Ancient Maps of Consciousness

Step beyond belief and into direct experience in this immersive in-person workshop, which explores what early Buddhism reveals about consciousness, suffering and the nature of awakening.

For thousands of years, contemplative traditions from the East have explored profound questions about consciousness: Why do we suffer? Does consciousness exist beyond the self or the brain? And what do ancient traditions mean when they speak of awakening or enlightenment?

This workshop explores these questions through some of the earliest Buddhist teachings and practices. We approach the material not as religious doctrine but as a sophisticated investigation of consciousness and transformation, drawing on ancient Buddhist texts alongside phenomenological research with long-term Buddhist meditators. We will also place these ancient approaches in dialogue with Western understandings of mind and self, asking where they converge and where Buddhist thought challenges some of our most deeply held assumptions about who and what we are.

Ann Mathie brings a rare combination of scholarship and lived practice to this subject. With an MA in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS University and some two decades of personal meditation practice, Ann's research focuses on the phenomenology of Buddhist and Yogic experiences in meditation. She is an ideal guide for anyone wishing to understand these teachings with both intellectual depth and experiential clarity.

What to expect

The workshop is divided equally between in-depth teaching and experiential practice. In the first half, you will explore the foundations of the Buddhist path, including dependent origination, the nature of insight, the extraordinary meditative states known as jhāna, and the profound transformation associated with enlightenment. We will consider what these teachings suggest about the nature of mind, self and reality, and the processes through which transformation is said to occur.

The second half moves from theory into direct experience. Through guided practice using contemplative methods refined over thousands of years, you will explore concentration, altered states of awareness and insight, bringing these ancient maps of consciousness into lived experience.

No religious belief or previous experience of Buddhism is required. We draw primarily from early Buddhist texts and practices, while also exploring insights from later traditions without restricting ourselves to any particular school or sect.

This in-person workshop includes:

• An introduction to early Buddhist teachings as a framework for understanding consciousness
• Dependent origination and how suffering arises
• The nature of insight and how it unfolds
• The jhānas: the extraordinary meditative states described in early texts
• What enlightenment means and the transformation associated with it
• Findings from phenomenological research with long-term meditators
• A dialogue between Buddhist and Western understandings of mind and self
• Guided practice in concentration, altered states of awareness and insight meditation

Who is this workshop for:

• Anyone curious about consciousness and the nature of mind, self and reality
• Meditators wishing to deepen their understanding of the maps behind their practice
• Those drawn to Buddhist ideas but seeking a non-religious, non-sectarian approach
• Students of psychology, philosophy or consciousness studies
• Anyone who has had unusual or transformative experiences and wants a framework for understanding them
• Complete beginners – no previous experience of Buddhism or meditation is needed

Discover what thousands of years of contemplative inquiry can reveal about your own mind – book your place today and experience these ancient teachings for yourself.

Meet your tutor, Ann Mathie

Ann Mathie has practised yoga and meditation for around 20 years and holds an MA in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS University, with ongoing Sanskrit training. Her own experiences led her to a phenomenological investigation of the parallels between spontaneous Kuṇḍalinī awakenings, Buddhist and Yogic paths to enlightenment, and cutting-edge consciousness theory. Studying the metaphysical frameworks of Yoga, Tantra and Buddhism in a scholarly context, her research focuses on the phenomenology of Buddhist and Yogic experiences arising through meditative practice. Ann's mission is to deepen our understanding of the psychological processes that can accompany spontaneous transpersonal experiences or deep meditation, and to draw on thousands of years of collective wisdom to safely support others walking the path towards greater wholeness.

Previous participants say:

"Ann Mathie was very good and very knowledgeable on her subject. I would definitely attend another of her courses."

"Expert and well presented presentation on a subject which is multi-faceted and full of wisdom which is even more relevant today."

"Ann Mathie provided an excellent presentation on a complex subject."

"I found good value in what was offered, lots of information and the meditations were very good. I had a very good night's sleep afterwards."