Taming the Wild Mind

This course is now closed

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
The Buddhist principle is to be everybody's friend, not to have any enemy.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Meditation means simple acceptance.
Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
Only the impossible is worth doing.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Whenever we see something which could be done to bring benefit to others, no matter how small, we should do it.
Chamgon Khentin Tai Situ Rinpoche
Freedom is not something you look for outside of yourself. Freedom is within you.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Hasten slowly, you will soon arrive.
Jetsun Milarepa
It doesn’t matter whatever comes, stop judging and it won’t bother you.
Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
Whatever obstacles arise, if you deal with them through kindness without trying to escape then you have real freedom.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
To tame ourselves is the only way we can change and improve the world.
Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Strive always to be as kind, gentle and caring as possible towards all forms of sentient life.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Every sentient being is equal to the Buddha.
Chamgon Kentin Tai Situ Rinpoche
Wherever and whenever we can, we should develop compassion at once.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
Reminding ourselves of how others suffer and mentally putting ourselves in their place, will help awaken our compassion.
Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche