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 »Teachings of the Buddha Course with Nick Scott
This will be held on monthly Monday evenings, starting on October 21st, although it will be possible for participants to join the course at the second meeting on November 18th. 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…
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 »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 4 to 4.45 pm. It is led by Sonia Mulpeter, a long-time practitioner at Sunyata and certified creative mindfulness children's teacher. To book a place please email [email protected]
Find out more »Wellness Walk
This event is a collaboration with the local 12 O' Clock Hills Project, and will include a tour of Sunyata, a 5km hill walk (or optional 3km flat walk), and an introduction to meditation, followed by refreshments. It will begin at 2pm, and is donation-based, with proceeds going to a local mental health charity. For more information please email [email protected]
Find out more »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 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 »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…
Find out more »January 2020
Serenity and Insight -Day Retreat with Vince Cullen
‘Serenity and Insight – a Journey without Destination” is a day-long retreat exploring some Buddhist principles and practices for being present in everyday life. This retreat will be a day of talks, sitting practice and (weather permitting) walking practice devoted to cultivating ‘serenity and insight’ even in the midst of the difficult. We will practice some silent meditation; and some ‘Heart’ practices. Further details can be found here. To reserve a place please email: [email protected] About Vince: Vince Cullen is…
Find out more »True Emptiness, Wonderful Existence: A weekend of insight meditation with Pádraig Cotter
“True emptiness does not obstruct wonderful existence, Wonderful existence does not obstruct true emptiness.” Master Hua. Insight meditation involves attending to experience in ways that lead to peace of heart and mind, open the doors of perception to a sense of wonder and help us to take care of our lives and our world more deeply and freely. To that end, on this retreat, we will place particular emphasis on the Buddhist teachings of sunyata, usually translated…
Find out more »March 2020
10 day Retreat with Suvaco
On this retreat we will work on deepening our meditation practice, developing the skills for Samatha (serenity) and Jhana (absorption) states. Emphasis will be placed on creatively using the sound of silence (Shabd or Nada) as a focus for concentration. Once the feeling resonance of the ‘sound-current’ is activated through meditation, guided meditation in subtle energy circulation, Qi Gong practices and chanting, we will look at strategies to release the first three fetters on the path: sceptical doubt, self view and…
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