"The Dharma King, destroyer of being, when he appears in the world accords with the desires of living beings .... The parched ground is everywhere watered, herbs and trees alike grow lush. What falls from the cloud is water of a single flavour, but the plants and trees, thickets and groves, each accept the moisture that is appropriate to its portion."
White Lotus Sutra

On this intensive meditation retreat we will enter the world of the White Lotus Sutra, a world that communicates a vast and expansive vision of the Dharma life through the medium of parables and myths.

These parables and myths will fire our imaginations and ignite the meditation practices of the retreat, including the Bodhicitta practice, which along with the other practices will set up the conditions for the arising of the Bodhicitta.

There will be a strong emphasis on puja and devotion, sutra reading and worshipping the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. There will be a vigorous programme of meditation and plenty of time for reflection and absorption, along with periods of silence and meditation reviews.

Details and Timings

We have high expectations of all those attending the winter retreat, please take note of the following criteria that apply for the duration of the retreat:

- Attend all meditation reviews
- Attend all events on the programme unless ill, in which case discuss with the retreat leader.
- Fully keep to the silent periods - which is almost the entire duration of the retreat.
- Keep all electronic devices switched off.
- Attend the whole retreat - neither arriving late nor leaving early
- Don't use the retreat to involve yourself in any projects - painting, writing a book etc.

These requirements are not just for the benefit of you as an individual but are invaluable in co-creating conditions in which we can support each other and practice as a community from which everyone benefits.

If you are at all unsure as to whether you can meet all of these criteria then please speak to us before making a booking; also, if you have not yet been on an intensive meditation retreat, or longer GFR retreat then please contact the Guest Master (info@padmaloka.org.uk).

The retreat starts with dinner on the first day at 6:30pm and finishes on the final day at 10.15am.

Remaining places are reserved for going for refuge mitras

Banner and thumbnail image: cropped painting by Aloka ©