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Whenever a dharma practitioner sees that the five hindrances are absent in themselves, appreciation is born. Being appreciative, joy arises. When the mind is joyful, the body relaxes. With a relaxed body, one feels pleasure. And when there is pleasure, the mind gathers.Practices like mettā (love), satipaṭṭhāna (the foundations of mindfulness) and samādhi (commonly translated ‘concentration’) are often taught separately. But in the earliest Buddhist discourses, they are all part of the same progression from a scattered, agitated mind to one that gathers around a sense of wellbeing. The Buddha called that wellbeing “spiritual pleasure”, a healthy sense of being satisfied that comes not through stimulation but through recognising peacefulness.
In this retreat, we will use passages like the one above to inspire us and reflect. We will cultivate wise attitude as the key skill in meditation rather than attentional focus, allowing each practitioner to find and choose their meditation object.
Meditation practice is about training a sensibility: to sense areas of tension and calm, roughness and smoothness, to hold our experience wisely, to discern and appreciate the arising and passing of all things. What happens when we bring this sensibility and understanding to our daily lives?
This 6-night retreat will combine guided and silent practice, walking meditation, talks, and small group meetings with the teacher. It is open to all, but particularly suited to those who already have retreat experience.
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The Barn Retreat Centre, Lower Sharpham Barton, Ashprington,, TQ9 7DX Totnes, United Kingdom, Lower Sharpham, Totnes, TQ9 7, United Kingdom
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