I’m excited to be offering our fifth annual on-line retreat, running in the post-Christmas lull and seeing in the New Year.
The retreat will run for five full days from Saturday 28th December to Wednesday 1st January. There will be input, led meditations, and the opportunity to ask questions and talk about your practice. In the evenings there will be integrated ritual elements, including a longer evening to mark the New Year.
The Theme:
On this year’s online retreat we will be exploring the quality of Vedana. Vedana, or ‘feeling tone’ arises in every moment of experience and tells us how we feel about something in a very simple and momentary way. Do we experience what’s happening as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral? Whatever we experience from what we hear or see, or sense, for example, will be tinged by a tonality that can be recognized.
From such brief and transient beginnings, clear knowing of vedana has the potential to unlock the mysteries of the mind and our spiritual life. On the retreat we will look at the relationship between feeling and views, and feeling and the teaching of not-self. We’ll also explore the relationship between ‘feeling tone’ and ‘commendable joy’ that accompanies the arising of wisdom in our practice.
As always, the emphasis on the retreat will be using Awareness and Right View as tools to deepen our appreciation and understanding of vedana as a path to Awakening.
This online retreat is for anyone who has previously participated in a week or more of retreat with me. The retreat assumes a familiarity with the basic approach to mindfulness as a wisdom practice.
I will be supported by Vajrapriya.
The retreat is offered on a dana (donation) basis. I’ll say more about this during the retreat.
The main sessions will run from 10.30 – 12.30, 17.00 – 18.00 and 20.00 – 21.00 GMT. There will be optional un-led groups at 16.00 on the first, third and fifth (final) days to check-in about your practice and connect with others on the retreat.
This year the bookings will be handled by Zoom. You will receive an immediate acknowledgement from them. Look out for it and check Spam if needed. It will have all the information you need to join the retreat. You won’t receive further emails from us nearer the time. Keep the email from Zoom safe.
With all good wishes, and hope to see you there,
Vajradevi
Uncontrived Mindfulness 
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