Strengthening the two wings of Awakening: Wisdom and Compassion

This nine-day insight meditation retreat offers an opportunity to strengthen both the wisdom and the compassion wings of awakening. We will explore a variety of different practices taken from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, alongside the four brahma-vihara heart practices of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

Each day, there will be sessions of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, group discussion, individual meetings with the teacher and a period of optional, gentle mindful movement.

There will be a period of relational meditation on the first two and last two days, while the middle days will be in full silence. Relational or interpersonal meditation involves working in dyads (pairs) to practice mindful speaking and listening, using the guidelines of Insight Dialogue. For more information about the practice of Insight Dialogue, please see https://metta.org/insight-dialogue-3/

Experience level: This retreat is best suited to people who have done at least one previous insight meditation weekend retreat.

Accommodation: The rooms are all shared rooms, with shared bathrooms. Men and women are housed separately.

Food: The centre will provide simple vegetarian meals for the retreat. Please indicate on the registration form if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs.

Special diets: The centre requests a $10 per day surcharge to cater for special diets. This additional fee of $90 is payable directly to Te Moata so please bring cash for this.

Work meditation: To help integrate mindfulness into daily life activities, there will be a period of work meditation each day of approximately 45 minutes.

Retreat fees: sliding scale $750-$630

The retreat fee covers only the cost of food and accommodation, plus a small contribution to the teacher's international airfares. The teaching is freely offered, and there will be an opportunity to give dana* to the teacher at the end of the retreat.

To reserve a place on the retreat, you will need to pay a $100 deposit through Eventbrite. The balance of the retreat payment can be paid in full or in two equal instalments, due on 4 February and 4 May 2018. Account details for balance payments will be included on your Eventbrite confirmation email.

Cancellation policy: The payment is refundable up to thirty days before the retreat begins. If you cancel after this time, the retreat cost will be forfeited and used to help provide scholarship places.

*Dana: In most Buddhist traditions the teachers are not paid to teach. Instead, the teachings are given on a ‘dana’ basis – dana being the Pali word for generosity or giving freely - so there will be an opportunity to offer a donation for the teaching at the end of the event.