Mindfulness: A Direct Path to Freedom - November 2022 | Taraloka | Buddhist Retreat Centre For Women

Friday, November 25, 2022 to Sunday, December 4, 2022

Retreat Team:

Prasadavati

Maitrimala

Maitrisiddhi

and Team

Retreat Type:

Ordination Training,

Order Retreats

Maintaining steady, kindly awareness of changing phenomena is the essence of Satipatthana practice - the Buddha’s teaching on mindfulness in the service of liberation. Join us on a journey into open-hearted wisdom. Treat yourself to space, simplicity, beauty – inner and outer. Our main emphasis will be on body and heart/mind. We’ll become more deeply embodied, and explore how to grow more aware of how we see, relate to, and “use” our bodies and heart-minds. Then we’ll open to a wisdom perspective on experience - the insight aspect of mindfulness as the Path to Freedom.

*Please read and ensure you are able to comply with Taraloka's COVID 19 precautions BEFORE booking your retreat. *

Prasadavati writes...

Many years ago, after an intensive meditation retreat on the Satipatthana Sutta I decided to dedicate myself to studying and practising the richness of this teaching. Discovering how to practise embodied awareness in any situation, on and off the cushion, in daily life, in relationships, at work and at home through the four foundations of mindfulness: body, sensations, mind (thoughts/emotions), dhammas (reality) was revolutionary for me.

More than that it had the taste of freedom. Freedom from grasping, attachment and aversion, when the heart hardens, the mind narrows and we once again circle round in ignorance. Over time Satipatthana practice became a key to discovering the liberating truth of the Dharma in my own direct experience.

The other aspect that convinced me of the immense value of this practice was its connection to kindness and ultimately to compassion. We practice mindfulness with relaxed, receptive, non-judgemental, kindly awareness. I feel passionate about not letting Satipatthana become a dry, cold, analytical practice. If we are truly aware then the heart is open, there is connection with ourselves, with others and with the world around us. This is how we train the aware, compassionate responsiveness that will make a difference to life. At the same time cultivating a sense of wonder, play and lightness that treading this path requires.

Suggested donation (in addition to the booking fee): £405 waged / £285 unwaged

Booking Fee:

£90.00

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. We want Taraloka retreats to be available to any woman, whatever her financial situation.

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 woman 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.

Suggested donations

Our suggested donations (in addition to the booking fee) for 2021 are (waged/unwaged)

Weekend retreats (£195 / 135)
Long Weekend (3 nights) (£220 / 155)
4 night retreats (£250 / 170)
5 night retreats (£280 / 190)
Week retreats: (£360 / 245)
9 night retreats (£405 / 285)
12 night retreats (£460 / 305)

There will be an opportunity to make your donation at the end of the retreat. Donations can be made by credit/debit card, cheque or cash.

Those who cannot afford our suggested donations are free to contribute what they can.

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