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This two-week residential retreat for experienced meditators will focus on cultivating the Seven Factors of Awakening, those seven highly skilful qualities of mind that when balanced, support the development of transformative insight.

In his first formal discourse the Buddha introduced the middle way as the central theme of his teaching. How is this to be understood? The middle way is not mere moderation, but the dynamic recognition that there is no fixed position in our experience, no where we can land and cling to. This teaching points to both freedom from clinging and our opening to universal love and compassion. These are the themes we will explore in our retreat.

The focus of this retreat is on realistic and practical understanding of Buddhism and Buddhist meditation with an emphasis on personalising the practice and using it in everyday life.

The practice of loving-kindness (mettā bhāvana) aims at the cultivation of a loving, benevolent attitude towards all living beings. Since the time of the Buddha, this form of meditation has been used as a practice in itself, and as a support for the development and deepening of insight (vipassanā bhāvana) This retreat is ideal for meditators looking to experience the relationship between metta and insight practice with the aim of deepening insight.

Our practice is based on mindfulness, which emerges from the continuity of awareness. How can we maintain continuous awareness? By remembering that we are already aware. We do not need to generate awareness. When we “try” to be aware, our effort is based on our desire to be someone different, to have something different. But if awareness is already available, then what is there to try for? When we stop trying and allow ourselves to recognise what is already here, the continuity of awareness naturally emerges.

This retreat is jointly taught by Malcolm McClintock and Patrick Kearney. It is designed for experienced practitioners who are independent in their practice. We will form a community of practice where shared practice will replace the normal structure of workshops, dharma talks and scheduled interviews. Practising together, we will meet each evening to share our daily experiences, just as the students of the Buddha did in the earliest days of the dharma.

This retreat will include both Metta and Vipassana, and focus on the benefit of vipassana practised with a kindly mind. Guidance will be given for both practices in meditation sessions and talks as well as in individual meetings with a teacher. Both new and experienced meditators are welcome.

This two-month retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated vipassanā practice with Ayya Vīrāñāṇī and Ariya Baumann. A daily session of mettā meditation, including some mettā chants, will help support the development of insight.