Five-day silent mindfulness retreat in person
Opening to the fruits of mindfulness exploring the awakening factors of energy, joy and peace.
28 September at 17:00 to 2 October at 11:00
A five-day mindfulness retreat at the lovely Rivendell retreat centre, with Taravajra, Karunavira, Kate Gooch and Dharmavasita.
Brief overview
The retreat theme will be based on the traditional framework called the ‘Four Foundations of Mindfulness’ and in particular the ‘Awakening’ or ‘Responsive’ factors outlined in the 4th Foundation. In addition, the evening practices will explore the heart qualities of friendliness, sympathetic joy and compassion. We will practise together in the context of a silent retreat with inputs and guidance from the teachers. There will also be opportunities to speak about your practice in optional small mentoring groups and also one-to one. There will be an emphasis on integrating the formal and informal aspects of retreat life and also on integrating movement practice with the ‘sitting’ practices.
This retreat meets the retreat requirement for the BAMBA register.
The practical details
Rivendell is situated in the village of High Hurstwood, East Sussex. The nearest train stations are Buxted and Uckfield. Rivendell is a 45 minute drive from Brighton and the 28 bus (between Tunbridge Wells and Brighton) passes nearby.
Please arrive at the venue from 5pm on the Monday and the retreat will finish at 11am on the Friday.
The house is an old rectory and accommodation is in mainly 2-3 bedded rooms. Camping will be available. The food will be vegan (with some dairy options). We will have a cook with us who will need help chopping, serving and washing up (opportunities for everyday mindfulness!)
Who is the retreat for?
The retreat is suitable for teachers training in mindfulness-based approaches as well as more experienced teachers and also those not teaching who have an established mindfulness practice. The retreat will count towards the annual retreat requirement for teachers and supervisors on the BAMBA Register.
Retreat leaders
Taravajra
Taravajra has been teaching mindfulness in Sussex since 2005 to community groups, carers, teachers and NHS staff. Taravajra gained a Masters degree in mindfulness-based approaches in 2010 at Bangor University. Since 2011, he has been part of the core training team at Bangor, teaching on the Masters programme and teacher training pathway in the English and Spanish speaking worlds. He holds a British Wheel of Yoga teaching diploma and is a Focusing practitioner. Since 2011 he has been one of the main trainers on the Sussex Mindfulness Centre’s teacher training programme.
Kate Gooch
Kate Gooch holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Mindfulness Based Approaches from Bangor University (2012) and has taught Mindfulness since 2007. She teaches the general population, clinical populations, and carers, as well as delivering courses in educational settings and the workplace. She’s trained in .b, .b Foundations, and MYRIAD, in addition to being a Mindfulness supervisor for the Mindfulness Network. She also has a Speech and Language Therapy background.
Karunavira
Karunavira left his initial career as head teacher in primary education in 1982 to pursue Buddhist studies. From 1990 he taught meditation and Buddhist studies, and between 2000 and 2010 was the spiritual director of the Brighton Buddhist Centre. He gained his MSc through Bangor University in mindfulness-based approaches in 2010. He has taught mindfulness-based courses and trained mindfulness teachers since 2005, specialising in working with Carers, Young People, NHS Staff and traditional Arab communities. He is also trained as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor specialising in working with parents of children with complex needs as a Mindfulness Therapist.
Where is it?
Cost/How to book
The cost is £480 (£400 concessions and camping). It is being organised by Taravajra, so to book and find out more please see the event page on his website.
