David John Morris
Basic Goodness Residency at Gampo Abbey (9 months)
Country
United Kingdom
Practice
I became interested in Buddhism in my teens, largely through the writings of the beat poets and finding out that Leonard Cohen was into Zen. In my early twenties I read Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's 'Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism', a book which magnetised me completely, leading me to read deeply into the Shambhala Buddhist teachings and Tibetan Buddhism in general. Seven years later I discovered that there was a thriving global community of people practicing these teachings, so I immediately went to their European land centre, Dechen Chöling in France, to learn meditation, volunteer and join a retreat. In the 5 years since then, I have experienced the deepening of gentleness and relaxation that comes with practice, and the taste of wakefulness, awareness and space too. I have followed this taste through the Shambhala training path, and brought my spiritual and study path together in my work as an Interfaith Adviser at a University in London, informed by my training as a Buddhist Chaplain. It took a while for the simplicity of meditation to dawn on me, and now that it has I feel it is the right time to take temporary monastic orders and devote myself to practice, study, and the precepts. During the nine month residency, I will be following a schedule of:
4 hours or more of daily meditation practice
Temporary monastic ordination and training
Yarne 45-day monastic retreat with Gampo Acharya Pema Chödrön
Experiential classes and additional study courses
Community sessions and processing
4 hours of daily service with a weekly nyinthun and open day
About
I am 34 years old and currently live in London, where for the last two years I have been working at a University as an Interfaith Adviser, using my training as a Buddhist Chaplain to support students and staff. I moved to London six years ago to study, gaining a Bachelor's degree in the Study of Religions and a Master's in Religion in Global Politics, both from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. I am a musician and songwriter, and have a strong connection to the region where I was born and lived for 27 years: Cornwall, in the south west of England.
Main teachers
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Purpose
With great joy, I have been accepted to the Basic Goodness Residency, a nine month Residency with the Shambhala Monastic Order at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, beginning October 15, 2018 – July 12, 2019. I am looking to raise the money to cover the cost of participation, and not for the flights or other associated costs.
Offering
If I reach the total I will shave my head and my beard, revealing my top lip for the first time in 13 years.
Cost breakdown
total equivalent to 3600 Canadian dollars - fee for 9 month Basic Goodness Residency. More information at https://gampoabbey.org/the-warriors-who-are-basically-good/
Funding until
12 October 2018 (Ended)
Amount Requested
$3,000.00
Raised
$2,640.00
Recent donations
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- Claire
$20.00
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- Anonymous
$108.00
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Your music and lyrics have been a teacher to me on my own journey.
- Anonymous
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All the very best from one Cornishman to another 👍
- Patrick
$10.00
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Wishing you all the best in your continued path and journeying, David. It has been an honour and pleasure to have crossed paths with you and to have shared part of your path.
- Rowena Barber
$20.00
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All the best David!
- Audrey
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- Gill Windall
$25.00
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With best wishes from Alison, Jonathan and Christine
- Alison Shaw
$200.00
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May you be well. Karuna
- Don
$25.00
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Good luck with this!!Blessings and joy!!
- Anonymous
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David we wish you all the best! Congratulations and let us know how it went. Best of luck and lots of love.
- Canadian Cousins
$150.00
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Good luck in your journey, Carole and Brian (mikes parents)
- C quilliam
$20.00
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What a wonderful opportunity! Absorb it all. Love + blessings, felicity
- felicity gabriel
$12.00
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Go for it Cousin. I have a spare razor If needed. Remember keep a stiff upper lip. 😉
- Stephen
$50.00
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Hope it goes well!
- Anonymous
$10.00
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Do what you need to.
- Anonymous
$20.00
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- Anonymous
$300.00
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time to deepen what we have, huh?
- Tania
$50.00
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It was a pleasure to share the "rota" with you. I hope you have a nice stay (and do not forget to carry warm clothes)
- Angel
$80.00
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Great project! I'm happy to support you on your path. Looking forward to seing you after that deep experience. Welcome in Canada.
- Jean-Luc Monfrais
$50.00
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A very worthy cause, for a very worthy fellow! Good luck. See you next year!
- David Schneider
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Good luck David from Chris in Ireland. Hopefully all that meditation will bring you to the conclusion you need to play a gig over here ;-) Chris
- Chris Donaghy
$20.00
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Cheer friend warrior, a pleasure to have known you, see you on the way
- Adrián Alemán Peña
$40.00
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All good wishes, dear David! Gampo Abbey will be lucky to have you!
- Michal George
$20.00
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Dear David. Thank you for being who you are, such an amazing and beautiful person. I wish you the best for this retreat. See you at DCL. Friendly yours. Pascal
- Gaillard Pascal
$100.00
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Enjoy the journey, David, and may the force be with you.
- Monica Deshpande
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Good luck on your journey, David!
- Knut Sellevold
$30.00
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Go well, David.
- Andrew Caink
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:)
- evelyn
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My warmest wishes as you continue along your spiritual path. I expect to be in Ottawa by the time you finish but I hope to hear of great things from you. (mindful that there is greatness in small things). Please email me if you visit Ottawa.
- Karen Foster
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Have a good journey, in all senses :)
- Laura Niada
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Enjoy the peace
- Anonymous
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Auspiciousness is at our fingertips! Good luck, dear :) <3 <3 <3
- Agnieszka Judycka
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See you on the other side.
- Sarita
$108.00
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Thank you for doing this! You have my love and confidence.
- Emily Ford
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Well done, such a worthy cause.
- Julia Chorley
$10.00
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Good luck David. Sounds like an incredible opportunity.
- Louise Stinchcombe
$5.00
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- Brad Thiele
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- Anonymous
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you are doing wonderful work
- LOUISE SOLLARS
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Go get 'em, tiger-buddha
- Paul
$30.00
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Good luck David, what an amazing opportunity x
- Rachael Cheang
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Sounds fantastic, truly hope you have an amazing and uplifting time. Look forward to seeing you before you go.
- Jon Shaw
$80.00
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What a brilliant opportunity! And a brave one to take! I hope it goes well. Kxx
- Kate Grierson
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- Anonymous
$20.00
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Go well. Monk!
- christopher
$10.00
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That works out to over $2 a month.......your get to feel "The wisdom of no escape"
- Alex Noble
$20.00
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A small amount but hopefully you’ll receive many small amounts!
- Jeremy Doulton