July 2019
Vassa (Rains Retreat)
Sunyata will be hosting our third vassa from July 17th. The vassa, or rains retreat, is an annual three-month period of monastic retreat which has been observed since the time of the Buddha. Traditionally, monks and nuns remain in one place during this time, taking the opportunity to deepen and strengthen their practice. We will have 6 monks in residence at Sunyata for this period. It represents a unique opportunity for people to sample Buddhist monastery life here in Ireland.…
Find out more »September 2019
Women’s Day Retreat
A day of meditation for women including periods of guided sitting, lying and walking meditation. An opportunity to enter into our own inner silence. Absolute beginners totally welcome. The day will begin at 12pm with an introduction. Lunch will be from 2 to 3, and the day will end at 5 o' clock. The day will be held in Noble silence as far as possible. Please bring lunch to share. To book a place please email [email protected]
Find out more »Beginners’ Meditation Workshop
This monthly workshop offers instruction in the theory and practice of sitting and walking meditation, with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. It is offered on donation basis and there is no need to bring anything. Please email [email protected] to book a place.
Find out more »October 2019
Meitheal – Community Work Day
The meitheal is an old Irish tradition whereby a community gathers to work together on a particular task. This would typically be the harvesting of a crop or the raising of a building frame. At Sunyata we have a monthly meitheal which everyone is welcome to join. Usually we work on a specific job in the forest or the gardens. Lunch and regular cups of tea are provided. We start around 9 o' clock but people are welcome to join…
Find out more »Meditation for Children
This workshop is a child friendly and creative introduction to meditation for children. Children are encouraged to explore mindfulness, thoughts and emotions through stories, discussion, arts and crafts. The workshop is suitable for children aged 4 to 12 years and is held from 3 to 3.45 pm. Louise Shanagher is a children's and teenagers mindfulness teacher who gives meditation and mindfulness workshops for children and teens nationwide. She is the author of Ireland's first mindfulness series for children the "Mindfully…
Find out more »Meditation for Teenagers
This class introduces teenagers to mindfulness and meditation practices. We will explore thoughts, feelings, practicing mindfulness in everyday life and some guided meditations. The workshop is suitable for teenagers aged 13 to 17 years and is held from 4 to 4.45 pm. Louise Shanagher is a children's and teenagers mindfulness teacher who gives meditation and mindfulness workshops for children and teens nationwide. She is the author of Ireland's first mindfulness series for children the "Mindfully Me" series and lectures in…
Find out more »Teachings of the Buddha Course with Nick Scott
This course will be held on monthly Monday evenings at 7.30pm, beginning on October 21st. We will work our way through the basic Buddhist teachings, starting with the Four Noble Truths, and eventually move on to the more difficult ones. For each meeting there will be a couple of short pieces of text to read from teachings by Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Amaro, Ajahn Sucitto, etc, or occasionally something from outside this lineage or an actual Buddhist sutta, and…
Find out more »Nick Scott 10 Day Retreat in Clarinbridge
Please note that this retreat is not being held at Sunyata but at Kilcoan Retreat Centre in Clarinbridge, Galway. A ten day retreat is an opportunity to deepen one's meditation practice and leads to an understanding of what meditation and the spiritual journey is really about. The period is long enough that we can leave behind the stress caused by our daily interactions while having no need to plan the future. It thus becomes possible to explore the present and…
Find out more »November 2019
Living from the Heart -weekend retreat with Vince Cullen
Everyone on the Buddhist path is struggling with the 3 fires… the fire of cravings, the fire aversions and the fire of confusions… EVERYONE! The Buddha’s very sound advice to everyone is that we should try to extinguish these fires, don’t add any more fuel to them; to put them out and never relight them. Easier said than done! This mindfulness-based retreat is offered as an opportunity to experience an ethically focussed, Buddhist-oriented approach to Living from the Heart. This retreat…
Find out more »Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Jutindharo
Ajahn Jutindharo grew up in Leeds. He studied physics at university, and then worked for several years in medical research whilst writing a PhD. At university he became interested in meditation and Buddhism, which culminated in a decision to join a Buddhist monastic order in 1987. His monastic life has been spent primarily in Britain, with short periods in Asia. since 2007 he has been abbot of Hartridge monastery in Devon, England. Start and End Times: Registration for…
Find out more »December 2019
New Year Retreat 2019/2020
Our annual New Year retreat will be led by members of the Sunyata lay sangha and will follow our normal retreat guidelines and schedule, with morning and evening chanting, periods of silence, walking, and some guided meditation, talks / reflections as well as optional yoga. Start and End Times: Registration for this retreat will be from 4pm on Saturday 28th December with soup served at 6.15. The retreat will begin at 7.15pm with a short orientation talk and will end at…
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