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SAT CHIT ANAND - CV LEELA VERITY - |
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CV OF LEELA VERITY Founder and Director of Sat Chit Anand
You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; You have overpowered me: you were the stronger. There is a fire burning in my heart, the effort to retrain it wearied me … [Jeremiah]
Carol Leela Verity, BA LLB HDip Int Tax Law (Wits University), practiced as attorney at one of Johannesburg’s top law firms, Cliffe Dekker, and then as international tax consultant in the legal department of Deloittes. After resigning from her professional career, she spent several years traveling in India, studying Eastern religion and philosophy, and doing retreat. In 2000, she founded SAT CHIT ANAND Buddhist Centre in Plettenberg Bay, and has been director and manager of SCA since then.
Her main teachers include THICH NHAT HANH, well-known and beloved Vietnamese Zen Master, and she is an ordained member of his Order of Interbeing. She has studied and practiced extensively within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, under His Holiness the DALAI LAMA, Lama ZOPA RINPOCHE, and MINGYUR RINPOCHE. Leela has had several articles on Buddhism published in local and international magazines, including Mandala Magazine, a Tibetan Buddhist Journal, and The Mindfulness Bell, a Journal of the Art of Mindful Living. She has over 10 years of meditation experience, in the Zen, Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Leela has also studied yoga and Advaita (non-dual) philosophy under Vedanta Master Swami Suddhananda, and is a qualified Hatha Yoga teacher.
Over the years, SCA has grown into an Interfaith Spiritual Retreat Centre that welcomes all religions. Leela has been guided to re-embrace the religion of her birth resulting in her becoming confirmed as a Catholic in 2011. She describes herself as a Buddhist-Hindu-Catholic, or more simply as a mystic - one who sees the deeper Truth beyond its diverse expressions. It is her passion to engage in interfaith understanding, and to help bring the jewels contained in Eastern religions to the West, resulting in a fuller and richer spiritual life that is grounded in meditation, prayer, and worship of the Divine, and leading to personal experience of God / the Divine, with whom we are united in Love.
I have called you by name – you are mine. You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you - Isaiah 43
2011
December/January 2011: 2.5-week Retreat at Saccidananda Ashram A Christian Ashram with Hindu affiliation, Tamil Nadu, South India Became spiritually affiliated to Ashram as an Oblate
May 2011: Catholic Confirmation St Christopher's Catholic Church, Plettenberg Bay Bishop Frank de Gouveia and Father Johan Strydom
2010
January 2010: One-month Yoga Teacher Training Retreat International Samvit Sagar Yoga School for Self-Knowledge Swami Suddhananda Ashram, Tiruvannamalai, South India
Qualified Hatha Yoga teacher with international certification recognised by the International Yoga Federation and the European Yoga Alliance at the 500 hours level
December 2010: 2-week Advanced Self-Knowledge Retreat Swami Suddhananda Ashram, Tiruvannamalai, South India
2009
January 2009: Living the Dharma 3-day teaching by His Holiness the KARMAPA Refuge Vows Bodhisattva Vows Nongdro Transmission Tergar Monastery, Bodhgaya, India
January 2009: Mahamudra Level 2 5-day Mahamudra Meditation Course by MINGYUR RINPOCHE 10-day Mahamudra Meditation Teachings by MINGYUR RINPOCHE Pointing Out the Dharmakaya Vajrasattva Empowerment Tergar Monastery, Bodhgaya, India
March 2009: Mindfulness Meditation Retreat 5-day semi-silent retreat conducted by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
April 2009: Mindfulness Meditation Retreat 5-day semi-silent retreat conducted by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
June 2009: Zen Retreat 5-day silent retreat with Heila and Rodney Downey The Dharma Center, Robertson, South Africa
August 2009: Mindfulness Meditation Retreat 5-day semi-silent retreat conducted by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
September 2009: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 5-day teacher training retreat hosted by the Mindfulness Institute Temenos Retreat, McGregor, South Africa
December 2009: Reconnective Healing Seminar with DR ERIC PEARL Cape Town, South Africa
January 2008: Mahamudra Level 1 5-day Mahamudra Meditation Course by MINGYUR RINPOCHE 10-day Mahamudra Meditation Teachings by MINGYUR RINPOCHE Mahamudra Aspiration Prayer Vajrasattva Empowerment Tergar Monastery, Bodhgaya, India
March 2008: Vipassana Meditation Retreat 5-day silent retreat conducted by Leela Verity Pacha Mama Ecological Village, Costa Rica
May 2008: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 3-day retreat with DR JON KABAT-ZINN Goudini Spa, South Africa
July 2008: Happiness and Its Causes Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
August 2008: The Miracle of Mindfulness Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
September 2008: Mindfulness Training Course One week course by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
December 2008: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion 10-day silent retreat with Rob Nairn Cape Mountain Retreat, South Africa
2007
February 2007: Vipassana and Mahamudra retreat One-month silent meditation retreat with Ven Antonio Satta Root Institute, Bodhgaya, India
Teachings on Dependent Origination By His Holiness the DALAI LAMA Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya, India
Visit to Thrangu Rinpoche’s Monastery in Sarnath, India Teachings: Calling the Guru from Afar Nongdro Empowerment Medicine Buddha Empowerment
April 2007: Summary of Mahamudra by Naropa 7-day retreat with Donal Creedon Cape Mountain Retreat, South Africa
May 2007: Introduction to Meditation Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
July 2007: Introduction to Buddhism Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
August 2007: The Miracle of Mindfulness Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
September 2007: Chan and Pure Land Teachings by Master Hui Re Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
September 2007: Feeding your Demons Workshop with Pieter Oosthuizen & Charlotte Rotterdam Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
October 2007: The 7 Points of Mind Training Weekend retreat with Geshe Phende Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
November 2007: Living a Meaningful Life Public talk by VEN TENZIN PALMO Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
December 2007: Kagyu Monlams Teachings by His Holiness the KARMAPA Medicine Buddha Empowerment by HH KARMAPA Bodhgaya, India
2006
February 2006: Empowerments by DR AKONG RINPOCHE Cape Town Tibetan Buddhist Centre, South Africa Guru Rinpoche Empowerment Vajrasattva Empowerment Green Tara Empowerment
February 2006: Vipassana Meditation Weekend retreat with Rev Pannasekara Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
March 2006: Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom Weekend teachings by Ken Holmes Cape Town Tibetan Buddhist Centre, South Africa
March 2006: Emptiness Explained Weekend retreat with Geshe Phende Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
April 2006: Discovering Buddhism Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
May 2006: Mindful Awareness in Action Weekend retreat with Heila and Rodney Downey Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
June 2006: The Breath of the Buddha Teachings on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 21-day retreat with THICH NHAT HANH Plum Village Monastery, France
Visit to Lama Tsongkhapa Institute, Italy
August 2006: The Miracle of Mindfulness Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
September 2006: Heart of Enlightenment Weekend retreat with Geshe Phende Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
October 2006: Four Foundations of Mindfulness Weekend retreat with Karma Shenpen Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
November 2006: Mind Training, the Five Strengths Weekend retreat with Jennifer Woodhull Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
December 2006: Acceptance and Letting Go 10-day silent retreat with Rob Nairn Cape Mountain Retreat, South Africa
2005
March 2005: Transforming Negative Emotions Weekend retreat with Geshe Phende Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
April 2005: Buddha Nature Weekend teachings by Ken Holmes Cape Town Tibetan Buddhist Centre, South Africa
May 2005: The Path to Happiness Weekend retreat by Leela Verity Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
June 2005: Mindful Awareness in Action Weekend retreat with Heila and Rodney Downey The Dharma Centre, Robertson, South Africa
July 2005: Being Human is Divine Weekend retreat with Karma Shenpen Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
August 2005: Vipassana Meditation Weekend retreat with Reverend Pannasekara Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
September 2005: Zen Retreat Long weekend retreat with Heila and Rodney Downey The Dharma Centre, Robertson, South Africa
September 2005: Turning Painful Emotions into Allies Weekend retreat with Jennifer Woodhull Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
November 2005: Understanding Karma Weekend retreat with Geshe Phende Sat Chit Anand, Plett, South Africa
December 2005: Mind Training 10-day silent retreat with Rob Nairn Cape Mountain Retreat, South Africa
December 2005: Understanding Emptiness 10-day silent retreat with Rob Nairn Cape Mountain Retreat, South Africa
2004
March 2004: Empowerments by DR AKONG RINPOCHE Cape Town Tibetan Buddhist Centre, South Africa Bodhisattva Vows Chenrezig Empowerment
June 2004: The Feet of the Buddha Teachings on the Nature of Consciousness 21-day retreat with THICH NHAT HANH Plum Village Monastery, France 14 Mindfulness Precepts Ordination into Order of Interbeing Ordination name: True Stream of Light
November 2004: Mind Training and the Six Paramitas Weekend teachings by His Holiness the DALAI LAMA Durban, South Africa
December 2004: Chan and Pure Land Retreat 10-day silent retreat at Nan Hua Chinese Buddhist Temple Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa
2003
March 2003: DALAI LAMA Annual Public Teachings (3 weeks) Shantideva The Bodhisattva Way of Life Mind Training Like Rays of the Sun Dharamsala, India Refuge Vows Bodhisattva Vows Chenrezig Intiation White Tara Long Life
December 2003: Insight (Vipassana) and Zen Retreat 7-day silent retreat with Stephen and Martine Batchelor Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa
2002
10-day Goenka Vipassana Meditation Retreat Hermanus, South Africa
June 2002: The Hand of the Buddha Teachings on the Bodhisattva Path 21-day retreat with THICH NHAT HANH Plum Village Monastery, France Refuge Vows 5 Mindfulness Precepts Dharma name: Wondrous Voice of the Heart
November 2002: One-month Meditation Course Lam Rim Stages on the Path to Enlightenment Teachings by Ven Sangye Khadro and LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal Refuge Vows Bodhisattva Vows Tantric Initiation (Mitrugpa)
2001
January 2001: Integrative Spirituality 13-day silent retreat with Thanissara and Kittisaro Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa Theravada Buddhist Retreat
March 2001: DALAI LAMA Annual Public Teachings (3 weeks) Lam Rim Stages on the Path to Enlightenment Dharamsala, India Refuge Vows Bodhisattva Vows Chenrezig Initiation White Tara Long Life
2000
Founder and Director of SAT CHIT ANAND Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
1999
OSHO Commune Pune, India
Satsang with TYOHAR Goa, India
One-month silent retreat with TYOHAR Mahabaleshwar, India
One-month retreat with TYOHAR Sajla, Himalayas, India
TYOHAR Commune Costa Rica
1998
OSHO Commune Pune, India
Satsang with TYOHAR Pune, India
10-day silent retreat with TYOHAR Mahabaleshwar, India
10-day silent retreat with TYOHAR Sweden
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) 1985 Wits University
BATCHELOR OF LAWS (LLB) 1988 Wits University
HIGHER DIPLOMA IN TAX LAW 1993 Wits University
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 1988 Department of Justice, Johannesburg, South Africa
ATTORNEY 1988 - 1991 Specialised in Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Cliffe Dekker Law Firm, Johannesburg, South Africa
INTERNATIONAL TAX CONSULTANT 1994 - 1996 Deloitte and Touche Legal Department, Johannesburg, South Africa
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." [T S Elliot]
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