‘Every form of genuine awareness is liberating. Close-in or vast, near or far, awareness illuminates the ungraspable nature of the universe’, Jack Kornfield, Bringing home the Dharma

During this spacious practice weekend, we will explore a flexible but continuous approach to meditation practice, both on and off the cushion, towards establishing wise awareness as the primary ground of our experience – a milestone that the Buddha sought for his disciples.

Practicing giving attention to inner, outer, and both inner and outer experience, in the flexible yet wise way the Buddha taught, freedom can become less tied to what we are doing or where we are, and life offers more and more opportunities to sow the seeds of inner and outer transformation. But to fully establish this refuge, we need to practice – there is no other way. The particular challenge in daily life is getting used to meeting the diverse landscape of our lives with flexible awareness, whilst resisting the endless illusory promises we receive from the world around us. We will embrace all of this during this weekend.

In line with the emphasis for this weekend, if you have a particular formal sitting practice that you do, you are welcome to include this during the weekend, with much of the time open for self-led practice.

“Beware the subtle aggression of self-improvement’ Bob Sharples

During this spacious practice weekend, we will explore a deeply allowing and compassionate orientation to meditation practice and ourselves as a whole, as a foundation for transformative compassion taking hold in our lives – spoken of as one of the ‘wings of awakening’.

Two modern psychological traits present for many of us are inner complexity and individualism, and it is easy for qualities such as compassion and loving kindness to become further self-improvement projects. But the nature of these qualities is quite different, and they can come forth naturally when we learn to include and step out of the way. So during this retreat, with flexible heartful awareness, we will connect with an immediate, inclusive and innately compassionate way of meeting ourselves, which is the essence of freedom and transformation. In doing so, we will draw on particular ways of relating to our experience, from which vantage point we can acknowledge that all emotions and inner patterns are trying to help us, although they may no longer be serving that aim, and in their essence they want also to be free. This is an attitude and understanding that can then expand out into the world around.

In line with the emphasis for this weekend, if you have a particular formal sitting practice that you do, you are welcome to include this during the weekend, with much of the time open for self-led practice.

“We are not just humans learning to become Buddhas, but also Buddhas waking up in human form, learning to become fully human.” John Welwood

During this spacious weekend of practice, alongside our silent meditation practice, we will explore the relational dimensions of Dharma practice, discovering how communication and interaction with others is also a core part of the vehicle of awakening, perhaps more so in these individualised times.

This weekend will be grounded in the Buddha’s teaching on ‘conditionality’, shining a light on interrelationships in our own intimate experience and silent practice, before expanding this exploration out into formal speaking and listening practice with each other in 2’s or 3’s. Making use of tenets from the Insight Dialogue framework and another modern approach, we can discover how the process of awakening can infuse our relational interactions.

In understanding what arises for us relationally, we can start to see and embrace life more as a dance of interdependent relationships, that we awaken within rather than awaken out of.

In line with the emphasis for this weekend, if you have a particular formal sitting practice that you do, you are welcome to include this during the weekend, with much of the time open for self-led practice.

“Have good trust in yourself. Not in the one you think you should be, but the one that you are.” Maezumi Roshi

The Buddha spoke of the path of liberation as ‘crossing to the further shore’, but he also said that this further shore has no ‘here’, ‘no there’ and ‘no in-between’. So the journey is an inner one rather than an outer one, and in essence, our life and path doesn’t need to look any particular way. The main thing is that we know what is going on inside, and what to align ourselves with.

During this spacious practice weekend, we will draw on some of the core maps of the Buddha, as a reference point for our inner unfolding, whilst keeping in mind the un-located nature and creative expression of freedom. And in this explore a flow of life, where it feels like we are both awakening to something timeless, whilst being ourselves, and in this serving the web of life.

In line with the emphasis for this weekend, if you have a particular formal sitting practice that you do, you are welcome to include this during the weekend, with much of the time open for self-led practice.

• Find a quiet and comfortable space to practice and make it as pleasant and welcoming as you can
• If you like, you can arrange a small altar with candles, flowers, or altar objects near you
• You may like to keep a small candle burning throughout the day as this helps to remind us that we are practising on retreat
• We want to create a space that feels like we are with each other as much as possible. Even though we are not together physically, arriving on time is still important. Settle in and prepare your space and yourself before each session begins.
• Whilst we are online together, don’t multitask. Turn off your other devices and any other programs you have been using. Engage with the session and teachings offered just as you would on a retreat you attend in a retreat centre. Give yourself this time to be present and awake.
• Consider how you are going to use the time between our online sessions and try to keep life as simple and free from distractions as possible

• Arrange your computer or device so you can see and hear well
• Make sure you have easy access to the schedule and Zoom links and arrive on time for all the sessions you can attend
• If you have to miss any sessions, please check the noticeboard to access recordings of the missed sessions
• Think about where you might go to practice any walking meditation
• Shop before the retreat if you can so that you don’t have to do this during the retreat. Planning meals in advance may also be helpful
• Think about disengaging from unnecessary conversations and interactions: explain to any other people in your household what you will be doing and discuss how they can support you