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Welcome to our Karuna Cottage website. We are happy that you are interested in exploring what we have to offer. Ewen Thomson and Nancy Lasseter, owners and  managers of Karuna Cottage, are glad to have you visit us in person or online. Most of all, we both hope that you find what you need on your path to peace for yourself and for all with whom you share life on this precious and beautiful planet.

Our Karuna Cottage teachers are a small group of inspired practitioners and teachers living and working within the Gainesville spiritual community. We are both students and teachers; open to expanding and sharing our knowledge as we walk this path together. We are dedicated to exploring the teachings handed down to us with all who join us at Karuna Cottage. Visit our Karuna page to see what Karuna is like on the inside and out.

We also offer Karuna Cottage for other spiritually minded community members to rent for retreats, classes and workshops. Check our calendar page to find out what’s happening in the near future that you might like to join. Our calendar page provides dates, times and details for each class and event at Karuna. Or send us an email to find out about renting Karuna.

You are welcome to explore our About page that will introduce you to our main teachers, all who have been teaching in this area for many years. 

Overall, we offer three major types of spiritual practice, shared with you in the form of online, in person or hybrid classes, workshops, sanghas and retreats. However, we have had many teachings handed down to us from diverse traditions such that each teacher brings their unique blend of experience and knowledge to share.

Our primary offerings fall under these categories:

Dharma Talks with Mārajinā Bhikkhunī

Beginners Meditation classes and retreats with Nancy Lasseter

Karuna Vipassana Sangha with Nancy Lasseter and Tamara Warner

Florida Sanbo Zen sangha and retreats with Shana Smith