Samatha-Vipassana Meditation Retreat / 11th-15th October

Dates: 11th – 15th October

About the retreat:

Whether you are new to meditation or have practiced for many years we invite you to join us at one
of our meditation retreats (organised by Kshanti). Our practice is in the insight/vipassana tradition and we will offer
instruction and teaching that also introduces some aspects of Jungian psychology to help our
understanding of the practice. The retreat will help participants to cultivate a mindful awareness
that is loving and generous, and helps to bring about a greater clarity of the mind and insight into its
processes. Each retreat will take a specific theme relevant to the practice of meditation;
instruction and teaching will be based upon the weekend’s theme and there will be opportunity to
ask questions about the practice.

To help us go deeper into the practice we will be in silence from Wednesday night to Sunday mid-morning.
The practice of silence will support our capacity to listen through awareness. Accommodation is in
shared rooms with two people per room and all meals will be vegetarian.

Individual rooms available for a supplement of 45 euros (340€ in total).

Meditation Weekend Schedule

1st day

6.00 pm Introduction to the retreat and meditation practice
8.00 pm Dinner
9.15 pm Meditation practice
10.00 pm Sleep and dreams

2nd – 3rd – 4th day

6.30 am Rising Bell
7.00 am Meditation practice
9.00 am Breakfast
10.15 am Qi Gong
11.00 am Meditation Practice
1.15 pm Break
1.45 pm Lunch and Conscious resting
4.00 pm Mindful forest walk
5.00 pm Tea
5.15 pm Meditation Practice & Teaching session
8.00 pm Dinner
9.15 pm Meditation of the heart
10.00 pm Sleep and dreams

5th day

6.30 am Rising Bell
7.00 am Meditation Practice
9.00 am Breakfast
10.15 am Qi gong
11.00 Meditation Practice
12.30 Refreshment break
1.00 pm Reflections/questions/sharing End of Silence
2.00 pm Lunch and Depart.

Cost: 295 euros

Course leader: Stephen Bushell

Stephen was born in London in 1960. As a teenager he was drawn to religion and spirituality and has followed that thread all his adult life. He studied Theology and Religious Studies and later trained in Analytical Psychology to become a psychoanalyst (Jungian). He attended his first 10 day vipassana retreat age 20 and for five years trained in Tai Chi and meditation with Tew Bunnag, founder of the European School of Tai Chi. He later completed his Vipassana teacher training with the Thai master, Dhiravamsa. Never seeing any discrepancy between Buddhist practice and the deeper currents of the Christian mystical tradition, in his early 30s, Stephen ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church; in this capacity he offered spiritual and pastoral care in inpatient and community psychiatric care. From here he went on to work privately in psychoanalysis. Coming to live at Les Gavatxes, Stephen feels will enable him to bring together many threads of his spiritual journey, particularly to offer psychological insight within the practice of meditation. He looks forward to welcoming people on retreat here and accompanying people on their journeys of inner discovery.