Details:

Date: Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th September

Retreat Leader: Geshe Rinchen

Requirements: Everyone is welcome

Cost: Generosity Model – Donation only (by clicking the ‘Donate Here’ button below). Land of Joy provides: All meals, accommodation, workshops, materials and good firewood for soulful nights.

Format: Onsite only / Retreat begins: 7pm on the 10th September / Retreat ends: with lunch on 13th September

Recommended arrival: 3pm – 5pm on 10th September to join for supper and get settled into the space

Accommodation: Land of Joy wishes for everyone who visits the centre to feel welcome, accepted, safe and secure. Our accommodation options are very limited, with mostly single-sex shared accommodation and a very limited number of single rooms. Single accommodation can therefore only be offered on a priority basis. Please read the relevant sections of the booking form carefully.

About the Retreat

Join Geshe Rinchen, resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, for a retreat exploring one of Buddhism’s most profound and liberating insights — emptiness.

Emptiness lies at the heart of the Buddha’s wisdom: the key to freedom from confusion and the source of genuine compassion. Over the course of this retreat, Geshe Rinchen will guide you through a step-by-step exploration of emptiness as presented in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, drawing inspiration from the works of great masters such as Je Tsongkhapa.

Through a balance of study, reflection, and meditation, you’ll have the opportunity to engage both intellectually and experientially with this essential teaching — discovering how understanding the dependent nature of reality can bring greater clarity, peace, and kindness into everyday life.

What Will be Offered?

  • Daily teachings from Geshe Rinchen introducing the view of emptiness and its relevance for personal transformation.
  • Guided analytical and stabilising meditations, allowing participants to deepen understanding through direct experience.
  • Opportunities for discussion and reflection, helping to connect classical philosophy with lived experience.
  • Quiet periods and personal practice time within Land of Joy’s peaceful environment, supporting inner stillness and insight.
  • Practical guidance on integrating the view of emptiness into relationships, work, and daily challenges.

Who is This For?

This retreat is open to anyone with an interest in Buddhist wisdom and meditation.

  • Whether you’re new to the topic of emptiness or already familiar with Buddhist philosophy, you’re warmly welcome.
  • You may find this retreat especially meaningful if you:
  • Feel drawn to explore the deeper aspects of the Buddha’s teachings.
  • Wish to balance study with direct experience in meditation.
  • Appreciate teachings that are rooted in tradition yet relevant for modern life.

All that’s needed is curiosity, openness, and a sincere wish to deepen your understanding.

Why Attend?

  • Exploring emptiness isn’t about losing meaning — it’s about discovering freedom.
  • When you begin to see through fixed ideas and mistaken appearances, life becomes lighter, more flexible, and more compassionate.
  • This retreat offers a chance to rest in a peaceful environment, to reflect deeply, and to cultivate insight guided by Geshe Rinchen’s gentle clarity and warmth.
  • You’ll return home with a clearer understanding of yourself and the world, and with tools to keep developing wisdom and compassion in everyday life.

Retreat Boundaries

To help create the best conditions for meditation practice, this retreat will be held within a supportive framework:

  • Silence – Silence will be observed outside of group sessions during some periods of the day to encourage calm and inward focus.
  • Technology-free space – You will be encouraged to switch off phones, laptops and other devices for the duration of the retreat, except for reading texts and other dharma related material.
  • Respecting the schedule – Participants are asked to attend all sessions on time, as consistency supports both personal practice and the group environment.
  • Mindful living – Meals and daily activities will be approached with awareness, becoming part of the retreat practice itself.

These boundaries are not restrictions but supports — creating a safe, focused space in which the mind can settle and deepen.

About Geshe Rinchen

Geshe Rinchen has dedicated his life to the study and practice of the Buddha’s teachings. Born in Tibet, he completed rigorous training in Buddhist philosophy, debate, and meditation, achieving the esteemed title of Geshe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Currently teaching at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds, Geshe Rinchen combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

A Way to Say Thank You

To Land of Joy…

Our generosity model means we do not charge for any teachings, accommodation or food. We are therefore 100% dependant on donations to help us cover our £90,000 a year running costs.

You are therefore invited to give what you can as a thank you for the organisation and hosting of the retreat, including the food and accommodation provided if you stayed onsite.

You may also like to make a regular contribution to the centre by becoming a Branch of Joy. This kind of support gifts us a steady and ongoing income, which in turn provides the confidence and means for us to continue to flourish for many years to come.

Everything given will ensure Land of Joy continues to be offered as a precious place for retreat.

To The Teacher…

Teachers and retreat leaders practice generosity by freely offering their time to Land of Joy. We cover their travel expenses but do not pay them for the teachings they give.

You are therefore invited to make an offering to the teacher as a thank you for the time and knowledge they share.

To The Volunteers…

Our retreats are supported by our wonderful team of volunteers, some of whom you will meet during your time at the centre. Those who live onsite offer their time, expertise and dedication in return for food and accommodation. They do not receive a wage or stipend. Unfortunately, we are only able to accept offerings for them in cash, so if you would like to thank them for their service, please do so by bringing cash with you to the centre and placing it in the volunteer collection pot.