Insight Meditation: The Great Matter of Life and Death
The retreat is fully booked, but you are welcome to sign up on the waiting list. See section ”How much does it cost? How can I sign up?” below for details.
What is this retreat about?
Reflecting on death puts our awareness practice and inquiry into perspective. How would it be to imagine yourself on your deathbed, looking back at your life? This type of reflection can help us to organise our priorities and commit to what we value. To remember that we don’t live forever, encourages urgency and energises our practice. Remembering the fragility and brevity of life also awakens our compassion, appreciation and a sense of wonder and mystery.
On this retreat we will practice insight meditation, also known as vipassana. The word vipassana means seeing things just as they are. Instruction in lovingkindness (metta) meditation is also offered. These meditation techniques are over 2500 years old and draw from the Theravada Buddhist tradition. However, taking part in the retreat does not require an adherence to Buddhism or any adaptation of personal faith.
Why attend a retreat? What happens at a retreat?
This retreat is suitable for both beginners and advanced meditators. For beginners, the retreat is a great way to learn the basics of insight meditation and see its effects clearly. For advanced meditators, the retreat offers an excellent opportunity to deepen and clarify one’s practice in the guidance of an experienced teacher.
The retreat is held in English. The days are spent in silence and consist of sitting and walking meditation, dharma talks, work period, small group discussions and individual interviews. On this retreat, a few optional inquiry exercises that involve mindful speaking and listening will also be offered. Vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner are served during the retreat. The venue of the retreat is The Friendship Inn in Kruusila near Salo, about 100 km west of Helsinki, Finland.
Who are the teachers?
The retreat will be taught by Caroline Jones and Paul Burrows. Caroline Jones has been practising meditation since 1989. She started teaching in 2006, and now teaches at Gaia House and internationally. She has also covered periods at Gaia House as resident teacher. Caroline teaches in Finland annually. You may find some of her talks at http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/362/.
Paul Burrows has practised in ashrams, Buddhist monasteries and retreat centres in the UK, India and Nepal, and began leading retreats in the Insight Meditation tradition in 2007. Some of his talks may be downloaded at http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/367/.
How much does it cost? How can I sign up?
The base price of the retreat is 125 euros. The retreat cost covers the traveling expenses of the teachers, the rent of the retreat facility, and the food expenses. The teachers and the organizers do not receive any payment for their services; instead, the retreatants may support the teachers and the organizers by donations after the retreat.
The retreat is full, but you can sign on the waiting list by filling out the electronic application form at http://tinyurl.com/cojqp2n.
You can reserve a place at the retreat by paying the registration fee 30 euros to Nirodha’s account IBAN FI6012483000213060 (reference number 320133) . The rest of the retreat fee (95 euros in case of the base price) should be paid by February 21st. In case of cancellations the registration fee is not refundable. If the cancellation takes place before February 21st, the rest of the retreat fee will be returned.
If you are coming from abroad, please note that we are not able to provide any documents for visa applications because of limited resources.
We feel that financial situation should not prevent anybody from participating, so we are willing to offer the retreat for a reduced price, if needed. If the base price is too high for you, please contact us at nirodha.retriitit@gmail.com and let us know how much you are able to pay. If you would like to support those in dire financial situation, you can pay more than the base price.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at nirodha.retriitit@gmail.com.
Best regards,
Tuulikki Hukka (+358 50 432 9241)
Anne Patrikainen (+358 40 533 9812)