Date/Time
Date(s) - 15 Jun 2024
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location
Oxford Quakers Friends Meeting House
43 St Giles'
Oxford
OX1 3LW
United Kingdom
We sometimes struggle with our meditation practice, but have we looked carefully at the well-structured teachings of the Buddha? He describes the stages of the path to Enlightenment clearly and it all begins with sila, ethics.
The Buddha said that stillness founded on virtue is of great fruit and benefit:
“Sila paribhavito samadhi, mahapphalo hoti mahanisamso.”
~ DN16 Mahaparinibbana Sutta.
Drawing on the early Buddhist texts and his own extensive experience, Ajahn Brahmali will describe how to develop beautiful qualities such as generosity, kindness and harmlessness that give rise to blameless bliss. Empowered by these qualities the mind becomes so energised and bright, that meditation happens naturally, in a way that leads to freedom.
About Ajahn Brahmali
Ajahn Brahmali, renowned for his deep understanding of early Buddhism and his contagious joy in sharing the Dhamma, will be teaching this transformative retreat centred on the theme “Sila, the Foundation of the Path.” A close disciple of Ajahn Brahm, he brings the Buddha’s teachings to life with clarity and enthusiasm, offering direct application to both a fulfilling life here and now, and the journey towards Enlightenment.
Where will the retreat be held?
This retreat will be held at the Friends Meeting House, in Oxford. We will have the use of main hall and the kitchen, surrounded by a lovely secluded lawn, allowing for a safe and uninterrupted space for meditation.
Comfy meditation chairs are provided. In order to maximise the space available we encourage you to use a chair, as we have only a few places for meditation mats (please bring your own mat if you need one, and any extra cushions).
Please bring your own packed lunch and flask for your ease. Hot water will be available and you are also welcome to bring along tea and milks to share.
The retreat is suitable for both beginners and experienced meditators alike and will accommodate a maximum of 50 people. Please register early to be sure you don’t miss out!
This day retreat will include Dhamma reflections, guided meditations and an opportunity for questions and discussion.
Tentative Retreat Schedule
09:30 – 09:55 Arrivals
10:00 – 11:30 Introduction talk and guided meditation (silence begins!)
11:30 – 12:00 Walking meditation
12:00 – 13:15 Lunch and rest period
13:15 – 14:30 Dhamma talk and guided meditation
14:30 – 15:00 Walking meditation
15:00 – 15:30 Silent group meditation
15:30 – 15:45 Tea break
15:45 – 16:30 Q&A
16:30 – 17:00 Final metta meditation and closing words
Please aim to arrive at 9:30 am in order to register and settle in quietly.
Ajahn Brahmali is kindly coming all the way from Perth to England, to support Anukampa’s work and our new monastery, “Anukampa Grove,” where for the very first time in the UK, women can train towards full monastic ordination as bhikkhunis. There will be an opportunity to donate towards that aim at the retreat in person, or via our website here.
We are extremely fortunate to have three monastics attending this retreat: Ajahn Brahmali, Ven Canda and Ven Upekkha. If you would like to contribute to the costs for the Sangha’s travel expenses you can donate here, you can donate here, reference ‘monastic costs.’
We may be able to offer some financial assistance to those of limited means through our bursary fund.
You are welcome to donate to our bursary fund here.
Note:
1. After your registration, you will receive an email with your Ticket/Booking Confirmation almost immediately. Please check your junk mail box if you do not receive it. You can also add our email address bookings@anukampaproject.org as a contact to prevent emails from us going into the junk folder.
2. If you do not receive your ticket within an hour, please contact us at bookings@anukampaproject.org. Please be aware that emails that we send to non-Gmail, Hotmail or Outlook email account outside the UK (e.g. .pl; .gmx etc), are often rejected as ‘undelivered’ for unknown reasons. Please therefore contact us from a Gmail, Hotmail or Outlook email account where at all possible, to save disappointment.
Covid safety: Please do not attend if you feel ill, are infectious or have any symptoms of Covid.
We kindly ask that you do not contact the venue.
PLEASE NOTE THIS BOOKING IS NOT REFUNDABLE.
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All ticket proceeds go toward covering venue hire and other arrangements. We will invite donations towards supporting Britain’s first bhikkhuni monastery “Anukampa Grove,” at the end of the retreat.