Details:

Date: Friday 19th – Sunday 21st January 2024

Retreat Leader: Alison Murdoch & Anna Colao

Requirements: Everyone is welcome

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

Format: Onsite only.

Start Time: Friday 19th January, 7 pm. Please arrive at Land of Joy by 5 pm, supper will be served at 6 pm.

Finish times: Late afternoon on Sunday 21st January.

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 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. Please read the relevant sections of the booking form carefully.

About the Retreat

Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck – The Dalai Lama

We all face problems, big and small – it’s an inevitable part of human life.

The pressing question is: how do we choose to respond to them? Is it possible to avoid aversion, stress, blame and shame, and instead see everyday difficulties and disappointments as opportunities for self-compassion, insight, creativity and even humour? What steps can we take to embrace reality in a more wholesome, wise and compassionate way?

The aim of this retreat is to strengthen our capacity for happiness and peace in the year ahead. The Tibetan Buddhist tradition of thought transformation proposes that we can gradually learn to recognise our problems as a precious opportunity for personal growth, leading to a happier and more peaceful life both for ourselves and for the people around us.

Drawing on ancient wisdom such as Geshe Langri Tangpa’s Eight Verses of Thought Transformation as well as the contemporary methods of Universal Education, this will be a mutually supportive weekend of meditation, reflection and discussion.

About the Teachers

Alison Murdoch is the former director of Jamyang Buddhist Centre (London) and of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, and for many years was a regular Buddhist contributor to BBC Radio. She is a graduate of the FPMT Basic Programme and the lead editor of the book and web app Lamrim Year, published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. In 2018 she founded The Good Heart, an award– winning centre for exploring kindness in Frome, Somerset.

Anna Colao is a practising Buddhist of over 25 years whose goal is to bring meditation, values and internal transformation to a variety of audiences in an authentic, fun and accessible way.
She is currently employed by Common Purpose, a global not-for-profit in the leadership development space, and has previously worked for organisations such as Crisis, Kids Company and The School for Social Entrepreneurs.

A Way to Say Thank You

As we don’t receive any subsidies from other organisations we rely solely on the kind generosity of others. If you would like to make a donation to help us cover our considerable monthly costs (including via an online bank transfer or postal cheque), please enter the amount, click ‘Donate’, then choose a payment method and provide all the details we require to process your donation. Your generosity will help us continue to offer beneficial services to you and others.

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.

Thank you and may you be happy.

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