an o t n i e f i l r u o fy Tu r n a w e e k o
T A E R T E R URBAN
Padmasambhava Day Sunday 29 Sept
Padmasambhava is a potent symbol of transformation. Join Danayutta and Vidyadaka on this festival day to evoke the help, energy and vision we need to change our lives. Led by Vidyadaka & Danayutta
8.30 9.30 10.00
Padmasambhava Puja and Meditation (for mitras and Order members) Breakfast - join us for muesli, granola, fruit, coffee etc. Devotional practice morning with meditation, ritual, mantra and hearing the mythical story of Padmasambhava’s birth
1.00 2.30
(Doors closed from 10.15am - 11.15am, and again from 11.45am - 1pm)
4.15 4.30 6.00 7.00
Lunch – bring veg/vegan lunch to share Seminar style exploration of Padmasambhava’s teaching, followed by meditation and invocation Tea break Heart Advice from the Lotus-Born: ‘Never be apart from the causes for Faith to arise’. A Talk by Maitreyi. Supper in the Larder Festival Day Puja with Mitra ceremonies
21 - 28 Sept
a v a ti , Led by Garav a h a m a n i, J n a n a d ay a , M & P r a jn a m a n a s S u b h a d r a m a ti
Urban Retreat
The Wisdom of the Buddhas Led by Garavavati, Jnanadaya, Mahamani, Prajnamanas & Subhadramati Turn a week of your everyday life into a retreat! We’ll support you with weekend events, a meditative day retreat, weekday morning meditations, evening classes, talks on Buddhism, yoga, chi-kung and inspirational text messages. We will spend the first morning (21st September) setting our intentions for how to practise during the week. The special meditative day with Vajragupta (22nd September) will then take us straight into a more contemplative mode. In the lunchtime meditation classes we will progress from emphasising samadhi (energised calm) to prajna (wisdom), so that whenever you drop in you will get a developing ‘course’ of practice. Then, each evening, you’ll be introduced to an archetypal Buddha, a beautiful and energizing personification of Enlightenment. On the final morning, we’ll look at how the week went and what to take forward.
Come to as many events as you can, whether you’ve already learned to meditate or not.
Weekends
Mornings
Saturday 21 Sept
Evenings
Monday 24 – Friday 28 Sept
Here you’ll be guided on how to turn your everyday life into a retreat for a week. For those who’ve done an urban retreat before there will be a ‘going deeper’ option as well.
Meditation & Breakfast
Every weeknight we’ll start with meditation, progressing from emphasising samadhi (energised calm) to prajna (wisdom). This will be followed by talks on the five great aspects of wisdom as represented in the mandala of the Five Buddhas.
Setting up the retreat
9am-12.30pm
Sunday 22 Sept
Total Immersion Day Free Time!
Through meditation we’ll see how our state of mind conditions the speed and ‘texture’ of our time, and discover ways to experience time that is more free, flowing, and abundant. Led by Vajragupta, author of the new book, Free Time! 10am-4.30pm. Please bring vegetarian lunch to share.
We will be meditating together from 7 till 8 each weekday morning. Doors will open at 6.45am and close at 7am sharp, so don’t miss the boat! Join us for breakfast after the meditation at 8am, and after that a chance to help out around the centre if you’d like.
Chi-Kung
Learn some warm-ups and standing postures of Chi-kung to enliven the body before the 7am meditation. Doors for this will open at 6.20am and close again promptly at 6.30am. 6.30-6.55am
Daytimes
All evenings start at 7.15pm.
Monday 23 Sept ‘Beyond Blame’ with Garavavati Tuesday 24 Sept ‘No More Comparison’ with Prajnamanas Wednesday 25 Sept ‘Conquering Craving’ with Subhadramati Thursday 26 Sept ‘Overcoming Envy’ with Mahamani Friday 27 Sept ‘Everything is Alive’ with Jnanadaya
Monday 23 – Friday 27 Sept Saturday 28 Sept
Intensive Final Morning
An opportunity to assess how the retreat went and how you can maintain the conditions for a healthy, energetic and creative state of mind. 9am-12.30pm
Meditation Toolkit
Over five consecutive lunchtime classes we’ll move from emphasising samadhi (energised calm) to prajna (wisdom).
1-2pm
Yoga for Meditation
Before the evening or lunchtime meditation classes. A perfect opportunity to relax and get out of your head! Lunchtimes at 12-12.45pm and 1.15-2pm. Evenings (except Thursday) 5.45-6.45pm. Suitable for all levels.
All events are free and there’s no need to book. But make sure to register online to get daily messages and teachings by email and text message!
Saturday 21 Sept
poetryEast: After Cézanne
Maitreyabandhu launches his third poetry collection, After Cézanne, a sequence of fifty-six poems exploring the life of the painter Paul Cézanne. 7.30pm. £11. Book on our website. Not strictly part of the Urban Retreat – you have to book and pay for this one! - although not to be missed, either.
Sunday 29 Sept
Padmasambhava Day
A festival day to evoke the help, energy and vision we need to change our lives. Led by Vidyadaka & Danayutta. See back page for programme and more info.