Taming the Wild Mind
7:00pm 08 August 2020 - 12:30pm 16 August 2020
Cost: £0.00
Venue: Purelands Retreat Centre
CLOSED - FULLY BOOKED
During this retreat we will focus on the short text called The Eight Verses for Training the Mind, composed by the Buddhist Master Langri Tangpa (1054-1123). This text reveals the true essence of the Mahayana path, with essential instructions for cultivating the mind of compassion, wisdom, and loving kindness.
The fundamental theme of mind training practice is the reorientation of our basic attitude, toward ourselves, our fellow human beings, and also the events around us. The goal of mind training practice is the transformation of our thoughts, attitudes, and habits.
Presently, we tend to cherish the welfare of ourselves at the expense of all others. However, the mind training teaching challenges us to reverse this process. This involves a deep understanding of others as friends, and the recognition that our true enemy lies inside of ourselves, not outside.
As we study and practice these teachings we train the mind to embrace reality in a wholesome and compassionate way. We train to eliminate our competitive, selfish, and emotionally reactive tendencies, as well as our exaggerated concepts of self, and to understand that the greed, jealousy, anger, pride, selfishness, and attachment, which cause us so much suffering, are not inherent conditions of our mind.
Lama Zangmo will go through the text and give instructions in meditation and contemplations and topics related to the text. A handout of the text itself will be provided.
The retreat programme will be a balanced schedule of teaching sessions, time for Q&A, with plenty of time given to meditation sessions and breaks throughout the day. There will be a long afternoon break free for personal practice, walking in the hills, reading or resting.
This retreat is ideal for those who would like to deepen their practice and understanding of Buddhism, and who have at least a basic familiarity with meditation. It is not suitable for complete beginners. The main part of the retreat will be in full silence.
To make the most of this precious opportunity and to ensure that there are the very best conditions for retreat, all participants are asked to refrain from using mobile-phones or other devices - unless there is an emergency or you have important commitments which cannot be left aside for a week.
Participants are requested to book accommodation at Purelands. Lunch will be taken in the Samye Ling dining room.
Recommended (but not required) reading during the retreat:
The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul
There will be various Dharma books available for retreatants to borrow at Purelands over this period.
There is no fee for this retreat although donations are welcome and can be made in the Reception Office.
For this retreat please select 'Purelands' as your accommodation. If you wish to arrive earlier or leave later than the dates of the retreat, please make separate bookings for the extra nights in Samye Ling accommodation.
Tariff and Charges Guest Info