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  1. Western Chan Fellowship
  2. Retreats & Events

bed icon The Eight Worldly Concerns. How can we can free ourselves?

photo of Alysun jones
Karuna Dartmoor, a view of the Manor

bed icon 2 night Residential Retreat

6:00pm Friday 5th June to 2:00pm Sunday 7th June 2026

Leader: Alysun Jones

Venue: Karuna, Dartmoor, Devon

To celebrate 20 years of South Devon Chan Group we are holding a residential weekend at Karuna Dartmoor. This will be led by Alysun Jones who has led several stimulating day retreats for us recently.

The themes addressed on the weekend will be the eight worldly concerns, and the liberation offered by the three marks of existence of not self, impermanence and dukkha.

Booking forms and more information

  • pdf booking form
  • docx booking form (editable)

Accommodation is in two, three and four bedded rooms.

The weekend will start at 6pm on Friday with supper and end at 2pm on Sunday after lunch and a closing session.

The guidelines for the weekend are:

  • The retreat will be in silence and participation in the whole weekend is expected.
  • The consumption of recreational drugs or alcohol is not permitted during the weekend.
  • The food will be vegetarian; please see application form if you have any other dietary requirements.

Alysun will be able to offer some interviews for participants upon request.

Even a weekend of meditation in silence can be an intense experience. It can be stressful for the body and for the mind. The questions asked in the Application Form are to help us all take good care of each other. Answers will be received by Jeremy and Jeanine Woodward who are organizing the retreat and shared with Alysun. Some details will be shared with others on a need to know basis (e.g. dietary needs will be relayed to the in-house cook).

The cost of the weekend is £160.00 which includes accommodation (towels and bed linen included) and all meals from Friday Supper to Sunday Lunch.

Please send payment in full

  • either with your Application Form by cheque payable to South Devon Chan Group to the address on the form
  • or you can email the Application Form to us and make a direct money transfer to South Devon Chan Group, Co-operative Bank plc, Sort Code: 08-92-99 Account No: 65378890 with the reference of “2026 Karuna WE”.

Please let us know when this is paid. Your booking will only be confirmed when this is done by email/text from us.

If financial difficulty would prevent you from coming, please enquire about half price supported places.

Any queries please contact Jeremy Woodward at southdevonchan@westernchanfellowship.org.

Covid precautions for retreat

Please read our Covid precautions for retreats which will apply to this retreat (unless we update it in the meantime). It requires some commitments from you, and some actions by you before the retreat. Please read and consider it before making your retreat booking.

Essential Reading

  • Pre-booking information and advice on retreats
  • Booking and Cancellation advice, fees and supported places, terms and conditions
  • Preparing to attend a retreat
  • Covid precautions for retreats

Leader: Alysun Jones

photo of Alysun jones
Alysun Jones

Alysun Jones has been meditating in the Western Chan tradition for over 30 years. John Crook was her first Teacher and continued as her Teacher all his life. She also practised in the Soto Zen and Tibetan traditions.

Alysun has been leading a WCF local meditation group for the last eight years and has also led some online and day retreats. She is a qualified clinical Psychologist, currently working part time in the NHS. In her spare time she loves to grow organic vegetables and fruit, and care for her chickens and bees.

Karuna, Dartmoor, Devon

Karuna Dartmoor is at Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon

Karuna Dartmoor
Natsworthy Manor
Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Devon
TQ13 7TR
United Kingdom

The Google maps location is not quite correct and you are advised to use the What3Words location: https://what3words.com/sound.anchorman.buckets

Karuna Dartmoor, a view of the Manor
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©Western Chan Fellowship CIO 2011-2025. May not be quoted for commercial purposes. Anyone wishing to quote for non-commercial purposes may seek permission from the WCF Secretary.

The articles on this website have been submitted by various authors. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Western Chan Fellowship.

Permalink: https://w-c-f.org/Q487-499

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March 28
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July 4
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