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Meditation Days

Meditation at Gaia House

A day of silent meditation practice, (including walking and sitting meditation), meditation guidance and a Dharma talk by a Gaia House teacher. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.

A delicious plant-based lunch is provided — wheat-free/gluten-free and Simple Diet options are available on request.  Meditation mats, blankets, cushions and benches are available, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

Please register between 8.30 and 9.15am; the day will start shortly after this, and will conclude at about 5pm.

The fee for Gaia House Meditation Days reflects just the basic cost of providing the facilities, managing and maintaining the centre. Teachings are offered freely by the teachers, many of whom rely on your generosity (Dana) for their livelihood. You will be given the opportunity to offer a voluntary donation to Gaia House and to the teacher(s) who have guided your meditation practice.

The following days are available:

TypeTitleStart DateEnd dateNo of nightsTeacher/sSuitabilityAvailability
24240Apr, May, JunOnlineAwakening Together: 7am Daily Meditation
Self-guided 30 minute meditation
01/04/2430/06/2491self-guidedAllSpaces2024
24140MarResidentialThe Brahma Viharas: Our Heart's Innate Capacity for Love27/03/2401/04/245Laura Bridgman & Zohar LavieAllWaiting list2024
24141AprResidentialDeep Ground Practice06/04/2411/04/245Leela Sarti & Gavin MilneAllWaiting list5254003301203002002024
24142AprResidentialMeditation Day: Healing the Hearty14/04/2414/04/240Mat SchencksAllSpaces431322.52024
24210AprOnline courseSkill in Calm and Happiness - A short introduction to Samadhi practice
(4 week course)
ySamadhi14/04/2412/05/244Yahel Avigur & Sari MarkkanenExperienceSpaces2024
24143AprResidentialA Path of Connection: A Young Person's Retreat19/04/2422/04/243River Wolton, Bernat Font & Lucy Chan18-25 year oldsSpaces102776458392024
24225AprOnlineAwakening in the World: Establishing the Timeless Refuge of Awareness19/04/2421/04/242Gavin MilneAllSpaces2024
24229AprOnlineAwakening in the World - series of four weekend retreats19/04/2424/11/248Gavin MilneAllSpaces2024
24144AprResidentialMettā in Motion - Insight Meditation and QigongQigong26/04/2428/04/242Jaya Rudgard & River WoltonAllWaiting list22617214252129862024
24145MayResidentialInsight Meditation in the Mahasi TraditionMahasi03/05/2406/05/243Bhante Bodhidhamma & Mark ArthurSpecial criteriaSpaces339258213771941292024
24237MayOnlineMindfulness in Action: Ethics and Feeling tonesy04/05/2404/05/24Martine BatchelorAllSpaces2024
24146MayResidentialContemplating the Four Elements10/05/2415/05/245Jenny Wilks & Nathan GlydeAllSpaces5254003301203002002024
24147MayResidentialCalm and Contented Heart: A Samadhi Retreat
(this retreat will be livestreamed)
Samadhi20/05/2427/05/247Sari Markkanen & Yahel AvigurExperienceSpaces7355604621684202802024
24233MayOnlineCalm and Contented Heart: A Samadhi Retreat
(livestreamed from Gaia House)
Samadhi20/05/2427/05/247Sari Markkanen & Yahel AvigurExperienceSpaces2024
24211MayOnline courseThe Dharma in the Dynamic of Relationships – the Paramis in Action
(4 week course)
y22/05/2412/06/244Laura Bridgman & Martine BatchelorAllSpaces2024
24212MayOnline courseMeditation in Motion: Qigong for Calm and Insight
(3 week course)
yQigong23/05/2413/06/243Jaya RudgardAllSpaces2024
24231MayOnlineBIPOC Retreat Day: Nurturing Mindfulness, Opening the Heart, and Strengthening CommunityY25/05/2425/05/24Antonia SumbunduSpecial criteriaSpaces2024
24148MayResidentialKnowledge from the Present Moment31/05/2403/06/243Laura BridgmanAlan LewisAllSpaces339258213771941292024
24213MayOnlineJhanas, Insight & Dependent Origination31/05/2410/06/2410Leigh BrasingtonExperienceSpaces2024
24149JunResidentialThe Heart that Abides in Emptiness07/06/2415/06/248Yanai Postelnik & Leela SartiExperienceSpaces8406405281924803202024
24150JunResidentialThe Eye of the HeartSoul-making21/06/2429/06/248Catherine McGeeYahel AvigurExperienceWaiting list8406405281924803202024
24226JunOnlineAwakening in the World: Self Compassion, Whole Compassion21/06/2423/06/242Gavin MilneAllSpaces2024
24239JunOnlineTurning Away from Conflict and Cultivating Harmony28/06/2430/06/242Tony O'ConnorSome practice experienceSave the date
24214JulOnline courseMetta and InsightyMetta02/07/2406/08/246Zohar LavieAllSpaces2024
24151JulResidentialThe Gentle Art of Patience04/07/2407/07/243Laura Bridgman & Venerable Canda TheriAllSpaces339258213771941292024
24152JulResidentialThe Heart of Wisdom and Compassion12/07/2417/07/245Yanai Postelnik & River WoltonAllSpaces5254003301203002002024
24205JulOnlineLiving with Illness & Loss20/07/2421/07/241Zohar Lavie & Nathan GlydeSpecial criteriaSave the date2024
24153JulResidentialMindfulness, Insight and Liberation22/07/2427/07/245Ramiro Ortega & Julia WallondAllSpaces5254003301203002002024
24154JulResidentialFinding Freedom: The Path Of Insight Meditation31/07/2404/08/244Ramiro Ortega & Mat SchencksAll especially beginnersSpaces420320264962401602024
24157AugResidentialDeep Immersion into Mettā and Insightmettā09/08/2426/08/2417Zohar Lavie & Nathan GlydeExperienceSpaces139410718843218035362024
24155AugResidentialEmpowering Kindness
(this retreat will be livestreamed)
mettā09/08/2417/08/248Zohar Lavie & Nathan GlydeAllSpaces8406405281924803202024
24206AugOnline

Empowering Kindness 

(livestreamed from Gaia House)

mettā09/08/2417/08/248Zohar Lavie & Nathan GlydeAllSpaces2024
24156AugResidentialMeeting Uncertainty; Cultivating A Fearless Heartmettā21/08/2426/08/245Zohar Lavie, Nathan Glyde & Tony O'ConnorAllLimited spaces5254003301203002002024
24236AugOnline courseWell Beyond: Mining Under Dukkhay28/08/2425/09/245Nathan GlydeExperienceSpaces2024
24158AugResidentialPractices of the Heart30/08/2406/09/247Jaya RudgardMat Schencks & SumedhaAllSpaces7355604621684202802024
24221SepOnlineIlluminating the Inner Critic (weekend retreat only)inner critic06/09/2408/09/242Laura Bridgman & Gavin MilneExperienceSpaces2024
24218SepOnline courseIlluminating the Inner Critic retreat and course
(weekend retreat followed by 6 week course)
yInner critic06/09/2417/10/248Laura Bridgman & Gavin MilneExperienceSpaces2024
24159SepResidentialRadical Free-ness: Everything to Lose, Nothing to Fear10/09/2415/09/245Martin AylwardAllSpaces5254003301203002002024
24160SepResidentialZen Mind, Beginner's MindZen20/09/2426/09/246Ingen BreenAllSpaces6304803961442402024
24226SepOnlineAwakening in the World: Awakening into the Web of Life27/09/2429/09/242Gavin MilneAllSpaces2024
24161OctResidentialThe Path of Mindfulness: Feeling Tone and Mind01/10/2406/10/245Martine Batchelor & Bernat FontAllSpaces5254003301202002024
24162OctResidentialLiberating and Compassionate Ways of Looking
(this retreat will be livestreamed)
11/10/2418/10/247Kirsten KratzYahel Avigur & Juha PenttiläExperienceSpaces7355604621682802024
24234OctOnlineLiberating and Compassionate Ways of Looking
(livestreamed from Gaia House)
11/10/2418/10/247Kirsten KratzYahel Avigur & Juha PenttiläExperienceSave the date2024
24163OctResidentialInsight Meditation and Yoga22/10/2427/10/245Yanai Postelnik & Helen StephensonAllSpaces5254003301202002024
24235OctOnlineIn this Fathom-Long Body: Living with the Challenges of Embodiment25/10/2428/10/242Tony O'ConnorSpecial criteriaSave the date
24164NovResidentialNovember Solitary01/11/2429/11/2428Yanai Postelnik, Kirsten KratzLaura Bridgman & Juha PenttiläExperienceWaiting list2100162413444878122024
24165NovResidentialNovember Solitary - first two weeks01/11/2415/11/2414Yanai Postelnik, Kirsten Kratz, Laura Bridgman & Juha PenttiläExperienceWaiting list11488827282654412024
24230NovOnlineEmbodying the DharmaY02/11/2402/11/24Christina FeldmanAllSave the date2024
NovOnline courseAn Introduction to a Thoroughly Relational Dharma
this programme is being co-hosted with Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies (BCBS)
y10/11/2424/11/243Gregory KramerAllSpaces
24166NovResidentialNovember Solitary - second two weeks15/11/2429/11/2414Yanai Postelnik, Kirsten Kratz, Laura Bridgman & Juha PenttiläExperienceWaiting list11488827282654412024
24226NovOnlineAwakening in the World: Living and Liberating Who You Truly Are22/11/2424/11/242Gavin MilneAllSpaces2024
24238NovOnlineJhanas, Insight & Dependent Origination22/11/2402/12/2410Leigh BrasingtonExperienceSave the date2024
24167DecResidentialMeditation Day: Present to Lifey02/12/2402/12/240Laura BridgmanAllSpaces043013222024
24168DecResidentialBoundless Heart, Vulnerable Life06/12/2409/12/243Yanai Postelnik & Julia WallondAllSpaces339258213771292024
24169DecResidentialFinding Peace13/12/2418/12/245Zohar LavieAllSpaces5254003301202002024
24217DecOnlineThe Call to the Beloved13/12/2415/12/242Laura Bridgman & River WoltonExperienceSpaces2024
24170DecResidentialNew Year Retreat
(this retreat will be livestreamed)
28/12/2402/01/255Kirsten KratzJaya Rudgard & Bernat FontExperienceSpaces5254003301202002024
24207DecOnlineNew Year Retreat
(livestreamed from Gaia House)
28/12/2402/01/255Kirsten Kratz & Jaya RudgardExperienceSave the date2024

About Meditation Days at Gaia House:

One-day meditation retreats are offered throughout the year. The themes are often the same as our Group Retreats (but with no overnight stay).

Newcomers are most welcome and full instruction is given. Meditation Days are good introductions for beginners – or equally can help to sustain and deepen a continuing personal meditation practice.

Meditation days are an opportunity to spend a day in silence with sustained meditation practice, guidance from an experienced Gaia House retreat teacher and a Dharma talk (investigating teachings from the Buddha). Participation in retreats does not require you to identify yourself as a Buddhist, nor to subscribe to the principles of Buddhism – all you need is an interest in inner exploration and development.

Retreats offer time to explore serenity, wisdom and compassion through Insight Meditation and mindfulness in a supportive environment. The main emphasis is upon developing attention, sensitivity and awareness through sitting and walking meditation.

Regular, alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation ensure that you get plenty of time to stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful house and grounds. Sitting meditation may be done on cushions or a meditation stool or bench, or you may wish to sit in a chair: you can use the posture you find most comfortable.
More about Insight Meditation.

During the day, please follow the Gaia House guidelines for conduct and refrain from engaging in all forms of verbal and written communication with other retreatants and the outside world. Please speak with the retreat teacher(s) only when appropriate, to ask questions and discuss your meditation experience, or with the staff if there are any essential practical matters you need to attend to.
More about silence.

How to get to Gaia House