Teachers: Jill Shepherd and Di Robertson
Dates: Friday 21st – 30th March
Cost: $400 (280)* plus dana
Venue: Staveley Camp, Canterbury
Friends on the Path: The seven factors of awakening
Insight meditation harnesses the power of mindfulness to develop understanding in all aspects of our lives, which leads to greater ease, happiness, and freedom.
In this nine-day residential retreat we will explore the Seven Factors of Awakening, those seven highly skillful qualities of mind that when fully balanced, support the development of transformative insight.
The Seven Factors are: Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Joy, Tranquility, Absorption and Equanimity. These seven are sometimes referred to as our friends on the path, because they help us to overcome the hindrances, harmful states of mind that keep us stuck in delusion.
Mindfulness is the starting point. With mindfulness firmly established, we learn how to balance the agitated, anxious mind through developing Tranquility, Absorption and Equanimity, and the flat, dull mind through developing Investigation, Energy and Joy.
As all Seven Factors come into balance, we experience the release of all afflictive states and the heart and mind naturally settle into a state of profound peace.
Each day will include a mix of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, optional mindful movement, occasional small group discussion and individual meetings with the teachers.
Experience level: This retreat is best suited to people who have done at least one previous insight meditation retreat of two days or longer.
Inquiries & Registration:
Registrations close on Friday 21st February 2025. Note if the retreat fills before this time, we will run a wait-list. If you have any problems registering, then please email our registrars at Southern.insight.meditation@gmail.com with the words March retreat inquiry in the title.
*Costs: Retreat costs are set to be as affordable as possible. The actual cost of the retreat is $400, however it is possible to pay a subsidised rate, for those on a limited income, anywhere from the actual cost down to $280. If cost is still a barrier for you, beyond that, we also have a special Assistance Fund (from donations from past retreatants) to support your attendance. Email us to discuss this further.
**A note on Dana: Registration fees do not cover any payment to teachers for their teaching. They will receive only what you offer as dana at the end of the retreat. Dana is a gift by each person in the spirit of generosity to reciprocate the teachers’ sharing of their depth of knowledge and expertise. The amount given is up to the giver.
More information about the teachers here Teacher bio’s