“On retreat we stop all forms of business and extraneous activities so as to emphasise a particular spiritual practice. There are three kinds of retreat: physical, verbal and mental. We engage in physical retreat when with a spiritual motivation we isolate ourself from other people, activities and noise, and disengage from extraneous and meaningless actions; we engage in verbal retreat when with a spiritual motivation we refrain from meaningless talk and periodically keep silence; and we engage in mental retreat by preventing distractions and strong delusions such as attachment, anger, jealousy and strong self-grasping from arising, and by maintaining mindfulness and conscientiousness.
If we remain in physical and verbal retreat but fail to observe mental retreat, our retreat will have little power. Such a retreat may be relaxing, but if we do not prevent strong delusions from arising, our mind will not be at peace, even on retreat.”
- Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, “Guide to Dakini Land”

We have 5 retreats coming up over the next 3 months:

Mahasiddha Dharmavajra was a great meditator and one of the principal teachers of the
Ganden Oral Lineage

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December: Guru Yoga & Mandala Offerings retreat
Strengthen your connection with your Spiritual Guide by engaging in this practice of Guru Yoga and making mandala offerings to increase your good fortune

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December: Vajrasattva retreat
A special opportunity to purify the source of our problems, our negative karma, in conjunction with the recitation and meditation of Buddha Vajrasattva

Sunday 3rd to Friday 8th January: Lamrim
Develop familiarity with the 21 essential meditations on the stages of the path to enlightenment (Lamrim), which is the condensation of all of Buddha’s teachings. Meditating on Lamrim is the supreme way to solve our daily problems and find lasting happiness. This is our most accessible retreat for beginners

Sunday 10th to Friday 15th January: Vajrayogini self-generation retreat
For Highest Yoga Tantra practitioners only

Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th February: Amitayus retreat
Increase our long life, merit and wisdom by drawing closer to Buddha Amitayus

Session times are 9am, 11am, 4pm and 7pm with condensed Heart Jewel prayers at 8am
Cost: included in monthly Centre Card fee, or £3 per session or £10 per day
Lunch is available on request: please book a few days in advance in the kitchen (£2.50 per meal)