A retreat for members of the Community of Interbeing. You can join the COI here.
Led by UK Dharma Teachers Jane Coatesworth and Lesley Collington, and Aspirant Dharma Teachers Lindsay Lumsden and Harry Bradshaw . It will also be available on Zoom.
We will explore ways in which our own body can be our teacher, and how, by caring for our body, coming home to our body, we can embody the practice of mindfulness.
We will take a fresh look at how we breathe, walk and sit, and enjoy practices such as Touching The Earth, deep relaxation, eating, movement and stillness, to deepen our capacity to be grounded, solid, and present, and be in touch with the wisdom that is within our body.
We will be encouraged and supported to pace ourselves according to our own individual physical capacity. Please join us for five days of collective relaxation, rest, workshops, Dharma talks and meditation.
Main image Sidcot School grounds
To recognise your body is a very important practice, because many of us in our daily lives forget that we have a body. The practice of going back to our body reminds us that each of us has a body that is our home. If you can get in touch with your body, then you can get in touch with life.
Breathing in I am aware of my body. Breathing out I know my body is there.
— Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Image Plum Village France
Practical Information
Schedule
Thu 23 Oct 16:30 – Arrivals
Thu 23 Oct 18:00 – Start
Mon 27 Oct 15.00 – End of retreat
About This Event
The retreat is suitable for those with an established understanding of mindfulness and a regular meditation practice.
It will include:
- Opportunities to practise guided and silent sitting meditations, walking meditation, mindful eating and noble silence
- Opportunities to learn from others through dharma sharing and exploration
- Dharma teaching from UK Dharma Teachers
- The opportunity to receive a transmission of The Five Mindfulness Trainings
Residential Retreat
The residential retreat will run from 6:00pm on Thursday; please arrive from 4:30pm. It will finish by 3:00pm on Monday. Please organise your plans to allow you to be present for the whole retreat.
Details of the timetable for the retreat will be available one week before it starts.
Participants of this residential event must comply with any Covid-19 precautions (see below).
Attending on Zoom
There is the option of attending online via Zoom for £125.
Those attending on Zoom will be able to join meditation sessions, Dharma talks, dharma sharing and other activities. You can fully participate in the programme; it can be a wonderful opportunity.
Start time will be at approximately 6pm on Thursday 23 October – we will inform all ticket holders of the exact timing at least a week beforehand.
We invite you to create a retreat atmosphere at home – planned meals, a quiet corner for meditation, some time away from being online.
We are aware that some retreatants will have family and/or other caring commitments around them and we fully support your need to take care of responsibilities. We suggest sharing a copy of the programme with your household so that they can support you for the sittings, the talks and the dharma sharing.
Organisers
The retreat is being organised by the Community of Interbeing. We are a growing network of people in the UK who practise mindfulness and aspire to develop peace and happiness in ourselves and in the world by living according to the teachings on global ethics of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (“Thay”).
His teachings, which can be followed by people of all ages and any religion or none, are notable for their emphasis on joy, engagement in the world, and integrating the practice of mindfulness into daily life.
We are a registered charity which offers a programme of courses, retreats and events, and which encourages and supports local groups that meet to practise mindfulness.
Venue
Sidcot School is a Quaker boarding school and event venue set in the beautiful countryside of North Somerset. It offers a hospitable and peaceful environment in which to practice, serving delicious vegan food.
Accommodation
The majority of accommodation is dormitory bedrooms with separate shared bathrooms. There are a few single rooms. There is also some accessible ensuite accommodation. Beds are allocated on a needs-responsive basis.
Accessible rooms. If you would need an accessible room please email dharmatraining@plumvillage.uk and we will email you more information.
Single rooms. If you can only attend the retreat if you have a single room, please give your reasons when booking. Rooms will be allocated first to those who could not attend otherwise.
Room sharing. If you have arranged to share with specific other retreatants, you can give their names when booking.
Diet
Sidcot will be providing a simple but delicious vegan diet for this retreat. Please confirm any additional special dietary requirements in the booking form.
Dana
The fee for the retreat does not include a fee for the teachers who offer a great deal of time, love and experience in delivering their teaching. There is an opportunity to offer dana (generosity, giving) in support of the continuation of this work during and after the retreat.
Cost
Tickets for this five day full board residential retreat range from £275-£425 with variations visible by clicking the Book Your Place button. Online retreat tickets can be bought for £125. Any surplus, after administrative costs, will be donated to our charity Plum Village UK.
The supported places on the residential retreat are intended for people who have been practising for at least 12 months with the Community of Interbeing and who are in receipt of state benefit or who are in financial difficulty. Supported places are offered on an honesty and first come first allocated basis.
Refunds
We can offer a full refund minus the Ticket Tailor fee for cancellations made up to two weeks before the retreat. After that no refund is available other than in exceptional circumstances – please contact the organisers if you feel this applies to you.
Covid Policy
If, prior to the retreat, you have symptoms that may indicate any infectious illness, including Covid, we ask that you do not attend the retreat.
Should you have to cancel at the last minute for this reason, we are unable to refund the cost of your residential place, but we will endeavour to offer you a Zoom place instead.
