Touch the Earth

4 pm Thursday 1st September – 2 pm Monday 5th September in Lipowa Dolina. 

This is the tenth retreat in the tradition of Plum Village organised in Poland, led, as in previous years, by UK Lay Dharma Teacher Murray Corke; he will talk about the Diamond Sutra and how it is connected to our Earth, its climate, its life.

Murray describes it like this:

The Diamond Sutra sets out to free us from four common notions (self, person, living being, life span) which lead to suffering.

We will explore how these notions lead to our sense of separation from the Earth, resulting in the current climate and ecological crises. Freeing ourselves from these notions helps us to reconnect with the Earth, to find answers to climate change and environmental degradation, and leading to a simpler and happier way of life.

This retreat will be an opportunity for us to slow down, let go, and learn how to be truly present. Together with a few dozen other practitioners, we will practise mindfulness during sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful eating, and listening to Dharma talks.

Every day we will practise deep listening and loving speech during Dharma sharing, that is sessions in groups of approximately 10 people during which we will have the option to share our reactions to the Dharma talks and our insights and experience of the practice.

We will practise Noble Silence, which will start after the last activity of the day and finish after breakfast the following day. Maintaining Noble Silence makes it possible for us to be penetrated by peace and observe our feelings, thoughts, and intentions, which are often difficult to recognise when we are speaking.

We will invite the bell several times a day. When we hear the sound of the bell, we will stop what we are doing, listen to it mindfully, and get in touch with what is inside us at that moment.

There will also be an opportunity to learn about and take or renew the Five Mindfulness Trainings and Three Refuges during a special ceremony.

Finally, we will be able to spend some time exercising and singing.

You can find out more about the practices in our tradition here.

The programme will vary slightly each day:
6.00 Wake up
6.30 Morning sitting and indoor walking meditation
7.30 Opportunity to exercise
8.00 Breakfast
9.30 Dharma talk
12.30 Outdoor walking meditation
1.00 Lunch
2.00 Lazy time
4.00 Total Relaxation and Touching the Earth
4.30 Dharma sharing
6.00 Dinner
7.00 Presentations, ceremonies, and evening sitting mediation
10.00 Rest

Getting there

Travel from the UK is suggested by train and lift-share, which is significantly lower emissions than air travel. Transport options in Poland are listed here.