Chinese Zen Meditation Retreats, Silent Retreats
Try one of our retreats to develop your mindfulness and take the next steps to investigate the self. Our events are open equally to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists aged 18 and over and are held at various UK venues, principally England and Wales but also sometimes in Scotland.
Alongside group instruction we provide a significant amount of individual instruction through personal interviews with participants. An 'interview' is a private conversation about your meditation practice and any difficulties you are experiencing with it with one of our experienced retreat leaders. Typically each participant will be offered at least one interview opportunity during each shorter retreat and two or three during a retreat of five days or longer. This enables you to get the most out of your retreat by ensuring that you are meditating effectively and adjusting your practice according to your individual experience and circumstances.
Some of our Zen retreats ('sesshin') follow closely the traditional methods of teaching and practice, and others such as our 'Western Zen Retreat' include adaptations to match the Western mind. Our meditation retreats are usually silent retreats. We also hold other events such as conferences, local group day retreats, etc.
Coronavirus/COVID-19
We continue to take some precautions to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 infection at group events with shared accommodation, such as retreats.
Here is a copy of our Covid retreat plan (subject to amendment) which applies to our current programme of events.
Event Calendar
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat, Sunday 8th December 2024
Venue: St Benedict's Centre, West Malling, Kent UK
Retreats offer a wonderful opportunity for extended practice in supportive conditions, helping us to deepen our appreciation of meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The programme for our day of practice will include sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful movement (qigong) and a Dharma talk.
To support us in our practice, our day together will be in silence, and is best suited for those with previous experience of meditation.
Illuminating the Mind
7-night Residential Retreat, Saturday 4th January to Saturday 11th January 2025
Leader: Simon Child, Venue: Shawbottom Farm UK
Silent Illumination is a profound meditation practice which leads to a mind of great calmness and insight, using ancient Chinese Zen methods which are just as applicable to the modern West. It is the origin of the Japanese Soto Zen practice of Shikantaza but is approached somewhat differently and full instruction will be given.
This seven-night silent retreat is an opportunity to learn and deepen this practice through intensive meditation, with instruction and personal guidance by individual interviews with an experienced teacher. Whether or not a breakthrough to Enlightenment may occur, establishing a practice gives a firm basis for subsequent ongoing mindfulness and compassion in everyday life.
Go to details and booking for Event 466
Introduction to Meditation, Buddhism and Chan (online)
Wednesday 15th January to Wednesday 5th February 2025
Venue: Online
This free course, consisting of four weekly online 90-minute sessions, is an opportunity to become familiar with a meditation practice and to learn about Buddhism and Chan. The course covers core teachings of the Buddha as well as the roots of Chan Buddhism and practices, namely Silent Illumination and Koans. Both were transmitted to Japan centuries ago where they became Zen. You are encouraged to practice between the weekly sessions and will be able to reflect on your experience in an online group setting. David and Guy will present the sessions.
Western Zen Retreat
5-night Residential Retreat, Saturday 15th March to Thursday 20th March 2025
Leader: Jake Lyne, Venue: Shawbottom Farm UK
Who am I? Thoroughly confronting this question can take us directly to the centre of our being. Over the course of this five-day retreat you will investigate the question "Who am I?" within a standard retreat framework, using silent meditation in conjunction with a unique method of verbal inquiry. This format allows you to use words to go beyond words and thereby enter the main gate of Chan.
The intensive nature of this process of inquiry drives each practitioner into a self-presentation that is difficult to experience in other ways. To guide and support you, personal interviews with the teachers are offered regularly throughout the retreat. With whole-hearted engagement this retreat may lead to the acceptance of self, the experience of "self at ease," and may even provide an opportunity for direct insight into the ground of being.
Read retreat reports by past participants in the Western Zen Retreat.
Go to details and booking for Event 469
Illuminating the Mind
7-night Residential Retreat, Saturday 12th April to Saturday 19th April 2025
Leader: Simon Child, Venue: Shawbottom Farm UK
Silent Illumination is a profound meditation practice which leads to a mind of great calmness and insight, using ancient Chinese Zen methods which are just as applicable to the modern West. It is the origin of the Japanese Soto Zen practice of Shikantaza but is approached somewhat differently and full instruction will be given.
This seven-night silent retreat is an opportunity to learn and deepen this practice through intensive meditation, with instruction and personal guidance by individual interviews with an experienced teacher. Whether or not a breakthrough to Enlightenment may occur, establishing a practice gives a firm basis for subsequent ongoing mindfulness and compassion in everyday life.
Go to details and booking for Event 470
Investigating Koans
7-night Residential Retreat, Saturday 24th May to Saturday 31st May 2025
Leader: Fiona Nuttall, Venue: Shawbottom Farm UK
The ancient Chinese Zen practices of investigating Huatou and Gongan (Koan) are best practised in a supportive environment such as this intensive silent retreat. As one becomes deeply absorbed in the practice, mental constructions drop away and one is confronted by a realisation that one does not know the nature of existence and one's fundamental assumptions of life are groundless. Staying with and cultivating this 'doubt', it can become all-consuming 'Great doubt' which may 'shatter', giving a direct insight into reality which may be what is known as an Enlightenment experience.
Go to details and booking for Event 471
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