Breathing in Birdsong 2024 | Taraloka | Buddhist Retreat Centre For Women

Friday, May 24, 2024 to Monday, May 27, 2024

Retreat Team:

Maitridevi

Sraddhadipa

Saravantu

Prabhakari

Retreat Type:

Introductory,

Open

Early summer is a beautiful time at Taraloka. The air is full of birds and their songs: the deep velvety song of the blackbird; the sweet descending notes of the willow warbler. On this weekend retreat we will interweave meditation with appreciation of birds and their song, finding spaciousness and peacefulness, and allowing ourselves to be saturated with natural beauty.

For two and a half thousand years Buddhists have been practising meditating on the breath, cultivating a gentle awareness of that simple yet vital process that keeps us alive. This practice of awareness is not only a way for us to cultivate a sense of spaciousness and ease. It can suffuse all of our experience, bringing a sense of connection with, and appreciation of, all living beings.

No previous experience of meditation needed - just curiosity to learn something new, and a willingness to step out into rain or sun.

A retreat is an opportunity to still ourselves, to let busy-ness drop away and to live a simpler life. It's a time to connect more deeply with ourselves, with others and with the world around us. This retreat assumes no previous experience of meditation. We will give a full introduction to the Mindfulness of Breathing practice. There will be plenty of time out in nature, periods of silence, short talks and a chance to ask questions.

You might want to bring a pair of binoculars with you and a bird book. We strongly recommend outdoor clothes and waterproof footwear for wet weather.

Suggested donation (in addition to the booking fee): £225.00 waged / £160.00 unwaged

Booking Fee:

£65.00

Paying for your retreat

Taraloka runs on generosity.

To book a retreat you pay a booking fee. This is the only charge made for coming on retreat. As far as possible, we don't want anyone's financial situation to stop them from coming to Taraloka.

At the end of your retreat, you have the opportunity to give money towards Taraloka. If you are able to donate, you are giving to another person who otherwise could not afford to come on retreat. And you are helping to give the gift of Taraloka to the women of the future.

Suggested donations

Our suggested donations (in addition to the booking fee) for 2023-24 are (waged/unwaged)

Weekend retreats (£195 / 135)
Long Weekend (3 nights) (£220 / 155)
4 night retreats (£250/ 170)
5 night retreats (£280/ 190)
Week retreats: (£360/ 245)
9 night retreats (£405 / 285)
12 night retreats (£460 / 305)

Our suggested donations (in addition to the booking fee) for 2024-25 are (waged/unwaged)

Weekend retreats (£195 / 135)
Long Weekend (3 nights) (£225 / 160)
4 night retreats (£255 / 175)
5 night retreats (£285 / 195)
Week retreats: (£365 / 250)
9 night retreats (£410 / 290)
12 night retreats (£465/ 310)

There will be an opportunity to make your donation at the end of the retreat. Donations can be made by credit/debit card, cheque or cash.

Those who cannot afford our suggested donations are free to contribute what they can.

Running on generosity is radical – thank you for being part of that.

For more information see what does it cost and a flow of generosity