Retreats & Courses at Land of Joy

Land of Joy offers a range of introductory, next-step, advanced and secular retreats through most of the year. Please click on any event that interests you to learn more about it and book your place.

A full list preview of our 2024 programme can be here and the booking form is here.

Personal retreats or private stays are also possible depending on availability. Please click here for more details.

Please be aware events might be cancelled up to two weeks prior to their start date due to lack of numbers or other reasons. It is also possible they will be re-arranged if we have the chance to host touring teachers, so please keep this in mind when booking transport.

July

With Lou Beaumont: Friday 12th – Sunday 14th July (ONSITE ONLY) – FULLY BOOKED – WAITING LIST PLACES AVAILABLE

This will be a weekend course of gentle movement & breathing helping us to connect with our subtle body. Combining these movements with mindful attention we can experience quite naturally how to rest our mind in this expansive energy.

August

With Dr Liza Weber: Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th August (ONSITE ONLY) – FULLY BOOKED – WAITING LIST PLACES AVAILABLE

Aimed at all levels, Liza’s ‘Tasting “Kum Nye”: Tibetan Yoga, Massage, and Visualisation’ course is meant as an introduction to a series of Tibetan yoga exercises and massage techniques that will guide participants on a journey to deep relaxation. Drawing on the sacred symbolism of Tibetan Buddhist iconography, the course is designed to enrich participant’s understanding of “Kum Nye” exercises with visualisation techniques. After all, “Kum Nye” is as much a yoga of the mind as it is the body. Suitable for beginners and experienced yogis alike, the course upholds Tarthang Tulku’s teachings that there is no one or ‘right’ way to perform the exercises.

A Dharma Chat

With Venerable Mary Reavey: Saturday 10th August (ONLINE ONLY)

You are invited to join Venerable Mary for an ONLINE informal Chat about her upcoming retreats in the wonderful and peaceful surroundings of Land of Joy: namely Lam Rim in September, and the Journey from Shamatha to Vipassana in October.

This is a rare opportunity to join in discussions, ask questions and receive clarification of course or retreat content. As there will be an opportunity to take the 8 Mahayana Precepts during the Lam Rim retreat, Venerable Mary will explain this practice.

All are welcome to join us in a lively and informative day:

1000 to 1200 : Lam Rim

1400 to 1600 : Journey from Shamatha to Vipassana

With Güzin Yener: Friday August 9th – Sunday 11th August. (ONSITE ONLY)

This will be a short 2 day retreat open to all Buddhist practitioners, however those attending will have ideally been initiated into tantra (at any level), as well as be familiar with six session guru yoga and deity yoga.

With Güzin Yener: Monday August 12th – Friday 23rd August. (ONSITE ONLY)

The aim of the retreat is to co-support practitioners in gaining confidence and experience on their path to actualising Kurukullā as a yidam. There will be shared discussions and Q&A’s in an open and inclusive way to provide a safe space to strengthen our individual practice.

In order to attend this retreat you must have taken the Kurukullā empowerment and/or that of another highest yoga deity with the same level of vows, commitment and samaya.

With Olivia & Louise: Monday 26th – Wednesday 28th August (ONSITE ONLY) – FULLY BOOKED – WAITING LIST PLACES AVAILABLE

This is a chance for your family to spend precious time together while exploring ideas to develop positive thoughts and attitudes both within your family dynamic and beyond.

September

With Venerable Mary Reavey: Friday 6th until Sunday 15th September (ONSITE ONLY)

Are you curious about Buddhist practice, but don’t know where to begin? Have you attended Buddhist teachings and feel they could be useful for you but don’t know how to meditate on the subjects you’ve studied or how to apply them to your life? This retreat will answer these questions and more.

With Linda Noble & Christian Fischer: Tuesday 24th September until Thursday 10th October (ONSITE ONLY)

This retreat is open to anyone who has taken the Kalachakra initiation, regardless of whether or not they have experience in Kalachakra practice, as it’s a great way to learn to practice the Kalachakra tantra.

October

Buddhist Mind Science

Buddhist Mind Science Course

Discover the workings of the mind and the mechanisms of suffering and happiness. Unlock your potential for mental balance, compassion and wisdom.

“The Buddha’s teachings may be considered a “science of mind” in that they provide a complete study of the mind, setting forth specific means for observing it, delineating the various types of consciousness and mental factors, making known the mind’s potential, and describing ways to transform the mind.” XIV Dalai Lama

Module 1: Cultivating Lasting Happiness: What Buddhism and Science Have to Say about It (ONLINE ONLY)

Each Wednesday from 2nd October until 23rd October 6PM to 7.30PM

With Venerable Mary Reavey: Sunday 13th until Sunday 20th October (ONSITE ONLY)

Shamatha is the method to sharpen and balance the mind. This mind is then applied in Vipassana to reveal the wisdom of the Nature of Reality. These teachings and practices reflect the clear and precise teachings of Lama B. Alan Wallace. We will review the main points in relation to developing Shamatha on the Breath.

Vipassana meditation utilizes the skills of Shamatha within the process of enquiry. In this retreat we will directly question our lived experience within the framework of the Three Marks of existence and the Close application of Mindfulness.

With Paula Chichester: Thursday 24th until Sunday 27th October (ONSITE & ONLINE)

Healing Mind, Spirit and Body- Growing Towards Wholeness in Love

An open heart is well-being. Our presence of well being helps everyone one we meet.

November

With Paula Chichester: Friday 8th until Tuesday 12th November (ONSITE & ONLINE)

Medicine Buddha is an ancient, powerful meditation practice to heal the wounds of our body, mind and spirit —personally and globally. In this workshop, we will balance the five elements in the body/mind, using meditation and physical exercises interspersed with discussions on how to heal ourselves and others. The meditation will integrate recitation and imagination with periods of resting in the nature of mind.

With Paula Chichester: Friday 15th until Wednesday 20th November (ONSITE & ONLINE)

Glorious White Tara is the healer of all ills and giver of long life. This beautiful practice will be the foundation for a hybrid retreat focused on experiential meditations that will introduce the tantric sadhana and mantra recitation as a healing method. White Tara is a favorite of our teachers so we will be dedicating the power of this practice to the long lives of our gurus.

With Marina Brucet Vinyals: Monday 25th November until Wednesday 4th December (ONSITE ONLY)

The Vajrasattva practice acts at many levels, from purifying the mind from negativities and ignorance, to help healing inner bounds, emotional hindrances, and difficult experiences with which we struggle. It clears the way and lays the ground for practice, both psychologically and spiritually.

In the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the practice of Vajrasattva is one of the preliminary practices, which are traditionally done before engaging in long retreat. This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to purify and clear the mind with the practice and mantra of Vajrasattva.