Courage in challenging times, with Rob Preece

Courage in Challenging Times 

 We are facing challenging times. Our vulnerability to the corona virus comes partly because our vitality is often depleted by many aspects of our global lifestyle. 

At this time we are all at great risk and understandably this leads to huge anxiety and uncertainty. We need to find the capacity to meet this experience with courage, compassion and clarity. Several Lamas including Lama Zopa Rinpoche have recommended the practice of Black Manjushri to help us neutralise the energy of the virus but also to heal and restore our depleted vitality and immunity. 

During this day Rob will introduce the practice of Black Manjushri and describe ways of healing and protecting our vitality as well as how this practice can heal our collective environment. 

He will also look at how through the practice of Mahamudra we can learn to be with levels of existential anxiety so that we can rest more easily in our sense of being. 

Morning session from 10h - 12h30 

Lunch break from 12h30 - 13h30

Afternoon session from 13h30 - 16h 

About Rob Preece 

ROB PREECE (BSc. Adv. Dip. Transpersonal Psychology UKCP reg.)

Following a 4 year apprenticeship in electronics engineering Rob went to university to study psychology. It was at this time he met both the work of C.G. Jung and Buddhism. In 1973 after a period of travel he met met Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal. Since that time he has been a practicing Tibetan Buddhist. 

After working as a social worker Rob was part of a small group that founded a Buddhist centre in the UK for his Tibetan teachers. For the next four years he studied the foundations of Tibetan practice in that Buddhist community. In 1980 he returned to India and was in retreat for much of the next five years. This gave him a chance to explore the practices of the Tantric tradition in some depth meditating under the guidance of Lama Yeshe, Zopa Rinpoche and Gen Jhampa Wangdu in particular. While in India he was fortunate enough to receive teachings on many of the important aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, in particular Tantric teachings, from Lamas such as H.H. Dalai Lama, Song Rinpoche and many others. It also gave him the opportunity to learn Tangkha (Tantric Icons) painting. 

Returning to the west he at first lived as a Tangkha painter and then in 1985 he trained as a psychotherapist principally with the Center for Transpersonal Psychology. This began the process of bringing together the two worlds of Buddhism and Western psychology. He has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1988 gradually developing a style that is a synthesis of Buddhist and Jungian understanding. 

Since 1985 he has been leading meditation retreats following the instruction and guidance of his teachers. Lama Yeshe was particularly influential is this, supporting his integration of a more Western approach. This has meant gradually guiding people through a kind of apprenticeship in the practice of Tantra. Rob's one-to-one work is now principally spiritual mentoring bringing together his experience of both Eastern and Western approaches.

He is the author of many books bridging the Tibetan tradition with Western psychology intended to support Buddhist practice in contemporary life. These include The psychology of Buddhist Tantra; The Wisdom of Imperfection; The courage to Feel; Preparing for Tantra; Feeling Wisdom and Tasting the Essence of Tantra.

Rob leads many meditation retreats in the UK some of which incorporate a movement practice facilitated by Anna. He also teaches in Europe and the US. As a father of two sons, an experienced Tangkha painter and a keen gardener he tries to ground Buddhist practice in a creative practical lifestyle.