Details:
Date: Friday 9th – Friday 16th October
Retreat Leader: Andy Wistreich
Requirements: To have received a Yamantaka Solitary Hero Initiation
Cost: Generosity Model – Donation only (by clicking the ‘Donate Here’ button below). Land of Joy provides: retreat organisation, meals, accommodation, teachings, and materials.
Format: Onsite only / Retreat begins: 7pm on the 9th October / Retreat ends: with lunch on 16th October
Recommended arrival: 3pm – 5pm on the 16th October 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 us at Land of Joy for a rare and precious opportunity to engage deeply with the Yamantaka Solitary Hero practice — one of the most profound methods of Highest Yoga Tantra. Guided by Andy Wistreich, this retreat offers the chance to strengthen your connection with this powerful path in a peaceful and supportive environment.
Andy received the full set of teachings on these practices directly from Geshe Namgyal Wangchen, and the retreat will be experiential, following Geshe Wangchen’s oral instructions. Together, we will explore both the generation and completion stages of the Yamantaka Solitary Hero practice through clear explanations, guided meditations, and space for personal reflection.
The retreat will also include instruction and practice in the Magical Wheel hatha yoga exercises as taught by Lama Yeshe, and selected aspects of the Guhyasamaja completion stage teachings presented by Lama Tsongkhapa in Lamp to Illuminate the Five Stages. Participants are encouraged to read this text in advance, using Gavin Kilty’s English translation.
During the retreat, we will engage in the Yamantaka long sadhana, short self-initiation, and completion stage practices as transmitted by Geshe Wangchen. Texts for these practices will be provided to registered participants.
Come and immerse yourself in this sacred practice in the tranquil setting of Land of Joy, supported by community, lineage, and the clear, warm guidance of an experienced teacher.
What will be offered:
- Daily sessions of guided meditation and recitation of the sadhana
- Clear explanations of both generation and completion stage practices
- Opportunities for personal reflection and integration
- A supportive group environment, balanced with time for silence and individual practice
- Space for Q&A and discussion with Andy
Who is this for?
This retreat is intended for practitioners who have previously received the Yamantaka Solitary Hero empowerment and have some experience with the practice. It offers a special chance to deepen your understanding, refine your meditation, and experience the transformative power of Yamantaka — cutting through obstacles and revealing the innate wisdom and compassion within.
It is designed for those who wish to:
- Strengthen and stabilise their daily practice
- Deepen their understanding of the Solitary Hero sadhana
- Gain confidence in both generation and completion stage methods
- Benefit from the supportive environment of a group retreat
Retreat Boundaries
To help create the best possible conditions for retreat, the group will be observing the following boundaries:
- Keeping continuity of practice – following the daily schedule of sessions helps sustain focus and momentum.
- Respecting ethical conduct – refraining from distractions such as phones, non-Dharma activities & following the five precepts..
- Treating the dharma with respect – treating the sadhana, mantras, visualisations, and rituals with care and respect.
Andy Wistreich
Andy has been studying, practising and teaching Dharma in FPMT for almost forty years. During that time he practised Yamantaka daily, completing his first enabling retreat in 1983.
His main teacher Geshe Wangchen gave him oral instructions on all aspects of Yamantaka practice, so his practice is very personally derived from his Guru and his Guru’s Gurus.