Retreats / Day Events
Parinirvana Day
Sun 17 Feb 10am - 4pm
This year our celebration of Parinirvana Day will hold very special meaning for our Sangha; on 30th October 2018, Bhante Sangharakshita died. For all buddhists the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni’s death is the celebratory occasion of his parinirvana, the final cessation of his rebirths in samsara. Do attend this special day when we will be celebrating the life and passing of our own loved ones and that of our dear teacher, Bhante. Held at Norwich Buddhist Centre. More information will follow closer to the day.
By donation.
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
Cloudless Sky, Open Heart – A Silent Day Retreat
Sun 3 March
10.15am for 10.30am – 4pm
Why is it so difficult to find the spaciousness we so long for? Our habits of mind and heart endlessly fill our awareness, giving the illusion of urgency and demand upon us. Enjoy a day of complete silence; arriving, being together in mettaful companionship, and silently leaving at the end of the day. The programme will include meditations, poetry, reflection and sound. Suitable for those familiar with our two meditation practices.
Led by Vajraguptā
£30 / £22
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
From Literal Mind to Liberated Mind
Sun 17 March
10am - 4pm
The literal mind is dogmatic, fearful and the source of all our pain and suffering. By looking at both Buddhist texts and Western Literature we’ll be exploring how to make our lives lighter, more playful and more transparent – and how to access deeper and deeper levels of freedom. Suitable for those who have completed a Buddhism course and have been meditating for at least a year.
Led by Sarvananda
£30 / £22
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
Surfing on the Second Noble Truth
Sun 7 April
10.30am - 4pm
The Buddha declared that craving is the cause of suffering - the second noble truth. In pursuit of pleasure or to avoid pain, we crave, hanker after and yearn. This can produce obsessive mind states, and even addictive patterns of thinking and acting. Drawing on material from his book, Eight Step Recovery: Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, Paramabandhu will lead a day exploring craving and how we can work with it. Open to all who are familar with our two meditation practices.
Led by Paramabandhu
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
By donation
Living Awareness Meditation Day
Sun 14 April
9.30am - 4pm
A silent day of meditation. An opportunity to experience a deeper atmosphere of stillness and calm. Open to serious meditators with at least 6 months of regular meditation practice. Booking essential.
Led by Dayapanna
£30 / £22
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
Tonglen Meditation Day
Sun 5 May
10am - 4pm
The practice of giving and receiving, where we aspire to transform the suffering of others using a combination of visualisation, metta and the experience of the breath. Tonglen is the central practice within the larger framework of the Tibetan buddhist practice of lojong, the 7-point mind training, the gradual letting go of an ego-centred worldview in order to bring about the arising of the Bodhicitta, the complete turning of the heart and mind towards enlightenment.
Led by Jnanabhasa
£30 / £22
Please bring a vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
The Wisdom of Forgiveness – A Silent Day Retreat
Sun 9 June
10.15am for 10.30am – 4pm
Much of the turbulence we experience in our mind is due to an inability to forgive ourselves and others, or to let go of our high expectations. So we engage in a battle against how things actually are; in reality. Beneath this lack of forgiveness we are fine; not just fine but brilliant and worthy of a self-love which in its fullness embraces everyone and the whole world. Our practices today will be based on metta, gratitude, and forgiveness, and include led meditations, poetry and reflection.
Led by Vajraguptā
£30 / £22
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
Creative Writing Day
Sun 23 June
10am - 4pm
Sharpen your quills...Satyagita will be leading another creative writing day. The session will include warm-up writing exercises in the morning – nothing too strenuous – and then possibly a writing marathon in the afternoon, or more exercises, depending on how warmed-up people feel. The writing we will be doing is for your eyes only and does not have to be read out (though you may want to).
Led by Satyagita
£30 / £22
Please bring vegetarian, ideally vegan, lunch to share
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