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Apr 07
Wednesday Apr 7, 2027 - Wednesday May 12, 2027
(Start time Wed 18:30 BST - End time Wed 20:30 BST)OnlineBernat Font, Christoph Köck, Martine Batchelor, Yuka NakamuraThe price includes a fee for the teachers, no additional dana will be requested.Sessions
Session 1: The Cage of Self, the Freedom of Not-self
Wed 07 Apr 18:30 BST - Wed 07 Apr 20:30 BSTOnlineSession 2: Healthy and Unhealthy Selves.
Wed 14 Apr 18:30 BST - Wed 14 Apr 20:30 BSTOnlineSession 3: Self-centeredness vs. Compassion
Wed 21 Apr 18:30 BST - Wed 21 Apr 20:30 BSTOnlineSession 4: On Being Fluid: Emptiness & Interdependence
Wed 28 Apr 18:30 BST - Wed 28 Apr 20:30 BSTOnlineSession 5: The Collage of our Identities
Wed 05 May 18:30 BST - Wed 05 May 20:30 BSTOnlineSession 6: Opening to the World of Others
Wed 12 May 18:30 BST - Wed 12 May 20:30 BSTOnline
Description
Price Options:
Basic rate: £139
Standard rate: £159
Supporter rate: £179
Theme:
This course explores the often misunderstood Buddhist doctrines of not-self and emptiness, drawing on teachings from the early texts.
Together, we will consider questions such as:
- What is our identity constituted by? What defines us?
- How do we solidify ourselves and others?
- In what ways are we defined by others?
- When does identity serve healthy psychological, social and political needs, and when does it keep us stuck and suffering?
This course will uncover how the teachings on not-self, emptiness, and the fluidity of our intersecting identities can help us to understand ourselves and relate to others and the world in a wiser, more compassionate way.
Using a caring and careful mindfulness, students will understand how the sense of self is constructed and maintained, what forces lie behind this process, and what effects it has on ourselves and others.
We will explore various meditation tools to help us develop an identity that’s confident, fluid, creative, and open to others & the world. Students will be able to discern between clinging to identity and a psychologically healthy identity, held with lightness and flexibility.
We will address common misperceptions of emptiness such as “nothing is real, so nothing matters”, and instead present emptiness as an ethical teaching related to selflessness, interdependence, and compassion. Students will learn to connect the abstract concept of emptiness to the task of caring for others.
Who this course is for:
This course is especially recommended for people with some background in Buddhist teachings or practice, but adventurous beginners and those with an interest in the theme are very much welcome.
Programme content
7 April: The Cage of Self, the Freedom of Not-self. With Christoph Köck and Bernat Font
14 April: Healthy and Unhealthy Selves. With Martine Batchelor and Yuka Nakamura
21 April: Self-centeredness vs. Compassion. With Christoph Köck and Yuka Nakamura
28 April: On Being Fluid: Emptiness & Interdependence. With Martine Batchelor and Bernat Font
5 May: The Collage of our Identities. With Bernat Font and Yuka Nakamura
12 May: Opening to the World of Others. With Martine Batchelor and Christoph Köck
Praise for our Teachers:
What students say about Bernat
“This course changed my meditation practice substantially. More useful than most retreats” — Participant from online course ‘The Dharma of Pleasure’ 2025
“I was very happy with Bernat as our teacher. He is very accessible and friendly and relatable.” — Participant from online course ‘The Dharma of Pleasure’ 2025
“Bernat has a wonderful grasp of the dharma and a very clear way of teaching as well as a lovely presence.” — Participant from online course ‘Feeling Your Way to Liberation’ 2024
What students say about Martine
Praise for Martine:
”It was an amazing course. I am really grateful. And also I'd like to acknowledge Martine, she is very generous and wise. This course made me want to practice dharma more.” — Previous online course participant with Martine
Find out a little more about Martine here: https://bodhi-college.org/five-questions-for-our-teachers-martine-batchelor/
What students say about Yuka
"The course was excellent in providing a space to hear and discuss difficult topics. The break out groups were invaluable and the teachings were very good.'" - from Meeting Illness course 2024 with Yuka Nakamura and Rebecca Crane.
"Thank you for organizing this course! This group felt/feels very special :)'"- from Meeting Illness course 2024 with Yuka Nakamura and Rebecca Crane
Event Details
Schedule:
6 consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm UK time on April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5,12.
Recordings:
Recordings will be shared after each session.
Suitability:
Open to all - new and experienced practitioners alike.
Cost:
- The price includes a fee for the teachers, no additional dana will be requested.
- If you are unable to afford the our standard course rate, please contact us here. We will make sure that no one is turned away because of lack of funds.
Teachers:
BERNAT FONT teaches with a combination of scholarly rigour, everyday examples, and a playful sensibility. He met 
CHRISTOPH KÖCK was born in Vienna, Austria, and spent 17 years of his life as a Buddhist monk in the Theravadin tradition.
He lived mainly in monasteries connected with Ajahn Chah in Thailand and the West. Currently he lives in Vienna, working as a psychotherapist in a private practice. He teaches Buddhism and meditation internationally, and is trained to teach MBSR and MBCT.
YUKA NAKAMURA has practised Buddhist meditation in different traditions since 1993, has a PhD in Developmental 