I am arranging a 'Dharma and Recovery Retreat' at The Barn<http://www.sharphamtrust.org/pages.php?id=2>near Totnes, Devon in the UK from Sunday 9th May 2010 until Sunday 16th May 2010.
- The retreat is intended to be exclusively for ex-addicts - in recovery - who have taken treatment at Wat Tham Krabok. NOTE: If not enough ex-Thamkrabokers book places by the end of 2009, the retreat will be opened up to the public (and will probably be oversubscribed very quickly). Please book your place as soon as possible.
- There are 6 places on the retreat. Fees at The Barn are subsidised by The Sharpham Trust. The cost for the week is £175 per person plus a dana donation to the teacher. Concessions for anyone on very low wages may be available. A non-refundable deposit of £90 will be required to secure a place on this retreat.
- We will largely follow The Barn's usual structured framework<http://www.sharphamtrust.org/pages.php?id=3>, enjoying a mixture of relaxation, good company, working on the land and meditation, sharing household tasks, enjoying wholesome food - cooked by volunteers within our group - and experience the natural beauty of the Dart Estuary.
- The retreat's primary Dharma and meditation teacher will be Kevin Griffin <http://www.kevingriffin.net/> (author of ONE BREATH AT A TIME : Buddhism and the Twelve Steps).who will be joining the retreat from Sunday until at least Wednesday.
- It's important that you are physically able to participate in working on the land (The Barn is located on a hill!) and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week. This includes three 40 minute meditation sittings each day.
- Although The Barn is not a silent retreat, you will find plenty of opportunity to enjoy quiet times by yourself or with others. Each retreatant will have a single room. Throughout each day we will seek to create a restful and contemplative atmosphere. The house is silent from 21h30 until 09h00 including a silent breakfast, and we will have one completely silent day during the week.
If you are interested in joining us for this special retreat then please complete the attached booking form and send it along with your deposit of £90 directly to The Barn (instructions are on the booking form). As a special bonus, if you also let me know that you have sent your deposit I will despatch the Thamkrabok Laypeople's Chanting Book and audio CD. Now, that is an offer you can't refuse!
I hope to see you soon.
Be well and kind regards.
With Metta,
Vince __________________________________ 316 Distorted views which create feelings of shame about that which is not shameful, or indifference to that which is shameful, can cause beings to descend into hell. __________________________________ A DHAMMAPADA for CONTEMPLATION http://aruno.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=241&Itemi...
The retreat is intended to be exclusively for ex-addicts - in recovery - who have taken treatment at Wat Tham Krabok. NOTE: If not enough ex-Thamkrabokers book places by the end of 2009, the retreat will be opened up to the public (and will probably be oversubscribed very quickly). Please book your place as soon as possible.
There are 6 places on the retreat. Fees at The Barn are subsidised by The Sharpham Trust. The cost for the week is £175 per person plus a dana donation to the teacher. Concessions for anyone on very low wages may be available. A non-refundable deposit of £90 will be required to secure a place on this retreat.
We will largely follow The Barn's usual structured framework, enjoying a mixture of relaxation, good company, working on the land and meditation, sharing household tasks, enjoying wholesome food - cooked by volunteers within our group - and experience the natural beauty of the Dart Estuary.
The retreat's primary Dharma and meditation teacher will be Kevin Griffin (author of ONE BREATH AT A TIME : Buddhism and the Twelve Steps).who will be joining the retreat from Sunday until at least Wednesday. It's important that you are physically able to participate in working on the land (The Barn is located on a hill!) and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week. This includes three 40 minute meditation sittings each day.
Although The Barn is not a silent retreat, you will find plenty of opportunity to enjoy quiet times by yourself or with others. Each retreatant will have a single room. Throughout each day we will seek to create a restful and contemplative atmosphere. The house is silent from 21h30 until 09h00 including a silent breakfast, and we will have one completely silent day during the week.
If you are interested in joining us for this special retreat then please complete the attached booking form and send it along with your deposit of £90 directly to The Barn (instructions are on the booking form). As a special bonus, if you also let me know that you have sent your deposit I will despatch the Thamkrabok Laypeople's Chanting Book and audio CD. Now, that is an offer you can't refuse!
I hope to see you soon.
Be well and kind regards.
With Metta,
Vince
__________________________________
316
Distorted views
which create feelings of shame
about that which is not shameful,
or indifference
to that which is shameful,
can cause beings to descend into hell.
__________________________________
A DHAMMAPADA for CONTEMPLATION
http://aruno.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=241&Itemi...
I think The Barn <http://www.sharphamtrust.org/barn/> are pretty unique in the provision of year-round, Sunday-to-Sunday retreats. But what do I know, particularly about what might be available in your neck of the woods! But I do know a man who might, so I have sent an email and when I hear anything I'll post it here for all our 'Friends' in Australia.
Last year's retreat with Martine Bachelor <http://www.martinebatchelor.org/>had a very poor take up from the ex-Thamkrabok community, so it was opened up to the public and was over subscribed immediately; so much so that 1 guy stayed in the kuti some distance from the main house and 1 guy camped out in the field. It was a very well received retreat and Martine is doing some more teaching days at The Barn in 2010.
The teacher for our 2010 retreat is Kevin Griffin<http://www.kevingriffin.net/>, ex-addict and alcoholic, with one foot in the 12-Step recovery camp and one foot in the Buddhist recovery camp. Kevin's first book 'One Breath at a Time : Buddhism and the Twelve Steps' drew critical acclaim when published in 2004. Jack Kornfield said of it "A truly helpful bridge between the power of 12 step work and the power of the Dharma". Kevin's new book "A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery" is due out next year.
The reason for arranging such a retreat is to meet ex-Thamkrabokers within a convivial and supportive environment as provided by The Barn. Good 'Friends', good practice, good (vegetarian) food... good living.
So for all of our European 'Friends' - if you're interested, book your place early and avoid disappointment.
May your Sajja always be strong. May your Sajja never be broken. May your Sajja bring you all the gifts you deserve.
With Metta,
Vince __________________________________ 317 Distorted views which create feelings of fear toward what is not actually threatening, or indifference in the face of that which is threatening, can cause beings to descend into hell. __________________________________ A DHAMMAPADA for CONTEMPLATION http://aruno.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=241&Itemi...
I got in touch with Paul Saintilan up in Sydney. Paul was/is one of the driving forces behind the setting up of the international Buddhist Recovery Network <http://www.buddhistrecovery.org/> and he organised the 1st conference in LA last month. This is what Paul says:
====================================== In terms of Buddhist Recovery retreats in Australia, I was involved in a short one last year at the Vijayaloka Retreat Centre on the outskirts of Sydney, but know of no other Buddhist Retreats being planned where recovery is a conscious and explicit theme. I intend to start a Buddhist Recovery Network organisation in Australia, but intend to take a bit of a sabbatical at the moment and launch it in 2011 in conjunction with a tour to Australia by Noah Levine <http://www.noahlevine.com/>. Towards the end of next year I would like to set up a Sydney weekly meeting (in Coogee) but that will be later in the year.
If I hear of anything I will let you know. ======================================
Obviously, if I hear anything then I will post it here anyway.
My own attempt at starting a recovery meditation group is ongoing and I have a first-cut website at www.5th-precept.org
I would very much welcome any constructive criticism or comments about the website... is it understandable, would it get you to a meeting?
Look after yourselves.
Best wishes,
Vince __________________________________ 319 The clear seeing which knows that which is flawed as flawed and that which is pure as pure can lead beings to transcend misery. __________________________________ A DHAMMAPADA for CONTEMPLATION http://aruno.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=241&Itemi...
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