Maitrivira has been participating in Dhanakosa retreats for 20 years. He brings a wealth of experience with him.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with a blend of traditional yoga and contemporary approaches to embodied movement. This playful synthesis of body based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and movement) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives.
"If happiness has not its seat and centre in the breast. We may be wise or rich or great but never can be blessed. No treasures, no pleasures can make us happy long. The hearts aye the part aye that makes us right or wrong"; so Robert Burns declared 200 years ago. We will focus on meditations of the heart; practice exercises that will lead us into the hidden depths and treasures that lie in our hearts; explore the heart opening potential of living for a week in spiritual community with like-minded people.
April 14th 2021 10.15 - 13.00 (GMT)
You're welcome to join Maitrivira online for the April half-day retreat. We'll spend the morning exploring the theme 'The Buddha and the Human' through the practice of meditation, a short talk and small group reflections.
Please join us at 10.15 to settle and say hello. The zoom room will be locked at 10.30 and we'll stay online through to the end of the retreat at 1pm. As well as the meditation period there will be hourly breaks built in to refresh your energy. This is a chance to come together in shared practice once more.
Introductory weekend: Rewind, Refresh, Renew
This online weekend will be an opportunity to explore what it means to practice meditation, what helps and how we may apply the practices to every moment in a day to give rise to the possibility of a more easeful happy life. The weekend will include some gentle movement, meditation practice, discussions, exploration and sharing in smaller groups and is suitable for beginners and those already familiar with the practices.
This going deeper retreat will draw on inspiration from Padmasambhava, the original Tantric Guru, who guides us to transform the deeper, more unruly forces of our mind.
Padmasambhava is seen to be both a historical and mythic figure within Buddhism. He was a renowned Yogi, Dharma Teacher, Shaman, and Healer.
On the basis of mindfulness and metta, and with the support of silence and ritual, we will explore the practice of ‘just sitting’ where we open to direct experience and the heart of awareness.
The retreat will draw on the inspiration of Padmasambhava, Tantric Guru, who was invited to Tibet to transform the deeper, more unruly forces of the mind. Padmasambhava is seen to be both a historical and mythic figure within Buddhism. He was a renowned Yogi, Dharma Teacher, Shaman, and Healer.
We will bring Padmasambhava to life through talks and Buddhist devotional practice through meditation, silence, and ritual we will explore both the energetic and receptive elements of his teaching.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with a blend of traditional yoga and contemporary approaches to embodied movement. This playful synthesis of body based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and movement) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives.
‘If happiness has not its seat and centre in the breast. We may be wise or rich or great but never can be blessed. No treasures, no pleasures can make us happy long. The hearts aye the part aye that makes us right or wrong’; so Robert Burns declared 200 years ago.
‘Simply being’ points to the aliveness and awakeness that we can recognise at any moment. It’s an openness to full presence, our full being - in body, senses and awareness. It points to being what we really are, beyond conceptual fabrication. In recognising and opening to the steady and spacious aspects of experience here and now, we may glimpse a timeless awareness-emptiness that is inseparable from loving, compassionate energy.
These retreats are an excellent short introduction to Buddhism and Meditation. We will cover an introduction to two traditional Buddhist meditations: the mindfulness of breathing and the development of loving kindness (Metta Bhavana). We will also introduce some key elements of the Buddhist tradition. As well as giving a grounding in the basic principles of Buddhism and meditation, these retreats are an ideal reflective situation in which to take a fresh look at ourselves.
