Autumn Retreat and Study: Healing Potential of Meditation

21st Sept. - 30th Nov.

In December ‘05 Ad and I did a 4-week retreat at The Orchard. It was such a supportive and enriching time that we jointly decided to repeat this in the autumn of 2006, to extend the length of the retreat to 10 weeks and open it to our students.

The theme for this retreat and study period will be “the healing potential of meditation” rooted in the teaching on the Foundations of Mindfulness.
The format that I envisage is that there will be a core group of students staying for most of the 10 weeks plus an influx of students for the specific courses. In between the courses the sangha (the core group) will practice under guidance. Although it is a 10-week retreat it is possible to attend at any time and for any length of time.

We will start the 10 week retreat with the “Medicine Buddha” from 21st to 25th Sept. and thereafter each Wednesday will be dedicated to the Medicine Buddha practice for the healing of self and others.

Then I will offer a course on the “Refuge of Sitting” from 28 Sept to 1st Oct. and from 4th to 10th Oct there will be teaching on the “Aliveness of the Present Moment”.

Whilst I am away teaching in Switzerland from 1st to 7th Nov. Ad will offer a 2 hr. teaching a day on the “healing aspects of T’ai-Ji” as in the Touching Stillness approach.

To end of the 10 weeks retreat I will give a course on “Openness of heart and mind, our natural capacity” from 23rd to 26th Nov. to support our going into the world with an open heart and mind.
We'll close the retreat on 30th Nov.

A retreat is a time and space to renew and refresh our understanding and aspiration of the practice, to settle and go deeper into it. Or, in the words of John Garrie Roshi:
“Retreat is a much misunderstood and misused word. It is not an occasion for convalescence, or for transcendental or psychic adventure, nor of penance, or, indeed, a platform for performance. It is quite simply a time to let go of defence, offence, or pretence. A time of gentle watchfulness from the Sanctuary of “where you are coming from”. The stillness at the Eye of the Storm; and of renewal of the Ease and Trust in the humility of the moment. A time to bow to the Here and the Now.”

Retreatants will be given a personal practice to follow and are expected to put in 6 hours a day of formal practice. They will be guided by Sonia, or Ad if you are his student.
Daily there will be a group meditation led by Sonia, Ad or the sangha.

Mondays will be a free day for shopping, laundry, phone calls, etc.
Wednesday evenings Ad will give a T’ai-Ji class for those who wish to attend.
Fridays will be without input, a time for processing and integrating.

The programme of courses offered over the retreat period will support and strengthen our study and practice of the Teaching enabling us to fulfil our deep aspiration that the benefits of this wholesome practice extend to all beings.

Retreatants are invited to attend any of these courses in prior consultation with Sonia or Ad.

All the courses can be attended on their own and without joining the full 10 week retreat.

During the retreat period Ad will give teaching on “The Six perfections” from 26th-29th Oct. and following on from the retreat he will give a T’ai-Ji course from 30th Nov. - 2nd Dec on the theme of “no separation”. Details are on his web site www.touchingstillness.co.uk

COST:
Autumn retreat:
£22 per day for up to & incl. 21 days,
£18 per day for over 21 days

These fees take into account the organising of the retreat, running cost of the centre and include accommodation but do not cover for the teachings which will be on the basis of Dana (donation).
Bring food to share.

Course fees: see programme of courses

Plus dana to the teacher.

How to Book