Calendar of upcoming events and retreats – Bristol Insight Meditation

Below is a list of upcoming retreats and other events. Some are regular events and you will see the next session below. At the bottom of the page you can view details of past Teacher-led retreats.

Feb

Contented and easily satisfied with Venerable Canda

The ennobling quality of contentment is a direct antidote to the cause of suffering: restless desire.
Whilst the winds of wanting blow us from past to future, always promising happiness someplace else, contentment enables the mind to linger with loving appreciation in this moment; within this imperfect body and mind. Cont…..

Feb

Tuesday evening sitting group

The sitting group meets every Tuesday evening at the Central Quaker Meeting House, Champion Square, Bristol BS2 9DB. These evenings are a good way to meet others and have a taste of what we have to offer. All are welcome.

Mar

Self-led day retreats

These popular, well-supported day retreats are a great way to create spaciousness and stillness in our busy, daily lives. They are based sitting and walking meditation. They are not led by a teacher and no meditation guidance is given, so they suit participants who are comfortable with a basic meditation practice.

Mar

Practising wisdom and compassion in turbulent times with Chris Cullen

The Buddha famously said that ‘Everything is burning’ and we may particularly feel the truth of this at times of turbulence and intensity in our personal and collective lives, and as we awaken to the deepening climate emergency. Cont……

Apr

Nature meditation monthly Saturday afternoons

Come meditate outdoors at the Well Centre for Spirituality at the beautiful 15th century Elsie Briggs House in in Westbury-on-Trym. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with nature, explore your practice in new surroundings and return to the fray refreshed and restored. Cont….

May

Gratitude and Joy with Jenny Wilks

The experience of appreciative joy – including gratitude for our own good qualities and delight in those of others – is deeply supportive of our ability to respond with resilience and compassion to the challenges of our lives. Cont…..

Jul

Love in the time of extinction with Yanai Postelnik

What does dharma practice look like in the face of a Climate and Ecological emergency? How do the Buddha’s wisdom teachings and compassionate practices empower us to meet this crisis? How do we keep our heart open while engaging with our inner responses and the outer situation? Cont.…..

Sep

Stretching the heart -liberating the heart

There are many ways to conceive of “Heart”. In the Buddhist teachings it is often referred to as “Citta”, the “Heart-Mind” that resonates, is sensitive, responsive and malleable; it is also that which can be liberated.
Attending to Heart-Mind we may discover its innate capacity for wisdom, kindness and compassion, its yearning to attend to, hold and address what is difficult … as well as what is beautiful. Cont…….

Nov

The power and art of slowing down with Ramiro Ortega

In this silent retreat day, we will explore the potential of slowing down. In a world and time that praise quickness and busyness, we need more than ever to develop the capacity to pause and slow down, instead of letting ourselves being “carried away” Cont…..

Past retreats - 2020

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Feb

Sangha Walk – Goblin Combe, Cleeve – Saturday 8 th February

Goblin Combe is a lovely green wooded valley in North Somerset which stretches from Redhill near Bristol Airport through to Cleeve . The combe is a 128 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest and over 30 species of butterflies have been recorded here. Cont……..

Feb

Focusing group

Focusing and Insight meditation have in common a willingness to sit with one’s experience from a place of presence, acceptance, warmth and curiosity. If you’d like to attend a meeting please contact Gordon to book a place.