Gaia House residential retreat
With Yanai Postelnik, Kirsten Kratz, Laura Bridgman and Yahel Avigur
Full-month (28 nights)
Thursday 2 November – Thursday 30 November
Two-week duration (14 nights)
2 – 16 November ♦ 16 – 30 November
These retreats are full
If you wish to join the waiting list, please scroll down and complete the application form. We will contact you if a place becomes available.
To find out more about how we operate our waiting lists please click here.
Teachers
YAHEL AVIGUR is a devoted meditator and Dharma teacher. In 2013, after practicing in Theravada and Insight Meditation traditions, he met the Dharma teacher Rob Burbea and became his student. He was encouraged by Rob to teach the complete path of Emptiness as he articulated it, as well as his particular approach to Jhana practice and to train in teaching Soulmaking Dharma. Yahel is also trained in the Hakomi approach of assisted self-study.
Experience required
- For the full month retreat we request that you have attended at least three week-long residential teacher-led silent meditation retreats, not necessarily at Gaia House.
- For the two-week retreats we request that you have attended at least two week-long residential teacher-led silent meditation retreats, also not necessarily at Gaia House. If you would like to apply for a two-week retreat but have less than three weeks’ previous retreat experience, you are strongly encouraged to start your two-week retreat on 2 November.
To preserve the silence and stillness of the retreat house at this time and to support the deepening of practice, we do not permit arrivals or departures outside of these dates.
Retreat description
This retreat is a rare and precious opportunity to engage in an extended period of individual meditation without interruption. Regular teacher interviews and Dharma talks are offered, and guidance is available in Insight Meditation (Vipassana), tranquillity (Samatha) meditation, Loving-kindness (Metta) and the other Brahma Viharas. Each participant has a single room, and is offered the possibility to be in solitude or to practise in the meditation hall, with the small community retreating at Gaia House during this time.
To apply for these retreats we ask that you complete the application form below.
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).
Rates for the month duration (28 nights)
Rates for the two-week duration (14 nights)
Extend your retreat
You may stay an extra night, either at the beginning of your retreat, for those starting on 2 November (full and two week duration) or at the end of the retreat for those attending the full month or starting on 16 November. The cost per night is £68.
Retreat Conditions apply:
- Observe silence
- Follow the daily schedule
- Practise meditation
To extend your retreat for longer than one night, please apply as a Personal Retreatant.
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 9.30am on the final day. You are welcome to stay for lunch.
Please note:
- We will need everyone to commit to the full duration of their retreat; early or late arrivals won’t be possible at this time.
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.Apply and join the waiting list for a November Solitary retreat