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Meeting Life with Courage and Compassion

Residential retreat 

Saturday 16 March – Wednesday 20 March 2024 (4 nights)

With Kirsten Kratz and Dene Donalds

This retreat is nearly full or has recently become full    

Opening to the multiple challenges of our times and the demands of our personal life can feel overwhelming. It requires us to keep stretching our heart and staying responsive to inhabit different perspectives. At times, we may feel the need to challenge and take a stance. Can we see this as a precious invitation to cultivate and bring forth the very best in us, to step into the beautiful potential of being truly human?

During our time together we will explore what nourishes and sustains us on this journey, allowing us to more fully express our love and care for this life and this world.

The retreat is situated within the silent Insight Meditation tradition, and offers elements rooted in the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, such as communal walking meditation “Walking as One”, “Deep Relaxation” and “Touching the Earth” bowing practices. There will be reflections and opportunities to meet with the teachers.

Kirsten and Dene are also offering a 6-week online course running up this retreat, that will explore similar themes. “No Mud No Lotus” has been designed to work both as a standalone online offering, but also as a framework for encouraging a period of complimentary home practice and reflection that will be supportive for those who plan to attend the residential retreat at Gaia House. Please see here for details.

Suitability

This retreat is suitable for all levels of experience.

Teachers

Image of teacherKIRSTEN KRATZ has practised Buddhist meditation in Asia and the West since 1993. She started teaching in 2006 and since 2015 she has been ‘teacher in residence’ supporting those on personal retreat at Gaia House. Her love and understanding of Dharma has been strongly influenced by, among others, the teachings of her friend and teacher colleague, Rob Burbea. One of her particular passions is exploring how wisdom teachings can foster appropriate responses to the challenges of our time, and Kirsten sees her involvement in activism as an important expression of her practice. Kirsten is co-initiator of the “Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement” (DANCE) and supporting teacher of Freely Given Retreats.

Listen to one of Kirsten Kratz's Talks given at Gaia House on 23.03.2013: Calm and Kindness (Duration 38:57)

 

Photo of teacherDENE DONALDS has practiced and studied the Dharma since the mid nineties: Practicing with Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition since 2001, receiving lay ordination in 2007 and becoming a Lay Dharma teacher in 2016.  Committed to socially engaged Buddhism, Dene has helped establish a number of social enterprises working with people with learning disabilities, people with autism, and with refugees. He also offers the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in prisons.

To watch and listen to talk offered by Dene on youtube, please click here.

This retreat will be livestreamed.

What can I expect on a residential retreat that is livestreamed?


Much care is taken to ensure that a livestreamed residential retreat remains a simplified, calm and well-held retreat space, like any other residential retreat.

Here is some practical information about how it works:

  • You will be sharing the retreat experience with people who are remotely attending the retreat online. Most of the time you will not see or hear those online and they will not be able to see or hear you.
  • The teachers may, at limited times, wish for those in the hall to see and hear the online participants, or vice versa, within the context of the retreat. Consent for this is assumed, but please contact retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk if you have any queries about this
  • During question and response sessions the teacher sometimes invite the voices of those online to be heard in-house and vice versa.
  • There is very little equipment in the hall, so that the aesthetic remains simple and calm. At the front of the hall, there will be a small camera on a tripod facing the teachers (approximately 1 foot high).  There will also be a small laptop out of view, which at times one of the teachers may go and view.
  • Usually one member of staff will offer minimal tech support in the hall, and will do this job discretely and mindfully, upholding the silent atmosphere of the hall. This might involve turning the laptop on, and starting the livestream, for example. They may also assist the teachers with taking questions and comments from the online group.

All other teaching and tech support for the online retreatants is conducted away from the meditation hall.

Rates

Please consider paying at the highest rate that you are able to. Your generosity is vital in supporting Gaia House to sustain its Dharma offerings for the benefit of all.

We are committed to ensuring that our programme is available to everyone who wishes to participate. If our rates are too high for you, we invite you to apply for support from our Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund (FAB Fund).

Ninja Column 1Ninja Column 2Ninja Column 3
Standard Rate:£420Includes a donation that helps sustain Gaia House’s offerings and supports access for all
Basic Rate:£320Covers the very basic costs of running the retreat
Supported Rate:£264A subsidised rate to support practice
Young Persons Rate:£96For more details please see the Financial Assistance page
FAB Fund Rate:£160For more details please see the Financial Assistance page

Accommodation

This retreat will be offered in a mixture of shared and single rooms. Some single rooms are available to book in advance for those that need them to come on retreat. If these are still available, you will be able to select this option. Some single rooms are also held for people to request, but these cannot be guaranteed.  These will be allocated in the days leading up to each retreat so we cannot let you know in advance. Priority will be given to those with specific medical needs.

Extend your retreat

If you have previously been on a residential retreat of a weekend or longer at Gaia House, you are welcome to join us a day earlier than the retreat start date.  All retreatants are welcome to stay an extra night at the end of the retreat.  There is an additional cost of £73 per night.

Please note, retreat conditions will still apply from arrival:

  • Observe silence
  • Follow the daily schedule
  • Practise meditation

Dana/generosity

None of your registration fee goes to the teacher. Gaia House teachers rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood. At the end of the retreat, there is an opportunity to make a dana offering to your teacher(s), the residential community team and Gaia House. We are deeply grateful for your generosity.

Click here to read more about the practice of dana.

Gaia House and covid-19

We hope to make everyone's retreat at Gaia House as supportive as possible. Please click here for further information on how we are creating as supportive and safe a retreat environment.

Arrival and departure times

  • Arrive for registration between 2.00pm-4.45pm on the opening day.
  • Depart after 12.30pm on the final day (or 1.30pm if staying for lunch).

Please note:

  • We will need everyone to commit to the full duration of their retreat.

Cancellation terms & conditions

We have now updated our Booking Terms and Conditions which includes cancellation information, please click here. Please take time to review these before you book.

Before booking

In support of your retreat, two weeks before you arrive, we will send a list of questions about your physical, mental health and dietary needs. This will help us to support you during your retreat. If you are unsure whether or not to book due to needing specialist support due to significant physical or mental health needs, including checking availability of our only ground floor bedroom (also wheelchair-accessible), please email retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk.

For more information on our retreats please check our frequently asked questions page.

Well-being and silent retreats

This is a silent retreat: apart from during individual or group meetings with the teachers you will be invited into silence for the duration of the event. 

Before you book, please read these guidelines about mental well-being and silent retreats:

Meditation retreats can be very nourishing; however, as they require sustained meditation practice, they also need some stability of psychological health. If you have recently (within the past year or so) experienced significant trauma or psychiatric illness, or if you are currently experiencing acute emotional distress such as serious depression or anxiety, it may not be the best time for you to participate in a retreat. The teachers might not be able to give you the kind of individual psychological care you need at this time. A setting with more opportunities for interpersonal engagement may be more appropriate.

  • If you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, please discuss your attendance with them. You should be in a relatively stable period of mental well-being and have adequate psychological resilience.
  • If you have any questions about this, please contact Laura using the email address, retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk
This retreat will be livestreamed.

What can I expect on a residential retreat that is livestreamed?


Much care is taken to ensure that a livestreamed residential retreat remains a simplified, calm and well-held retreat space, like any other residential retreat.

Here is some practical information about how it works:

  • You will be sharing the retreat experience with people who are remotely attending the retreat online. Most of the time you will not see or hear those online and they will not be able to see or hear you.
  • The teachers may, at limited times, wish for those in the hall to see and hear the online participants, or vice versa, within the context of the retreat. Consent for this is assumed, but please contact retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk if you have any queries about this
  • During question and response sessions the teacher sometimes invite the voices of those online to be heard in-house and vice versa.
  • There is very little equipment in the hall, so that the aesthetic remains simple and calm. At the front of the hall, there will be a small camera on a tripod facing the teachers (approximately 1 foot high).  There will also be a small laptop out of view, which at times one of the teachers may go and view.
  • Usually one member of staff will offer minimal tech support in the hall, and will do this job discretely and mindfully, upholding the silent atmosphere of the hall. This might involve turning the laptop on, and starting the livestream, for example. They may also assist the teachers with taking questions and comments from the online group.

All other teaching and tech support for the online retreatants is conducted away from the meditation hall.

Rates

Please consider paying at the highest rate that you are able to. Your generosity is vital in supporting Gaia House to sustain its Dharma offerings for the benefit of all.

We are committed to ensuring that our programme is available to everyone who wishes to participate. If our rates are too high for you, we invite you to apply for support from our Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund (FAB Fund).

Ninja Column 1Ninja Column 2Ninja Column 3
Standard Rate:£420Includes a donation that helps sustain Gaia House’s offerings and supports access for all
Basic Rate:£320Covers the very basic costs of running the retreat
Supported Rate:£264A subsidised rate to support practice
Young Persons Rate:£96For more details please see the Financial Assistance page
FAB Fund Rate:£160For more details please see the Financial Assistance page

Accommodation

This retreat will be offered in a mixture of shared and single rooms. Some single rooms are available to book in advance for those that need them to come on retreat. If these are still available, you will be able to select this option. Some single rooms are also held for people to request, but these cannot be guaranteed.  These will be allocated in the days leading up to each retreat so we cannot let you know in advance. Priority will be given to those with specific medical needs.

Extend your retreat

If you have previously been on a residential retreat of a weekend or longer at Gaia House, you are welcome to join us a day earlier than the retreat start date.  All retreatants are welcome to stay an extra night at the end of the retreat.  There is an additional cost of £73 per night.

Please note, retreat conditions will still apply from arrival:

  • Observe silence
  • Follow the daily schedule
  • Practise meditation

Dana/generosity

None of your registration fee goes to the teacher. Gaia House teachers rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood. At the end of the retreat, there is an opportunity to make a dana offering to your teacher(s), the residential community team and Gaia House. We are deeply grateful for your generosity.

Click here to read more about the practice of dana.

Gaia House and covid-19

We hope to make everyone's retreat at Gaia House as supportive as possible. Please click here for further information on how we are creating as supportive and safe a retreat environment.

Arrival and departure times

  • Arrive for registration between 2.00pm-4.45pm on the opening day.
  • Depart after 12.30pm on the final day (or 1.30pm if staying for lunch).

Please note:

  • We will need everyone to commit to the full duration of their retreat.

Cancellation terms & conditions

We have now updated our Booking Terms and Conditions which includes cancellation information, please click here. Please take time to review these before you book.

Before booking

In support of your retreat, two weeks before you arrive, we will send a list of questions about your physical, mental health and dietary needs. This will help us to support you during your retreat. If you are unsure whether or not to book due to needing specialist support due to significant physical or mental health needs, including checking availability of our only ground floor bedroom (also wheelchair-accessible), please email retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk.

For more information on our retreats please check our frequently asked questions page.

Well-being and silent retreats

This is a silent retreat: apart from during individual or group meetings with the teachers you will be invited into silence for the duration of the event. 

Before you book, please read these guidelines about mental well-being and silent retreats:

Meditation retreats can be very nourishing; however, as they require sustained meditation practice, they also need some stability of psychological health. If you have recently (within the past year or so) experienced significant trauma or psychiatric illness, or if you are currently experiencing acute emotional distress such as serious depression or anxiety, it may not be the best time for you to participate in a retreat. The teachers might not be able to give you the kind of individual psychological care you need at this time. A setting with more opportunities for interpersonal engagement may be more appropriate.

  • If you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, please discuss your attendance with them. You should be in a relatively stable period of mental well-being and have adequate psychological resilience.
  • If you have any questions about this, please contact Laura using the email address, retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk

Join the Waiting List
To register your interest go through the booking process and complete the checkout process. No payment is required for joining the list. We will then contact you if a place becomes available.

To find out more about how we operate our waiting lists please click here.