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Awake, Aware, Free PART TWO - Our True Nature - A 10 Day Silent Retreat with Resident Teachers Mala Sikka and Terry Hagan


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A 10 Day Silent Retreat with Mala and Terry
Friday August 28 - Sunday September 6


“I found such nectar like truth, profoundly peaceful, luminous, uncontrived, a brilliant natural simplicity free from elaboration . . .” 

Buddha Sakyamuni 
 Sakyamuni Buddha found a truth which he described as profound, peaceful, uncontrived, luminous and uncreated, and that this was our natural innate state of being. This deep insight of compassion and wisdom often directly challenges our modern preconceptions and daily experience of life as inevitably random, stressful and chaotic. How can we access the truth that the Buddha found?

Through Hearing, Contemplation and Meditation. This course will focus on the use of visualisation and the Buddha’s root mantra to access refuge, the sanctuary of applied mindfulness and meditation. The Buddha’s teaching has been the core instruction and inspiration for all mindfulness training to date, which is just one part of his vast teaching of skill and means. Drawing on the support of those who have gone before, we will learn to cultivate and apply awareness to each and every moment, bringing understanding and support to the ground of being present.  Meditating on Buddha Sakyamuni is a joyful, rich and rewarding practice, profound in its ability to renew and refresh. It helps to transcend habitual patterns and allow us to rest in the radiance of our true nature, naturally confident.

This will be a practice retreat held in silence, apart from classes and interviews where there will be ample time to ask questions. There will also be daily body work to loosen and free patterns that bind us, releasing hidden potentials.

This Silent retreat will include:

• daily sitting and walking meditations
• dharma classes,
• meditation interviews
• key body work to open and enliven our experience merging awareness practice with post meditation
• learn how to structure and conduct your own retreat and apply the benefits in your life.


Important Details:

When: Friday, August 28th to Sunday September 6th. Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish in the afternoon on the final day.

Rates: Non-members: $936, Members: $810

Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Mala and Terry are sharing their experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:

What is Dana?: Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.

Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.

Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 7 days before the commencement of the course. For cancellations less than 7 days prior to course begin, a $100 administrative fee will be charged.