy to draw from, she explains how our busy, chattering, self-critical thoughts drive us to anxiety and stress.
If we are to break the cycle, we need to understand how our brains work, rewire our thinking and find calm in a frenetic world.
Helping you become the master, not the slave, of your mind, here is the manual to saner living.
Click here to buy
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No More Mr Nice Guy
Nice guys are people pleasers, always putting others first rather than getting their own needs met. That’s how they’ve been conditioned in life, to seek the approval of others and survive life by being just... nice! Giving to get, fixing, keeping the peace, avoiding conflict, seeking approval, hiding mistakes… the list goes on. That’s being 'Nice'. It’s ultimately unfulfilling and prevents us from being the fullest version of ourselves and giving our best to others. Who should join this group?
If you are you looking for a group of like-minded men where you can get to work on yourself and your Nice Guy-ness and have more of what you want in life, this is for you.
• Do you give in order to get?
• Do you avoid conflict and try to keep the peace?
• Do you try and get people to like you?
• Do you want to improve your relationships?
• Do you have more potential but you're just not achieving in life?
• Do you want stop people taking advantage of you?
• Do you want to bring more purpose and passion to your life?
To buy the book click here
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The Chimp Paradox
Do you sabotage your own happiness and success? Are you struggling to make sense of yourself? Do your emotions sometimes dictate your life?
The Chimp Paradox is an incredibly powerful mind management model that can help you become a happy, confident, healthier and more successful person. Prof Steve Peters explains the struggle that takes place within your mind and then shows how to apply this understanding to every area of your life so you can:
- Recognise how your mind is working
- Understand and manage your emotions and thoughts
- Manage yourself and become the person you would like to be
The Chimp Mind Management Model is based on scientific facts and principles, which have been simplified into a workable model for easy use. It will help you to develop yourself and give you the skills, for example, to remove anxiety, have confidence and choose your emotions. The book will do this by giving you an understanding of the way in which your mind works and how you can manage it. It will also help you to identify what is holding you back or preventing you from having a happier and more successful life.
Each chapter explains different aspects of how you function and highlights key facts for you to understand. There are also exercises for you to work with. By undertaking these exercises you will see immediate improvements in your daily living and, over time, you will develop emotional skills and practical habits that will help you to become the person that you want to be, and live the life that you want to live.
Click here to buy
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Food for the Heart
Chah offers a thorough exploration of Theravadan Buddhism in a gentle, sometimes humorous, style that makes the reader feel as though he or she is being entertained by a story. He emphasizes the path to freedom from emotional and psychological suffering and provides insight into the fact that taking ourselves seriously causes unnecessary hardship.
Click here to buy
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Being Dharma
Renowned for the beauty and simplicity of his teachings, Ajahn Chah was Thailand's best-known meditation teacher. His charisma and wisdom influenced many American and European seekers, and helped shape the American Vipassana community. This collection brings together for the first time Ajahn Chah's most powerful teachings, including those on meditation, liberation from suffering, calming the mind, enlightenment and the 'living dhamma'. Most of these talks have previously only been available in limited, private editions and the publication of Food for the Heart therefore represents a momentous occasion: the hugely increased accessibility of his words and wisdom. Western teachers such as Ram Dass and Jack Kornfield have extolled Chah's teachings for years and now readers can experience them directly in this book.
Click here to buy
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The Way It Is
A selection of talks by Ajahn Sumedho, an American disciple of Ajahn Chah. Simple, direct and inviting the reader to let go into a deeper experience of presence.
Click here to buy
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The Four Noble Truths
A selection of talks by Ajahn Sumedho outlining the core Buddhist teaching of suffering, its cause, the cessation of suffering and the path leading to the cessation of suffering.
Click here to buy
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A Little Gay History
How old is the oldest chat- up line between men? Who was the first ‘lesbian’? Were ancient Greek men who had sex together necessarily ‘gay’? And what did Shakespeare think about cross- dressing?
A Little Gay History takes objects ranging from Ancient Egyptian papyri and the erotic scenes on the Roman Warren Cup to images by modern artists including David Hockney and Bhupen Khakhar to consider questions such as these. Explored are the issues behind forty artefacts from ancient times to the present, and from cultures across the world, to ask a question that concerns us all: how easily can we recognize love in history?
Click here to buy
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Straight Jacket
Written by Matthew Todd, editor of Attitude, the UK's best-selling gay magazine, Straight Jacket is a revolutionary clarion call for gay men, the wider LGBT community, their friends and family. Part memoir, part ground-breaking polemic, it looks beneath the shiny facade of contemporary gay culture and asks if gay people are as happy as they could be – and if not, why not?
In an attempt to find the answers to this and many other difficult questions, Matthew Todd explores why statistics show a disproportionate number of gay people suffer from mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts and behaviour, and why significant numbers experience difficulty in sustaining meaningful relationships. Bracingly honest, and drawing on his own experience, he breaks the silence surrounding a number of painful issues
To buy click here
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Velvet Rage
Today's gay man enjoys unprecedented, hard-won social acceptance. Despite this victory, however, serious problems still exist. Substance abuse, depression, suicide, and sex addiction among gay men are at an all-time high, causing many to ask, "Are we really better off?"
Drawing on contemporary research, psychologist Alan Downs's own struggle with shame and anger, and stories from his patients, The Velvet Rage passionately describes the stages of a gay man's journey out of shame and offers practical and inspired strategies to stop the cycle of avoidance and self-defeating behavior. Updated to reflect the effects of the many recent social, cultural, and political changes, The Velvet Rage is an empowering book that has already changed the public discourse on gay culture and helped shape the identity of an entire generation of gay men.
To buy click here
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Visiting Amaravati Monastery
We occasionally have a group visit to the monastery where I lived as a monk, but you can also arrange your own visit. Details are below. To contact the monastery and enquire about visiting click here
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To contact the monastery and enquire about visiting click here
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The International Meditation Centre near Bath offers 10 day silent retreats in the Burmese mindfulness tradition.
Retreats cost £250
To find out more click here
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Drop in class (open to anyone) 6.15-7.20pm (£8/ £5 concessions)
Gay and bi men's group
Time: 7.30-9.30pm
Fee: £12
Concessions: £8
Venue: Friends Meeting House, 8 Hop Gardens, off St Martins Lane.
Look for the large glass and concrete building with Gym Box on the corner, Hop Gardens is a pedestrian lane to the side of Gym Box.
Map
Meets every Monday except Bank Holidays.
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