10 – 15 Dec | Led by Sāgaramati and Dhivan
Yogācāra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist philosophy also known as ‘mind-only’ (cittamātra), concerned with the way that the mind shapes our experience, and with how the practice of study and meditation can lead to a ‘turning about’ (parāvṛtti) in the unconscious (ālaya-vijñāna) and the consequent realisation of direct knowledge of reality (jñāna). In the course of this study retreat, Sāgaramati and Dhivan will introduce Mahāyāna sūtras that present yogācāra ideas, such as the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra, before exploring in depth a central yogācāra text, the ‘Thirty Verses’ (triṃsika) of Vasubandhu, as well as introducing some other key texts of the tradition.
There will be daily study and discussion of key yogācāra ideas and texts, in English translation, but in dialogue with Sanskrit terms, as well as meditation and reflection on some themes. We will especially explore the yogācāra concept of emptiness (śūnyatā), which revolves around the ‘three natures’ (tri-svabhāva) of experience (the ‘imagined’, the ‘other-dependent’ and the ‘perfected’), a formulation which avoids the nihilism sometimes associated with the concept of emptiness.
This retreat is for Order members and mitras with an interest in ideas and doctrines, and keen to explore some of the profound contributions of Buddhism to philosophy.
Reception is from 4pm on the day of arrival, with the retreat beginning with supper at 6pm. While you’re here you will be participating in communal life. This includes meditating with everyone on site in the main shrine room in the morning, taking part in daily tasks and at the end of your retreat you will help us to prepare the retreat centre for the next group to join us. With this in mind, the retreat will finish after the clear-up, so if travelling on public transport, please book a train after 11am.
The deposit for all our events is non-refundable and non-transferable under all circumstances. For this event, the deposit is £70.
Please contact the office to inquire about single room availability.
For: Order Members and Mitras
Start date: 10th Dec 2023
End date: 15th Dec 2023
Event Type: Residential
Price: Waged/Supported £215 | Unwaged/Unsupported £160
Please note that the payment includes a non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit of £70.
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