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The Four Roads that lead to the Golden City

In Dec 2010 we offered a nine day retreat on the Four Roads that Lead to the Golden City, known as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. There is so much depth to this teaching that we decided to offer a three day retreat on each of the mindfulness theme. On most of these three day retreats there will be the possibility to study the text in more details with Ad.

Four Practice Retreats on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Cost: £125 per retreat

Students can attend any retreat on its own.

buddha back pic

1) Mindfulness of the body

24th (eve) – 27th Feb.

“thus she abides contemplating the nature of arising and passing away in the body…independently, not clinging to anything in the world”

2) Mindfulness of feelings

7th (eve)– 10th April

“here, when experiencing a pleasant feeling, she knows “I am experiencing a pleasant feeling”, when experiencing an unpleasant feeling, she knows “I am experiencing an unpleasant feeling”, when experiencing a neutral feeling, she knows “I am experiencing a neutral feeling”.

Thus is how in regard to feelings, she abides contemplating feelings as feelings”.

3) Mindfulness of mind

18th (eve)– 21st August

“She abides contemplating the nature of arising and of passing away of phenomena in the mind…Mindfulness that “there is mind” is established in her to the extent necessary for bare knowledge and continuous mindfulness. That is how in regard to the mind she abides contemplating mind”

4) Mindfulness of mind objects

27th (eve) – 30th October

“And she abides detached, not grasping at anything in the world. And that is, how she abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objects”.

The mind-objects of contemplation are listed in the Satipatthana Sutta as:

Costs include accommodation and course fee. Participants need to bring food to share and dana for the teacher

DANA

In the tradition of the Buddha, Dharma teaching is given freely.
The course fees for the meditation retreats cover organising the retreats, running costs of the centre, accommodation and rental of Maitreya House/Cwm Cottage,
At the end of each retreat students are invited to give dana to the teachers for their guidance, time and availability.

Dana bowl

Dana is a Pali word meaning "generosity, offering" and is one of the virtues that supports the letting go and the loosening of "self".
Dana reflects the value you place on the teaching and appreciation for the guidance of the teacher, the joy of giving and what is realistic for you. Each participant arrives at the amount voluntarily.There will be a talk on the practice of dana during each course.

How to Book

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Site updated 24/1/2012