Deepening Experience

We have a range of varied group meditation guided retreats scheduled throughout the year that are an ideal way to gain real experience of certain practices, or deepen current experience. Some sessions are guided with teachings, but the emphasis is on meditation.  What makes a retreat ‘a retreat’ is the boundaries we put on our activities of body, speech and mind.
 
We offer a limited amount of dormitory style accommodation on some retreats. Contact info@meditationinbristol.org 
 
If you require more information, please contact us on info@meditationinbristol.org
There is normally no charge for most retreats but donations are gratefully accepted.

Retreats in 2021

February 6th – 7th: Amitayus
Amitayus is the Buddha of long life, merit and wisdom – the main qualities we need for the happiness of enlightenment. Spending a couple of days in retreat on Amitayus at the start of the year is considered very auspicious for what the whole of the rest of the year will bring.

April 10th – 11th: Nyungnay 
This is a special fasting retreat in conjunction with 1000-armed Avalokiteshvara. This retreat includes prostrations and is an excellent way of purifying negative karma. Attendance at the first session (taking the Mahayana precepts) is required, but to get the most from the retreat is it best to attend all sessions.

May 21st – 23rd: Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering
This retreat combines two special practices that help us immeasurably to receive blessings, accumulate merit and develop pure views.

August 27th – 29th: Lamrim
Lamrim is Tibetan for Stages of the path to enlightenment. The meditations we will do in this retreat will be the 21 meditations given in the book ‘The New Meditation Handbook’ and these meditations cover the whole path to enlightenment. Many of them help to improve our intention towards others by improving our love and compassion, and others help us to develop concentration and wisdom.

December 5th: Medicine Buddha (half day) with Mandy Wright
Medicine Buddha is a healing Buddha Doctor whose function is to release living beings from outer and inner sickness. On this soothing retreat we will engage in the beautiful healing practice of this Enlightened being.
There is a charge of £10 for this retreat.
 
December 10th – 12th: Vajrasattva
A powerful purification practice to remove the imprints of negative karma from our mind. All our suffering and obstacles to spiritual progress come from our negative karma. Purifying our mind brings immeasurable benefit.