Day Retreats 2012
21st January – Rob Burbea The Beauty of Desire
25th February – Alan Lewis Reclaiming Awareness
5th May – Brad Richecoeur Meditation and Qigong
2nd June – Ajahn Kovida Awareness and Insight
8th September – Caroline Jones The Kindness of Mindfulness
3rd November – Christina Feldman Contentment
1st December – Bhante Bodhidhamma Mahasi day retreat
Click here to download a PDF with further information about these teachers and the retreats they will be leading
Click here to download a PDF of our 2012 Day Retreats flyer
INFORMATION ON DAY RETREATS
The retreats are held in silence and mainly consist of alternate periods of sitting meditation and mindfulness of walking. There will be meditation instruction and talks on Buddhist thought (dharma talks) from the teacher. During the sitting periods Insight (Vipassana) meditation, based on mindfulness, and possibly also Loving Kindness (Metta) meditation will be practiced.
Note for beginners: You do not need to know the meditation techniques before attending any of these retreats. However, if you would like to learn about them beforehand, you may find the Beginner’s PDF helpful and it can be downloaded by clicking here.
The retreats will be held at St Michaels on the Mount Parish Hall, St Michaels on the Mount School, Old Park Hill, off Perry Road, Bristol BS2 8BE. (If you have not been here before please click here to download a PDF with full directions or bring an A-Z and give yourself time to find the venue as it not obvious. You can also click here for a link to this location on the Multimap website.)
COST
The cost comes in two parts:
1. ENTRY FEE: to cover running costs
£12 (£6 unwaged) if payment is received in advance.
OR
£15 (£8 unwaged) if payment is received on the day.
Cheques preferred to cash.
If you would like a free place you can volunteer to help set up and clear up on the day – please contact the day retreats team to arrange this in advance.
2. THE TEACHER’S PAYMENT
In keeping with Buddhist tradition the teachers make no charge for their teaching and their only payment for the day will be donations (Dana) from the retreatants. The tradition of Dana in Buddhism is an acknowledgement of our interconnectedness and interdependence. It enables teachers to continue teaching and supports the very life and sustainability of the teaching. The teaching is offered, as it has been over the last centuries, freely, and the teachers give enormously of their time, energy and understanding. Your generosity to the teachers is greatly appreciated; it is truly what enables the continuation of the teachings. The teachers rely either largely or entirely on Dana for their livelihoods. A box will be put out for this Dana on the day.
Please arrive after 9.15am and be settled in the hall by 9.45am. The retreat ends at 5pm.
Bring vegetarian lunch to share. Hot drinks are provided. If you have specific dietary needs, then please bring a lunch for yourself.
Bring your own meditation stool or cushion and also bring a mat if you wish to, as the floor is bare. You will be asked to remove outdoor shoes in the meditation hall. Chairs are available.
Bring cash or a cheque for Dana with you please.
Wheelchair access is available.
To book by Paypal use the button below and then download and complete the Booking Form for Bristol Day Retreats and email it to the team at bristoldayretreats@googlemail.com
To pay by cheque please download the Booking Form for Bristol Day Retreats, print it out and return with payment to BIMG, 2 Morley Terrace, Bath BA2 3BP. Make cheques payable to BIMG.
Please note we cannot guarantee a place on the day retreat if you have not booked in advance and in order to give everyone an equal chance of getting a place, nobody’s name will be put on the list for a retreat in advance of their payment being received.
Cancellations: Payment is non-refundable but can be transferred to another retreat provided a minimum of 3 days notice is given. To transfer your fee, contact us by email.
CONTACT
For further information contact the day retreats team by email.
‘Through the practice, by slowly removing the unkindness and harm from yourself, you allow your true Good Heart, the fundamental goodness and kindness that are your real nature, to shine out and become the warm climate in which your true being flowers.’Sogyal Rinpoche