National UK People of Colour Gathering

Led by a team of POC Order members

The National Gathering is the biggest event on the People of Colour calendar. It is four days of practising meditation, slowing down, teachings from highly experienced practitioners of colour and connecting with one another whilst living in community.

Retreatants gather from all around the UK and further for this annual event in the beautiful, peaceful, springtime blossoming grounds of Adhisthana. This People of Colour event welcomes those who identify as: Black, Asian, South-East Asian, Latinx, Arab/ Middle Eastern, biracial, mixed heritage and multiracial.

Suryagupta
Suryagupta, the Chair of the London Buddhist Centre, Triratna’s largest urban centre, brings
a wealth of experience to her meditation teaching. Suryagupta’s background encompasses
leadership development, the arts, law, and the supporting of grassroots organisations. She is
dedicated and committed to widely sharing the teachings of the Buddha as the vehicle to
transform self and other. She has written and presented for BBC Radio 4 Something
Understood and regularly contributed to BBC Radio 2 Pause for Thought.

Manjusiha
Manjusiha has lived and worked at the London Buddhist Centre and at Padmaloka retreat centre in Norfolk. His name means 'lovely, pleasing, agreeable lion (like the Buddha).

Amaragita
My background is in community development and working with young people at risk and the professionals that support them. I worked for various social change movements and I have been a trainer, facilitator and coach for 35 years. My passions are meditation and creating spaces for deep inquiry and celebration of the human condition. I have been leading intergenerational retreats and retreats for mothers for many years. I lived and worked around the LBC for many years and set up POC events. Currently, I am chair of Buddhafield and have been a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community for 24 years.

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.

Note that if you would like to camp, you're very welcome to. Please mention this in your booking form under the accommodation section, and bring all your own equipment for camping.

With this in mind, the retreat will finish after the clear-up, so if travelling on public transport, please book a train after 3pm.

If travelling from London, you can take a return coach from the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green to Adhisthana on the first and last days of the retreat. To book click here: Coach Bookings

For: all levels of experience

Start date: 2nd May 2025
End date: 5th May 2025
Event Type: Residential

Price: Standard £190  |  Concession £145  |  Financial Assistance £110
Please note that the payment includes a non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit of £50.

Bursary Fund: Help those who can't afford to come on retreat
You're invited to donate to enable individuals experiencing financial hardship to attend events with bursary places.
Go to our Bursary Fund page