The Art of Zen was formerly Be Calm Be Happy

We are a UK Charity promoting mindfulness and ethical living as a path to peace, both in ourselves and in the world.

Based on the teachings of "father of mindfulness" Thich Nhat Hanh.

Course Overview

The course offers a deeper understanding of mindfulness and how it can support many aspects of your daily life.

The wisdom of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us to find a sense of peace within ourselves, and serenity in the face of suffering. In a supportive community of like-minded people we experience developing more kindness and compassion.

We will introduce and explore new ways of bringing mindfulness into our day, not only in meditation, but also in how we eat, behave, speak to ourselves and others, and take care of ourselves.

This course provides

• An opportunity to experience the power of practising mindfulness in a supportive community
• A grounding in Thich Nhat Hanh’s approach to mindfulness
• A programme of structured learning and guidance from experienced practitioners, which helps build a mindfulness practice that is stable and self-reliant
• Understanding ways to live with less anxiety and a greater sense of wellbeing
• Ethical strategies to help cope with life’s stresses and develop inner peace

Mindfulness encourages a sense of wellbeing moment by moment, as well as being aware of what is happening in the present moment without reacting to it.

What does the course offer?

• An introduction to mindfulness, how it works and how to practise it
• Reducing feelings such as loneliness, anxiety, anger, and depression by establishing a stable and lasting mindfulness practice
• A sense of connection and community by practising and sharing together with course participants
• Practical exercises to help you bring more awareness to your experiences, understand the importance of rest, and what it means to be more Zen
• Connecting more deeply with family and friends by learning the art of compassionate speech and deep listening
• The art of mindfulness in everyday life as a means of generating compassion, joy and calm for yourself and others

Reported benefits

• Increased enjoyment of life
• Increased ability to be calm and relaxed
• Increased control of emotions such as anger and anxiety
• Improved sleep quality
• Fewer feelings of anxiety and low mood

Who can attend?

This course is suitable for beginners, as well as those wishing to gain a fuller understanding of how mindfulness can support calm and peaceful living. Mindfulness is a practice originating in Buddhism and supported by neuroscience and psychology; it may be practised by those of all faiths and none.

Many of our participants learn new ways to care for their wellbeing and can develop positive responses to challenging situations.

Course Leaders

Lauri Bower

Lauri has been practising meditation for over 35 years and met Thich Nhat Hanh’s (Thay) teachings in 2006, from which point she committed to putting mindfulness practice at the centre of her life. Now she is deeply immersed in offering the three Mindfulness courses for Plum Village UK, The Art of Zen, Looking Deeply and Living Mindfully courses, as well as Mindful Writing Workshops and Retreats.

Lauri has offered the The Art of Zen course over 30 times, and still finds much to gain from exploring these simple yet deep teachings.

From 2008-12 she researched a PhD on Thich Nhat Hanh and his teachings of Mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism. With her PhD complete Lauri began teaching mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) courses and is delighted to bring this experience to courses devoted to the Plum Village mindfulness tradition.

Mindfulness is a crucial aspect of Lauri’s life, and she has experienced first-hand the transformational aspects of peacefulness, calm and clarity that this practice generates. She has many years’ experience of running and organising retreats.

She is firmly committed to the Plum Village approach to mindfulness and received the transmission of the 14 Mindfulness Trainings at Plum Village in 2014 to become an Order member. Her True name is True Mountain of Non-Fear. She is now an aspirant Dharma Teacher.

Lauri also has a creative practice as a Paper Collage Artist and finds the combination of mindfulness and creativity fit together extremely well. Her creative work (original artwork, cards, and poetry) can be viewed from her website. Lauri lives in Yorkshire and practises with the York Sangha.

Jon Hughes

Jon lives in West Yorkshire and practises with Green Leaves Sangha.

Jon was taught to meditate 30 years ago and practised with several traditions before finding Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village. Jon went on his first retreat at Plum Village in France in 2015 and received the Five Mindfulness Trainings there. The experience was extremely powerful and began a process of positive change that continues today. He was given the Dharma name Blooming Insight of the Heart at the transmission ceremony. Jon has first hand experience of how the Plum Village practise can bring a lot of peace and happiness to the practitioner and by extension to those around them.

The experience of practice was so positive that Jon decided to take the step of leaving his job and moving to Plum Village, France, with his partner, to live and work there for a year and a half between 2018-2019. He worked on the organic farm at the monastery and practised daily with the Monastic community during this time. This experience deepened his practice significantly and firmed up a committent to bring the teachings to others in different ways; including through the building of Sangha (or spiritual community), through service at work and in the community and more recently through delivering the Art of Zen courses.

Jon co-founded Seven Sisters Sangha in London in 2017 and Green Leaves Sangha in West Yorkshire in 2023.

He is an aspirant in the Order of Interbeing.

Before moving to Yorkshire, Jon worked with homeless people, in a variety of roles, in London for over 15 years. This work was deeply challenging and fulfilling in almost equal measure. He has also been an activist involved in anti racist and environmental campaigns and aspires to continue to uphold the Plum Village tradition of integrating Buddhist practice and activism.

Practical Info

Location

The Birchcliffe Centre
The Mezzanine
Birchcliffe Road,
Hebden Bridge
HX7 8DG

Schedule

Friday: 7.00 PM - 9.00 PM
Saturday: 9.30 AM - 5.30 PM
Sunday: 9.30 AM – 3.00 PM

We recommend arriving 10 minutes early each day.

Transport

Public Transport
The Birchcliffe Centre is a 10-minute walk from Hebden Bridge Train Station, but please be advised that this involves a steep hill.  The 595 bus leaves from Hebden Bridge Train Station every 30 minutes, and stops directly outside the venue.

Parking
There is an on-site car park which can accommodate up to 30 cars. The lower car park has a designated accessible parking space. If driving up the hill from town, drive past the Birchcliffe Centre on your left, and you will see a left turn which takes you into the car park. (This turn is before Sandy Gate and is not shown on the map below).

For the sessions 

From the car park please walk down one of the paths to the side door where there will be someone to greet you. 

From the front of the building please walk up the path to the right of the building to the side door. 

If you are staying in the IOU hostel please just walk to the next building and come to the side door of the Birchcliffe Centre.

Refreshments

Tea / coffee / herbal teas will be available. You will need a packed lunch with you for both Saturday and Sunday.

Accessibility

The Mezzanine Room does not have disabled access as it is located at the top of a flight of stairs.

Accommodation

Please note, if you live outside the area you will need to arrange your own accommodation for the weekend. This course is a non-residential weekend course.

Pricing

Standard Rate | £145
This rate helps us to sustain the course.

Supporter Rate | £175
Support others on lower income to attend.

Sponsor Rate | £200
This rate helps us to sustain the course and allow us to offer it to those on a lower income.

Discounted Rate | £95
For students and participants on a low income that cannot afford the standard rate.

Supported Rate | £30
Limited availability ticket for those with no income or specific circumstances.

Plum Village UK is a not for profit charity based in the UK, dedicated to sharing the practice of mindfulness and mindful living in the Plum Village tradition.

The pricing range enables us to cover marketing and admin costs, and ensure the continuation of the courses well into the future. If you are not sure which rate to choose and would like some guidance, please contact us and we will be happy to help you. Nobody should be excluded from taking part based on their income or life circumstances.

Refund Policy

If you cancel your booking at least 14 days before the start of the course we will refund your course fee. After this time, no refunds will be possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring to the weekend?
You may find it helpful to bring the following with you:

• A pen and notebook that you can use as your journal throughout the weekend
• Printable handouts for each session are available upon booking
• A meditation cushion or stool and mat (if you use one). Chairs are provided
• A blanket or cushion may be useful to aid getting comfortable during the meditation sessions
• A yoga mat or extra blanket for deep relaxations
• A mug
• Your own lunch on Saturday and Sunday

What should I wear?
We suggest you dress casually and comfortably. You may find it helpful to wear several layers, so that you can remove/add a layer to maintain a comfortable body temperature while meditating.

What do I need to do to prepare?
You do not need to do anything to prepare for the course. This course is designed to be suitable for beginners and all the information you need will be provided. NB, you will need access to a computer / internet device for the handouts and recordings of the guided meditations.

After the weekend you will have access to recordings of the meditations we have practised during the course to develop your ongoing practice.

What should I do if I miss a session?
We strongly recommend that you only book onto this weekend if you can attend all sessions, on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday daytime.

Contact Us

If there is anything else you would like to know before the course starts please do not hesitate to contact us: lauri@plumvillage.uk

With best wishes
Lauri and Jon

The Community of Interbeing UK
Charity Number 1096680
Plum Village UK

PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

Please read the https://plumvillage.uk/participant-agreement/ carefully. It is important that you understand and agree to these fully.