This is a once-a-week online course for people who have a mindfulness practice and who done at least 20 days in total in silent residential meditation retreats. It will run for 12 weeks. The course will cover practices given by Rob Burbea (1965 - 2020), the pioneering Gaia House resident teacher. These practice are designed to help understand the deeper teachings of the Buddha. There’s a framework to understand the Path that will be outlined over the weeks as the course progresses. We’ll cover basic samadhi; practices that lead to us being less bound up; how we can use insights that might otherwise fade away; ways of working with the three characteristic (dukkha, anicca, anatta) and understandings of emptiness/shunyata and dependent arising.

The program is based on the first half of Rob Burbea’s book Seeing That Frees: Meditations on Emptiness and Dependent Arising. The aim of the course is to give people familiarity with a range of meditation practices so they can choose what works best for them.

Format of each session. There will be a check-in period in each session, generally related to the practices given in the previous week. There’ll be a talk, usually less than 25 minutes, then time for questions and discussion. Each session is expected to last between an hour and a quarter and an hour and a half. There will be readings sent each week, always less than 15 pages, and some guided meditations or clips from Rob Burbea's talks.

Continuity / Expectations: The course will develop themes that build on each other week by week. It’s best if you try not to miss sessions. The course is meant for people who have the time and inclination to practise the meditations between sessions.

When: 11th Aug to 24th Nov 2025

Times: 7.30 - 9:00 pm (NSW time) on each Monday evening apart from 1st September, 6th and 18th October and 3rd November. 12 sessions.
Where: On the Zoom link which will be sent to you before the course begins.

Cost: $30 per person. The registration fee covers only a contribution to course administration, zoom costs and booking fees.

Additional cost: 'Dana' - In keeping with a 2,500 year old tradition no fee has been charged for the teachings. At the end of the retreat you are invited to give a donation (dana) to express your appreciation and to support the teacher.For more information email dharmacloud [at] dharma.org.au

About the Teacher
Victor von der Heyde. Victor has been involved in dharma practice for over 35 years and has taken teaching roles since the mid 1990s. He was a student of Rob Burbea from 2012 to 2020.

This is a combined Sydney Insight Meditators and DharmaCloud event.