A Retreat Timetable. Meditation for Marines? No. For You
Have you considered attending your first meditation retreat? You would probably step far outside of your comfort zone.
A meditation retreat in a crowded living room in 1980s in a former vicarage. The vicarage became the first Gaia House before moving to the 50 bedroom plus convent nearby in 1996. The large church besides the convent then became the meditation hall. Situated about 15 kilometres north of Totnes, Devon, England.
• Why would you want to attend a retreat?
• Can you be with your experience day after day?
• Can you be with a group of people for 5, 7 or 10 days without talking?
• Are you afraid the teacher might try to convert you to Buddhism?
• Would you prefer to sit on a beach than on a meditation cushion or chair?
• Are you afraid to touch dark corners of your mind?
• Do you feel the need for inner change?
• Would you explore a healthy change or continue as before?
• Are you clear about that?
Yes, you take a step into the unknown when you join your first retreat. It might open a whole new world of calm, contentment, insights and potential.
You might miss out on an event that can make a retreat contribution to your daily life.
Costs, Donations and Teachers
You only pay for food, accommodation and running. You may even find a retreat where the entire event is run on donation.
How much do they charge person?
Many Buddhist teachers offer retreat on a donation basis. The centre covers their travel expenses, no matter what part of the world they live in.
The teacher or manager make a request for donations to support the living expenses of the teacher.
Daily rate for staying in a retreat centre varies.
Overview of a Retreat
The timetable may look formidable. Here is a typical timetable for my retreats. There is no pressure to attend every session. You can change your position in the sitting posture when you wish.
You can shift from sitting to standing for a few minutes. You can mindfully and quietly leave the meditation hall if it feels too challenging.
There is no pressure on my retreats for you to get up at 6 am.
Other meditation teachers may have a different view.
There are four primary postures on my retreats – sitting, walking, standing and reclining. Remaining still on your bed with a low pillow can become a meditation.
Nutritious vegan or vegetarian food is served.
The retreat is held in silence except for talks/instructions in the hall, Q&A, dialogue with the teacher in the hall and 1-1s with the teacher. You can share your experience with myself in the hall in front of the participants.
The evening Dharma programme includes inquiry with participants, guided meditations and Q&A.
What does a retreat offer?
Retreats cultivate ethics, mindfulness, meditation, wise thinking, clarity, healthy feelings/emotions, deep realisations and learning ways and means to dissolve problematic mind states.
There is no guarantee you can accomplish everything in a week. You may consider your first retreat is a step in the right direction. You may leave the retreat with increased levels of confidence in yourself and your capacity to oversee different situations in your daily life.
You will take away from the retreat a variety of tools, techniques and practices suitable for your daily life.
The Timetable for My Retreats
6.00 WAKE UP, PERSONAL EXERCISE. YOGA. WALKING, ETC.
6.45 SIT
7.30 BREAKFAST
8.15 MINDFUL WORK
9.30 INSTRUCTIONS AND SIT
10.30 WALK
11.15 SIT
12.00 STAND
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 SIT
15.15 WALK
16.00 TEACHINGS
17.00 STAND
17.45 TEA
18.45 SIT
19.15 BREAK
19.30. DHARMA PROGRAMME
20. 30 WALK
21.00 SIT
21.30 HOT DRINK AND REST.
Other retreats may start earlier and offer 60 minute sitting periods. Other retreats may have a light schedule with sharing between participants.
Do google Buddhist retreats, insight meditation retreats etc.
You might find something suitable for you.
Christopher Titmuss
www.thebuddhawallah.org
www.insightmeditation.org