Currently this retreat is FULL and we are not taking registrations. If you are keen to come it can sometimes work to email southern.insight.meditation at gmail.com in the few days before the retreat to see if a space has opened up (this can be a time when people pull out because of illness or last minute emergencies).
The Southern Insight Team are particularly delighted to welcome Subhana Barzaghi back. Subhana has decades of teaching experience, has mentored and trained many new teachers and was Southern Insight’s first teacher in the late 1990’s. She has taught retreats here regularly since and provided ongoing guidance to our sangha. This is her first retreat back here since 2020.
Subhana will teach again alongside Julie Downard and with Roger Wilde. Roger, from Nelson, who has recently completed teacher training in Australia and has been mentored by Jeremy Logan and Sharda Rogell. See teacher bio’s for more information on the teachers.
Spring Retreat 2025: Open Heart – Open Mind
Teachers: Subhana Barzaghi, Julie Downard and Roger Wilde
Dates: Friday 26th September – Friday 3rd October
Cost: $400 (200)* plus dana
Venue: Staveley Camp, Canterbury
Open Heart – Open Mind
Keeping an open heart grounded in equanimity is easy when things are going well, but challenging in the face of conflict, injustice, and environmental degradation. Yet that is our inner and outer work: to be mindful and curious about any constriction in the heart and mind. Clear recognition of our fear, resistance, and pain is freeing, allowing an open, wise, compassionate response.
The suffering of this life is a call to wake up, an invitation to discover our unbounded, interconnected essence. Retreat is a place of deep nourishment, a safe refuge where we can inquire into and see beyond our ordinary, limited sense of self. The true heart is open and inclusive; it does not fall into notions of separation between them and us. To realise one’s unbounded true nature is to be at peace, while fully engaged in caring for this precious world.
On this silent retreat each day will include a mix of guided and silent sitting meditation and walking meditation. There will also be regular small group discussions and individual meetings with the teachers during the week.
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 29th August. 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 Spring 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 $200. 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. You are welcome to inquire about any of this by Email.
**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.