Mindfulness can transform our lives. The magic of the present moment experienced through our senses can deepen the colours of a beautiful sunset sky or heighten the quality of a magnificent concert. It can enrich and enliven our experience bringing a second-by-second joyfulness. But if that is all it does, we have missed out on the vast potential inherent in awareness; that is, as a key to wisdom. 

Using the framework of the Satipatthana Sutta - the Buddha's primary teaching on Mindfulness - to cultivate awareness and right view – we will learn to watch our mind, through knowing whatever is happening through all six senses.

We will look at the role of receptivity in mindfulness and the 'wise' or 'unwise' attention we bring to every aspect of our experience. We will be looking at how continuity of mindfulness can touch and transform our experience through simple presence and intelligent awareness, developing both steadiness of mind and heart and insight into the nature of all things.

The retreat will mainly be in silence with teaching input each day, and meditation reviews every other day. For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

Central to our dharma life is a simple yet profound distinction; between our direct experience mediated through the senses, and the thoughts and ideas we have about those experiences. We are usually unaware that the concepts we base our sense of self on and navigate our world by, are frequently flawed in a deep and on-going way. We look through the distorted lens of our own views and assumptions, making us an unreliable witness to our own inner experience. 

On the retreat we'll cultivate Awareness and Right View, to become mindful of, and curious about, what is actually happening in our minds. Using the framework of the 5 skandhas to go to the heart of what we take to be 'true' we can come to see the process of construction and fabrication that is happening moment by moment. Relying on the dharma and our own direct experience wisdom perfumes deep knowing and the unreliable witness is seen for what it is. Each moment brings the possibility of release from clinging and therefore from suffering. 

The retreat will mainly be in silence with input each day and the opportunity for meditation reviews with the retreat team.

For more information, read the retreat information sheet.