Friends on the Path: The seven factors of awakening
with Jill Shepherd
August 1 - 15, 2026
This retreat is open to people who have done at least three previous silent insight meditation retreats of one week or longer.
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.
The Seven Factors are: Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Joy, Tranquility, Absorption and Equanimity. These seven are sometimes referred to as our friends on the path, because they help overcome the hindrances, harmful states of mind that keep us stuck in delusion.
As the Seven Factors come into balance with each other, we experience the release of all afflictive states and the heart and mind naturally settle into a state of profound peace.
Each day will include a mix of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, optional mindful movement, occasional small group discussion and individual meetings with the teacher.
Teacher
Jill Shepherd began practicing insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centres and monasteries in the US, Australia, England, and Thailand. She spent seven years on staff at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, where she participated in several long retreats and Buddhist study programmes, as well as offering weekly meditation classes at a nearby prison. She is a graduate of the IMS / Spirit Rock teacher training program in the US, under the guidance of Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal. She lives in Aotearoa / New Zealand…
Learn more about Jill Shepherd