Saturday 18th April
Sat 10-11am Welcome and Introduction: What is the Middle Way?
Robert M. Ellis introduces the theme of the whole festival, offering some key ideas on the Middle Way as a universal principle.
Sat 11.30am-12.30pm Embracing Extinction: Buddhism, the Middle Way and the Climate Emergency
Drawing on both Buddhist and modern philosophical traditions, Stephen Batchelor will examine the role of technology in giving rise to the environmental crisis and how a Buddhist middle way response needs to take into account the technological assumptions of orthodox Buddhist beliefs that have strayed into the extreme of absolutism. Chair – Barry Daniel
Sat 1.30-2.30pm Society, Mindfulness and the Middle Way
Meditation and mindfulness are spreading through society, prompting talk of a ‘Mindfulness Movement’. Drawing on Vishvapani’s experience of both Buddhism and Mindfulness, this talk will suggest that – for all the movement’s limitations – these developments represent a significant new focus on the mind and mental states that has the potential to create a new kind of social change. Chair – Nina Davies
Sat 3-4pm Science and the Middle Way
Middle Way Philosophy offers a radically different paradigm to mainstream scientific naturalism because of its crucially different attitudes to ethics, scepticism, meaning and objectivity. Jim Champion will explore this further.
concurrent Sat 3-4pm Harvesting the Now: An Introduction to Somatic Meditation
In this session (which will require a chair and a little room to move around) Darren will share techniques that will enable you to experience meditation directly – and direct meditation experientially. No prior meditation experience necessary.
Sat 4.30-5.30pm Philosophy, Prisons and the Middle Way
There’s something about the high walls and noise of prisons that inclines inmates to think in absolutes. Inside, you’re either innocent or guilty, manly or emasculated. The in-betweens count for little. So what’s it like when prisoners do philosophy, asks Andy West? Does thinking in more open ways make it easier or harder to survive their sentence? Chair- Robert M. Ellis
Sat 6-7pm The Christian Middle Way
Robert M. Ellis will draw on his book on the Christian Middle Way to explain how the Middle Way can be applied in the context of Christian tradition, by focusing on embodied faith in an archetypal God and avoiding belief in absolute claims.
Sat 8pm-9.50pm Screening of The Divided Brain followed by Q & A.
The Divided Brain is the mind-altering documentary inspired by the book, “The Master and his Emissary” by Iain McGilchrist. It features Iain McGilchrist with actor-comedian John Cleese of “Monty Python”, neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor of TED Talks fame, and – brains! The screening of the film will be directly followed by a 30 minute Question & Answer opportunity with Iain McGilchrist. Chair – Jim Champion.
Sunday 19th April
Sun 9-9.45am Meditation session
An opportunity to start the day with practice, led by experienced mindfulness teacher Vishvapani. No prior experience assumed. Chair – Julian Adkins
Sun 10-11am Brain Lateralisation and the Middle Way
Iain McGilchrist explains the difference between the capacity of the two hemispheres to understand what is meant by the Middle Way. Lack of awareness of this fact explains some apparently ‘paradoxical’ aspects of experience. Chair – Jim Champion
concurrent Sun 10am-10.30am Yogic meditation with Tony Wilmot. Chair – Julian Adkins.
Sun 11.30am-12.30pm Arts symposium
Iain McGilchrist and Stephen Batchelor will draw on their personal experiences of appreciating and practising the arts to discuss the ways in which they can contribute to Middle Way practice. Chair – Robert M. Ellis
Sun 1.30-2.30pm Forgiveness and the Middle Way
In a subject that sharply divides public opinion, Marina Cantacuzino explains why she walks the middle path when approaching the tricky topic of forgiveness. Chair – Barry Daniel
concurrent Sun 1.30-2.30pm Tai Chi with Jon Price
Tai Chi (Taijiquan) is a mind-body practice originating from Chinese martial arts, which is widely practised for health and well-being. It is regarded as an “internal art” due to the inner focus and emphasis the practitioner has while moving. Chair – Nina Davies
Sun 3-4pm Education, Mindfulness and the Middle Way
Katherine Weare will explore some key learning about cultivating mindfulness in education, including the messy challenges and joys helping ‘fix it’ educators begin with themselves, and to see the links between inner work and the system change they rightly demand. Chair – Jim Champion
Sun 4.30-5.30pm Mindful Creative Writing
In this session led by Katja Kaine, there will be suggested mindful writing exercises, for visitors to explore at their own pace, and optionally share with others. The exercises will explore the senses and our experience of our body and the world. Suitable for all abilities. Chair – Barry Daniel.
Sun 6-7pm Focusing with Peter Afford
Focusing is a reflective practice that brings our mind back to its natural centre in the felt experience of our body. This will be an experiential presentation with time for questions and discussion. Chair – Susan Averbach.
Sun 7.15-8.15pm Feminism and the Middle Way
At this time of international backlash against gender equality, Nina Davies will use Feminist/ Middle Way Philosophy to interrogate the evidence and suggest how to respond.
Sun 8.30-9.30pm Jung’s Red Book
Carl Jung’s Red Book contains an extraordinary personal account of engagement with archetypal figures in a series of induced visions. Robert M. Ellis, who has a forthcoming book on the subject, explains how it can also be an inspiring resource for the Middle Way.
Sun 9.30-9.45pm Concluding Words by Robert M. Ellis
Updates
The Sound Workshop that was previously advertised concurrently for 1.30 on Sat has now been cancelled due to the leader’s health. We aim to substitute cancelled sessions where possible, but unfortunately that can’t be done in this case.
The previous trainer for Focusing, Liz Orrell, has now been replaced by Peter Afford.
Further information
For details of speakers and workshop leaders please go to the speakers page.
To book your place on the virtual festival please return to the main event page.