Dharma Training Programme Retreat - May 2024

Photo by

Note - After registering, please complete either the or the to secure your place (these links will also be in your confirmation email).

This four day retreat will be led by UK Dharma Teachers Murray Corke and Angie Searle at Ilkley Retreat and Conference Centre in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. It will also be available on Zoom for those who prefer that or who are unable to attend in person.

We also ask everyone coming on residential Dharma Training retreats to be a member of the Community of Interbeing (see our website at Join Us ).

The information you supply enables us to organise crucial aspects of the retreat - food, accommodation, your well being and so on. Your help with this is much appreciated.

We will explore the wisdom and related teachings of the discourse on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone. We encourage people to have a look at the discourse in preparation for the retreat.

"Living alone” means having sovereignty over ourselves, to have freedom that comes from not being dragged away by the past, not living in fear of the future, and not being pulled around by strong emotions caused by the circumstances of the present. When we are master of ourselves, we grasp the situation as it is, and we are in the best position to handle whatever may arise.

Thich Nhat Hanh, in Awakening the Heart

The retreat is suitable for those with an established understanding of mindfulness and a regular meditation practice.

The retreat 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 four day residential retreat will run from 6:00pm on Friday May 24th 2024; please arrive from 4pm onwards. The retreat will finish by 2.30pm on Monday May 27th. 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.

There are a number of twin bedrooms, as well as a smaller number of single rooms. The single rooms will be allocated on a "needs-responsive" basis, with the opportunity to explain any specific needs you have when booking.

Participants of this residential event must comply with any Covid-19 precautions which will be sent to ticket-holders one week before the start of the event.

There is the option of attending online via Zoom for a donation. We ask for £125 if you can afford this - more if you are able. Alternatively whatever you are able to offer will be gratefully accepted.

To book a Zoom place, click the Reserve a Spot button, then scroll down to Donations.

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 7pm on Friday May 24th - 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 family so that they can support you for the sittings, the talks and the dharma sharing.

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.

Briery Retreat and Conference Centre is a retreat centre and event venue set in the beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Dales. Briery offers spiritual retreats in a hospitable environment, serving simple and delicious vegan food. The postcode for Google Maps & Satnav is LS29 9BW.

The nearest railway stop is Ilkley Station.

If arriving by car, there is a small car park. If full, please park on Victoria Ave or Grove Road & enter through the garden gate.

The majority of the bedrooms are ensuite, twin or double bedrooms. There are also a few single rooms. There is also some adapted ensuite accommodation. Accommodation is allocated on a needs-responsive basis. Please indicate any specific accommodation needs via the google form; the link to this is in the eventbrite confirmation email you receive on booking.

Briery will be providing a simple vegan diet for this retreat. Please confirm any additional special dietary requirements in the google form. The link to this is in the eventbrite confirmation email you receive on booking.

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 their continuation of this work during and after the retreat.

The tickets for this four day full board residential retreat range from £310-£435 (reflecting 2024 retreat centre price rises) with variations visible by clicking the "Tickets" button. The Online retreat tickets can be bought for a donation with the suggested amount being £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.

We can offer a full refund minus the Eventbrite fee for cancellations 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.

Host or Publisher Plum Village UK - Dharma training