Details:

Date: Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd March

Retreat Leader: Paula Chichester & Lou Beaumont

Requirements: Everyone is welcome

Cost: Generosity Model – Donation only (via the donation form at the bottom of the page; no suggested amount).

Format: Onsite

Start and Finish times: Starting with supper at 18:00 on the first day and finishing after lunch on the last day. A more detailed schedule will be released closer to the time.

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 with two-four people sharing rooms and only one single room (which is sometimes needed by volunteers). This means single accommodation can only be offered to those who need it the most, but still won’t always be available. Camping can be an option at certain times of year if you have your own tent, but space is very limited. Please read the relevant sections of the booking form carefully.

About the Retreat

We all know the wonderful feeling that comes when someone sincerely offers to help us with no expectation of return; or when we see people genuinely giving their time and money to make a better life for another person or a whole group of people.

Universal weekends do not use buddhist terminology or philosophical ideas, instead focusing on non-religious tools which can help develop happiness, kindness, compassion and more in your everyday life. You therefore do not need to be Buddhist or interested in Buddhism to attend.

In this workshop, we explore our own attitudes, look at our limitations and see how easy it is to cultivate kindness and feel more satisfied and joyful in our lives

This workshop will help us explore and develop the concept of loving kindness

– The positive effects of kindness

– The view of kindness being a weakness

– The skill of understanding what others need from us

– The courage to be kind

– Recalling times we have been kind and when others have been kind to us

– The positive effect of putting others before ourselves

– How kindness leads to happiness

– What stops us being kind?

– Equanimity

– The importance of self-love

The workshop will combine teaching, meditation and chi gong.

About the Teachers

Paula Chichester is known for her friendly, experiential teaching style that evolved from 4 decades of full-time training in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and meditation as well as diverse psycho-somatic healing arts from Asia and the West.

Her ability to distill and impart the essence of these disciplines is inspired by her main teachers, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche.

Having studied with great teachers from all four sects of Tibetan Buddhadharma, Paula is dedicated to help create a world culture of health, compassion, wisdom and joy.

Find out more about Paula and many other materials and resources which can support you in your practice on her website: http://braveview.org.

Lou Beaumont Has taught yoga & pranayama for many years & is a qualified Wheel of Yoga teacher. She was fortunate in the early years to meet & take classes with Phil Jones who was a master of classical pranayama & has practiced ever since. This weekend she will be sharing very simple & effective breathing exercises, the basis of pranayama, that will energise & relax the body & mind setting us on a foundation that will help us open our hearts to loving kindness.

Because of her interest in movement she started to practice Chi Gong & Tai Chi in Spain, where she lived many years, with the Spanish lineage holder in the Hun Yuan tradition of Chi Gong, Tai Chi & Martial Arts – Pedro Valencia – a very special master who she has been taking classes with the last 15 years. She will be teaching some of the basic gentle meditative movements of chi gong from this style during the weekend. Working with chi, our basic subtle energy, helps to keep our body fit & flexible it also helps to relax & expand our minds & is another method that helps us to open our hearts.

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.