Meditation Retreat

Silent Day Retreat

a young man sitting cross-legged and peacefully meditating in the woods

Schedule
9am registration and meet other practitioners (we encourage everyone to turn off mobiles or keep on silence for the day, in order to receive maximum benefit from the retreat)

Silence begins 9.30am
9.30am-11am Session 1
11am-11.45am Refreshments
11.45am-1.15pm Session 2
1.15pm- 2.45pm Lunch
2.45pm-4.15pm Session 3
Silence ends 4.15pm

Cost for the day is £25 per person – includes lunch.

Included in Standard and Benefactor Memberships.

 

In the busyness of modern life, it is rare to enjoy deep inner peace and often we are afraid of the silence and being alone with our mind. This is because our mind is full of unhappy thoughts or unresolved difficulties that are painful to look at. Our solution is to constantly keep ourself busy in the hope that these unhappy and painful feelings will go away. However we know that this does not remove our inner problems.

In this silent day retreat we will be guided to experience our mind’s natural clarity, an inner vast empty like space and dissolve our painful emotions back into the vast sky of our mind. Through this we will come to enjoy the beauty of inner peace and a quiet, still mind.

This retreat is suitable for everyone from beginners to those with experience of meditation.

Schedule
9am registration and meet other practitioners (we encourage everyone to turn off mobiles or keep on silence for the day, in order to receive maximum benefit from the retreat)

Silence begins 9.30am
9.30am-11am Session 1
11am-11.45am Refreshments
11.45am-1.15pm Session 2
1.15pm- 2.45pm Lunch
2.45pm-4.15pm Session 3
Silence ends 4.15pm

 

Venue:
Vajrapani Kadampa Meditation Centre
Wheathouse Terrace,
Huddersfield.

Memberships
If you attend classes and courses on a regular basis, our Memberships are a convenient way of covering the cost and a great way to support the Centre.

  • Each class begins with a simple guided breathing / relaxation meditation
  • There is a talk on meditation and positive thinking based on Buddha's teachings.
  • Classes conclude with a meditation based on the subject of the teaching.
  • After the class you are welcome to stay for light refreshments, talk to the teacher, and ask questions
  • Learn to relax, unwind and experience peace of mind.
  • Deal with difficulties and problems in a more constructive way
  • Find greater meaning and purpose in life.
  • Develop good qualities and positive states of mind such as love, compassion and wisdom.
Why is there a charge for the classes?

We are a registered charity run entirely by volunteers, and not for profit. The funds we receive are used to pay for our venues, operating expenses and maintenance of the centre building. Although there is a charge for the classes we want to make them accessible to all, so If you are struggling with the cost of classes or courses, please speak to us about that, no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds.

Do I have to book online?

Please try to book online for weekend courses and other events. For weekly classes booking online is useful, but you can just turn up and pay on the door. You can also get a discount on all our weekly meditation classes by buying a Series Ticket online.

Do I have to wait for the next series of classes to begin?

No, please feel free to drop in whenever you like. Attending the entire series of classes is highly beneficial, as each class builds on the next. However, each class is taught in such a way that if you only attend one class, you will derive benefit from it.

Will I have to sit on the floor?

Although some classes do have the option to sit on the floor, there are always chairs available. However, If there is a special reason why you need to sit on the floor please let us know and we can reserve a mat for you.

What should I wear?

There are no dress requirements, please wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
We do ask that you remove your shoes when entering the meditation room.

What if I am not religious or practice a religion other than Buddhism?

Everyone is welcome to attend.  Anyone can learn basic meditation and experience the benefits. Buddhism is a non-evangelical religion. Buddhists respect all people and are happy to help anyone regardless of whether they subscribe to another faith or to none. We make Buddhas teachings available to everyone with the belief that they are practical methods to solve daily problems.

I have never meditated before, are these classes suitable for me?

Yes, classes are open to everyone regardless of experience. Instructions on how to do the meditations are provided by the teacher who will also guide you through the meditation. If you do struggle with the meditation you can always just sit there and relax for a while!

To solve our human problems, and enable us to find everlasting peace and happiness, Buddha gave the most profound teachings for us as practical advice

- Ven. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Buddhist master Ven Geshe Kelsang Gyatso teaching dharma at a Kadamap Festival