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Taraloka Buddhist Retreat Centre

buddhist retreat centre for women

The Greater Mandala of Aesthetic Appreciation 2026

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The Greater Mandala of Aesthetic Appreciation 2026

16 - 25 Oct 2026
Led By: Vijayamala, Moksanandi
For: Triratna Order Members

‘You as a human being are the product of millions upon millions of years of evolution… You don’t have to justify your existence by being useful. You yourself are the justification for your existence…. All that you can really be said to be here for is to develop into some higher form of human life – to become a Bodhisattva, to become a Buddha.  So don’t be ashamed of sitting around and doing nothing. Glory in it. Do things spontaneously, out of a state of inner satisfaction and achievement.’ Sangharakshita

On this retreat we’ll let Bhante’s classic ‘greater mandala of uselessness’ teaching take us deep into the mystery of life.

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<i> ‘You as a human being are the product of millions upon millions of years of evolution…You don’t have to justify your existence by being useful. You yourself are the justification for your existence. You haven’t come into existence after all these millions of years of evolution just to sit down in front of a typewriter, or to keep accounts… All that you can really be said to be here for is to develop into some higher form of human life – to become a Bodhisattva, to become a Buddha.  So don’t be ashamed of sitting around and doing nothing. Glory in it. Do things spontaneously, out of a state of inner satisfaction and achievement.’ </i> Sangharakshita

In his commentary on Ratnagunasamcayagatha (The Collection of Verses on Precious Qualities) Bhante lays out his teaching on the ‘greater mandala of aesthetic appreciation’ or, more provocatively, ‘complete uselessness’.  This ‘greater mandala of uselessness’ teaching is a fantastic antidote to many of the ways in which we become driven, pressured and anxious in modern life. It also takes us deep into the mystery of life.  As well as encouraging us to live with appreciative awareness rather than appropriative awareness, this teaching gives us a different way into the Bodhisattva ideal.

We shall explore the area with some teaching, guided meditations and evening devotional practice. There will be the opportunity for mediation reviews. The retreat will mainly be in silence.

Suggested donation (in addition to the booking fee): £435 waged / £305 unwaged

Booking Fee: £95.00

Single Rooms: No single rooms currently available on this retreat. Please email to go on single room waiting list.

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Standard Ticket £95.00

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Triratna Experience

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Retreat Level: Triratna Regulars - You need to have been taught the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana meditations and have participated in the Sevenfold Puja within the Triratna Buddhist Community. You also need to regularly attend a Triratna centre, group or retreats. If you do not fit these criteria, please DO NOT BOOK but choose one of our Open level retreats instead.

Our Triratna Regulars retreats include more periods of meditation and silence than our Open retreats. If you are unsure whether this retreat is appropriate for you, please contact the office and we can talk it through with you.

Accommodation

Big Event Accommodation

Select the accommodation type you require for this retreat:

  • Bedrooms are shared with 2 to 4 people in a room.
  • Single rooms are not bookable online. If you need a single, DO NOT BOOK HERE. Please email admin@taraloka.org.uk or phone 01948 710646.
  • Taraloka is centrally heated and generally very comfortable. You will be sharing a room with between 1 and 3 other women. Rooms are not en-suite but all rooms are close to toilets and showers.
  • Ground floor rooms are available. Please contact the office if you need a ground floor room.

Diet

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Yes

Wheat free
Gluten free
Nut free (please specify which nuts in box below)
No chilli

If you are unable to eat more than two items, please contact the office to discuss before booking. We can only cater for a limited number of restricted diets on any one retreat.

We offer a vegan diet at Taraloka. If you have a restricted diet for genuine medical needs please provide information above. You will be offered a simple meal which may be very similar every day: plain steamed vegetables, rice and simple protein. To assist the cooks, please restrict requirements to absolutely essential items only.

Health

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Yes

For more information see our am I well enough to be on retreat page. On retreats we live as a community and share household tasks such as vegetable chopping, cleaning or washing up for around one hour daily. If you are unable to join the communal work rota, please let us know here, as it helps us to plan the practical running of the retreat.

All information is confidential and will only be communicated to the team leading your retreat, so they can best support you on the retreat.

Mental Health

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Yes

For more information see our am I well enough to be on retreat page.

Mental health issues won't necessarily block you from coming on retreat, but we do need to know about them. All information is confidential and will only be communicated to the team leading your retreat, so they can best support you on the retreat.

Consent

Continuity is an important aspect of being on retreat. It is disruptive to the atmosphere of a retreat to arrive late, leave early or to take excursions. You cannot attend online meetings while on retreat. Please tick box to confirm that you understand Taraloka's policy on continuity and can attend the entire retreat.

Booking fees are non-refundable under any circumstances. If you give us at least six weeks notice (to the start of your booked retreat) when cancelling, it may be possible to transfer the booking fee, providing there is space on another appropriate retreat within the calendar year. You can only transfer a booking fee once.

We aim to provide an environment that is relaxed and enjoyable, yet also supportive of meditation, reflection and the Buddhist ethical precepts – including the practice of stillness, simplicity and contentment. A retreat is a collective experience, so what an individual does affects the atmosphere of the retreat for everyone.

This is why, to support the retreat environment, we ask that you refrain from alcohol, sexual activity, meat or fish eating and illicit drugs for the duration of the retreat.

Smokers are asked not to smoke on the premises, including in your car, but may do so outside of Taraloka buildings and grounds (this includes electronic cigarettes.)

We also ask that you turn off your mobile phone and leave at home your laptop, tablet and other devices. We request that mobiles and other devices are not used in the retreat centre or grounds. If you need to be contactable in an emergency, please give your friends and family the Taraloka emergency mobile number: 07774 007 133.

Taraloka News

Quarterly newsletter with very occasional additional email

Booking Summary

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Paying for your retreat

Taraloka runs on generosity.

To book a retreat you pay a booking fee. This is the only charge made for coming on retreat. As far as possible, we don’t want anyone’s financial situation to stop them from coming to Taraloka.

At the end of your retreat, you have the opportunity to give money towards Taraloka. If you are able to donate, you are giving to another person who otherwise could not afford to come on retreat. And you are helping to give the gift of Taraloka to the women of the future.

We have suggested donations as these reflect the basic income needed to make a retreat viable. However, they are only suggestions. It is genuinely fine to give ten times these amounts, nothing, or anything in between.

Running on generosity is radical – thank you for being part of that.

For more information see what does it cost and a flow of generosity