Siddhimala

Buddhism is not about beliefs, it’s about the way we live our lives.  On these retreats we will explore traditional Buddhist teachings and meditation practices and see how they apply directly to our lives.  We will cover an introduction to two traditional Buddhist meditations; the mindfulness of breathing and the development of loving kindness (Metta Bhavana) as well as a solid introduction to the principals of meditation.  The approach to teaching is practical and direct, with plenty of time to reflect, and just to be, free from all the pressures and demands of our ordinary lives.

Going Deeper retreats are an ideal first regulars’ retreat. They are suitable for anyone who has already done an introductory retreat or who has been attending their local Triratna centre and wants to take things deeper.

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.

Qi Gong is rapidly growing in popularity as a practice which helps to generate more energy and vitality, and promotes self healing and inner harmony and can improve levels of health considerably. Many people benefit from having a movement practice to accompany and support their sitting meditation practice. Meditation is an integral component of Qi Gong, and they complement each other beautifully.

The online introductory weekend offers an excellent short introduction to Buddhism and Meditation.  We will cover two simple traditional meditation practices and give you grounding in the basic principles of Buddhism.  They provide an ideal situation in which to take a fresh look at yourself and your life.

The online retreat will run on the zoom meeting platform. This works in most web browsers, and you can also get free apps for all major mobile platforms too. You don’t need to pay for an account to take part.

Far from just a means of relaxation, the Buddha’s teaching of mindfulness can bring new levels of meaning, direction and joy to our lives. We will be exploring some of the most relevant teachings for modern life, and how we can directly put them into practice as well as doing some gentle Qi Gong movements to help us inhabit our bodies more fully.

For more information read the retreat information sheet.

Going Deeper retreats are an ideal first regulars retreat. They are suitable for anyone who has already done an introductory retreat or, who has been attending their local Triratna centre and wants to take things deeper. Going Deeper – with Hillwalking takes the established successful Hillwalking retreat format and by intensifying the practice enables us to connect more deeply with our experience both in the shrine room and, in nature.

On this retreat we will encourage an appreciative sensitivity to our surroundings as we explore the local hills and glens together, often in silence. The richness of the natural environment feeding into a gentle deepening of our experience supported by meditation, reflection and simple Buddhist ritual.

For more information read the retreat information sheet.

Nature is for many of us an important source of spiritual nourishment in an increasingly busy world.  On these retreats we will combine traditional Buddhist teachings with the simple practice of spending time walking in the rich and beautiful landscapes that surround Dhanakosa.  Guided walk options will be available to suit all levels of fitness.

For more information read the retreat information sheet.

Drawing deeply on the landscape, and the sensual immediacy of our experience, we will explore the traditional Buddhist teaching of the six elements. We will see how this teaching provides a rich framework for reflection, gently transforming our sense of ourselves. This work will be set about with ritual, and the traditional Triratna approach to integration and positive emotion.