To register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/insight-meditation-nine-day-retreat-2019-coromandel-tickets-52335196983
This nine-day retreat provides an opportunity to explore different aspects of the Buddha’s teachings on Nibbana, also translated as Awakening, Enlightenment, Liberation, or Freedom. The freedom that is being pointed to here includes freedom from afflictive states such as anger, fear, sadness, greed; and freedom to live with more ease, happiness, and authenticity.
We will use a variety of practices from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, alongside the four brahmavihara heart practices of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, to directly experience these different aspects of freedom for ourselves.
Each day, there will be sessions of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, group discussion, individual meetings with the teacher and a period of optional, gentle mindful movement.
Experience level: This retreat is best suited to people who have done at least two previous insight meditation weekend retreats.
Accommodation: The rooms are all shared rooms, with shared bathrooms. Men and women are housed separately.
Food: The centre will provide simple vegetarian meals for the retreat. Please indicate on the registration form if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs.
Special diets: The centre requests a $10 per day surcharge to cater for special diets. This additional fee of $90 is payable directly to Te Moata so please bring cash for this.
Work meditation: To help integrate mindfulness into daily life activities, there will be a period of work meditation each day of approximately 45 minutes.
Retreat fees: sliding scale $850-$650 + dana*
Supporter rate $850 - Slightly more than actual-cost ticket: covers cost of food and accommodation, a contribution to the teacher's travel costs, and a contribution to scholarships for low-income attendees
Actual cost $750 - Actual-cost ticket covers cost of food and accommodation, and a small contribution to the teacher's travel costs
Scholarship rate $650 - Below cost ticket: covers a contribution towards cost of food and accommodation only
The retreat fee covers only the cost of food and accommodation, plus a small contribution to the teacher's international airfares. The teaching is freely offered, and there will be an opportunity to give dana* to the teacher at the end of the retreat.
Cancellation policy: The payment is refundable up to thirty days before the retreat begins. If you cancel after this time, the retreat cost will be forfeited and used to help provide scholarship places.
*Dana: In most Buddhist traditions the teachers are not paid to teach. Instead, the teachings are given on a ‘dana’ basis – dana being the Pali word for generosity or giving freely - so there will be an opportunity to offer a donation for the teaching at the end of the event.