Smritiratna first took up Buddhist practice in 1977 at the age of 21 while studying Developmental Psychology at Sussex University. At 27, he began training in earnest with the FWBO and entered the Western Buddhist Order in 1991.
In 1996, he came to Scotland, joined the Dhanakosa project and spent five years on-site, teaching and house-keeping. In 2001, he gave up house-keeping to concentrate on study, contemplation and teaching. He now lives in a forest hut near Dhanakosa. He still leads Dhanakosa retreats and continues to delight in introducing meditation to newcomers.
Seeing the dangers confronting humankind these days, we can feel depressed, demoralised and helpless to avert disaster - or even to talk about such feelings. This retreat provides a space not only to talk but to explore an extraordinary sequence of reflections and communal practices that can rekindle an active hope and vision for humanity.
This online week of Tai Chi, writing and meditation will trace our intimate relation to the dance of the elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space, and Consciousness – with an overall theme of impermanence. Whatever arises from our practice we will use to play with the reality of our inter-connectedness, write about it and share our stories.
Wednesday 10th November 2021: 10.15 - 13.00 (GMT)
You're welcome to join Smritiratna online for the November half-day retreat. We'll spend the morning exploring the theme through the practice of meditation, a short talk and small group reflections.
Please join the retreat 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.
Smritiratna writes: "We live, it seems, in increasingly troubled times. Yet if we fall prey to fear, hatred, blame and conflict, things only get worse. Somehow we need the resources to find our feet, rise up and meet the challenges we face with courage and confidence, with strength and dignity, with creativity and compassion, with wisdom and the harmonising speech that builds concord and co-operation.
“Dark of the Year, Return of the Light”
This year our Men’s Winter Retreat will take place over Zoom, direct from the Dhanakosa shrineroom. Our annual theme marks the time of the Winter Solstice, when the light begins to return at the darkest time of the year. The retreat offers a creative way to resource ourselves at this dark time and turn towards the light. We’ll be training in appreciative mindfulness day by day, with meditation, talks, discussion and devotion.
The True Value of Appreciation
December 9th 1015 - 1300 (GMT)
Within his over-arching theme of ‘Appreciative Mindfulness in Troubled Times’ here Smritiratna appreciates appreciation itself - a humble but extraordinary way of living human life.
The Green Buddha: Appreciative Mindfulness in Troubled Times
November 11th: 1015 - 1300 (GMT)
This is the title of a residential week’s retreat Smritiratna is due to lead here in January. Here is an introduction as well as a chance to do this mini retreat on the theme even if you can’t make the January week.
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 integrated with daily bodywork sessions and see how they apply directly to our body, heart and mind.
For more information read the retreat information sheet.
As well as giving us a thorough introduction to meditation, this retreat will provide an excellent grounding in the fundamental principles of Buddhism and how we can apply these Buddhist tools to enrich our busy and complex lives.
For more information read the retreat information sheet
‘Simply being’ points to a quality of awakeness and receptivity that we can recognise at any moment, both in and outside of formal meditation. It’s an openness to full presence in our being - in our body, senses and awareness. It suggests opening to what we really are, beyond conceptual fabrication, inseparable from nature itself, which is undivided and ungraspable.
These are meditation retreats and will be conducted mostly in silence. They will normally have between 5 and 7 hours a day of sitting meditation.
