Uncontrived Mindfulness with Vajradevi

Sangharakshita has said we should be aware of our minds at all times – but how do we do this? How do we really engage with mindfulness in a way that doesn’t feel contrived and ‘added on’, leaving us feeling stiff and unnatural? How can we connect with awareness that is completely natural, unfabricated and uncontrived?

During the 2 sessions of the day retreat we will introduce mindfulness as a path to wisdom. There will be input sessions and led meditations to work with awareness and right view to 'watch the mind' through all five physical senses as well as the mind sense. The focus will be on how we use mindfulness as a support to see more clearly, kindly and wisely.

We will look at the role of receptivity in mindfulness and the 'wise' or 'unwise' attention we bring to every aspect of our experience. And explore how continuity of mindfulness can touch and transform our experience through simple presence and intelligent awareness. This allows us to develop both steadiness of mind and heart and insight into the nature of all things.

If you can come to both sessions that's great, but the sessions will be complete in themselves.

All the dana raised through this event will go to .

What to expect

The sessions will be a mix of meditation, Dharma input, practice, interaction and inquiry. The second session each day will also feature breakout groups.

First session (3 hrs with a break): USA PST 06:00 | México CST 07:00 | USA EST 09:00 | IE & UK BST 14:00 | Europe CEST 15:00 | India IST 18:30 | Australia AEST 23:00 | New Zealand NZDT 02:00

Second session (2 hrs): USA PST 11:00 | México CST 12:00 | USA EST 14:00 | IE & UK BST 19:00 | Europe CEST 20:00 | India IST 23:30 | Australia AEST 04:00 | New Zealand NZDT 07:00

Attend any or all conversations in Zoom.

This event will be recorded and may be published online for others to access. Only the leader's video will be used except where users consent to appear spotlighted in a public conversation. Private conversations in breakout rooms will not be recorded.

Suggested donation:

£40-70 | $55-95 | €50-80
All the dana raised through this event will go to Tiratanaloka Unlimited.

Get one ticket and come to any session you wish!

Like all our events, this retreat is offered by donation rather than charging a compulsory ticket price. We want to do this because we never want money to be an obstacle to taking part in a supportive community, and we know many people are struggling financially in the wake of the pandemic and cost of living crisis. The amount we suggest reflects the huge amount of work and love that goes into putting on events we hope will benefit everyone attending. If you can, please donate today to help Tiratanaloka Unlimited project. Thank you!

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About Vajradevi

Vajradevi has been meditating since 1985 and has been ordained for almost 30 years. She has been practising and teaching mindfulness with a strong insight dimension for over 20 years. To further her practice she has been on a number of long retreats with specialists on Satipatthana, in Myanmar and the US.

She has spent much of her adult life working in Triratna Right Livelihood settings and between 2000-2007 she helped set up Akashavana, our women's ordination retreat centre, in Spain.

You can read her meditation blog at www.uncontrivedmindfulness.net

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Vajradevi's book 'Uncontrived Mindfulness: ending suffering through attention, curiosity and wisdom' is available from Windhorse Publications

Host or Publisher The Dharma Toolkit from The Buddhist Centre Online