You are welcome to the Self-Led retreat at the Friends Meeting House,
Who’s it for?
These self-led retreats are suitable for anyone with basic meditation experience. This could be from attending a group retreat, for example, or an eight-week mindfulness course. Although Insight Meditation is rooted in Buddhism, all traditions and backgrounds, both spiritual and secular, are very welcome.
What’s the format?
The day is silent and based around alternating 45-minute periods of sitting and walking meditation with no teacher or guidance. There’s also a carefully curated recorded dharma talk to listen to, a shared lunch and, at the end of the retreat, a chance to break silence and discuss the day’s experiences as a group.
Where is it?
In the light and airy surroundings of the Quaker Meeting House , 300 Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8PD. An oasis of calm amid the busyness of Bristol. The group has sole use of the entire meeting house, including a wonderful enclosed and secluded garden.
When is it?
On the first Saturday of every month. The front door to the Meeting House opens at 10.15 am. You will then have 15 minutes to settle in before the retreat starts. The retreat finishes at 5.00 pm.
Payments
A donation of £20 waged or £7.50 unwaged towards the costs of the day. Payment for the day is in cash or by an online bank transfer. For bank transfer details, please contact lesleywye2@gmail.com.
What should I bring?
Please bring a vegan or vegetarian contribution to our shared lunch and whatever else you need to feel comfortable. For example, a mat, cushion, meditation stool, blanket or thick socks. There are plenty of chairs to use.
Can I get more involved?
Would you like to get more involved? You can join a small friendly team that helps organise the retreats. The commitment is light, and we welcome new volunteers. Find out more by dropping me an email or having a chat at the retreat: David Ringsell david@talk-it.biz
Can I find out more?
Please email David Ringsell at david@talk-it.biz. Happy to answer any questions. The group sends a monthly reminder email with the upcoming retreat date and details of the talk. If you’d like to be added to the distribution list, please email retreat@gmx.co.uk. Your email address won’t be used for anything else.
Retreat talks
2019-12-28 The Power of Awake Awareness (retreat talk) 63:48
Tara Brach
We all encounter “demons” of fear, anger, hurt, craving and shame. This talk explores our keyways of resisting difficult emotions, and how “when the resistance is gone, the demons are gone.” We look at the power of mindfulness and compassion to undo resistance and open us to the loving presence that can handle whatever energies arise. This special talk was given at the 2019 IMCW 5-Day New Year’s Silent Retreat.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
David says
Meditation practise can bring up difficult emotions. Our natural response is to turn away from these. Yet our energy is locked in these shadow states. Tara offers insights on how we can allow our full aliveness. A great talk for winter 2025.
Explore and listen to an archive of the dharma talks played at the monthly self-led retreats since 2016 by clicking anywhere on the picture below.
