7 day silent zen meditation and yin yoga retreat in portugal

WHAT THE PRACTICE IS ABOUT

A week ( 8days/7nights ) dedicated to the practice of silent meditation, yin yoga, sharing the dharma and mindful walks in the hills of serra de monchique.

This is a rare moment to connect at a deeper level with your own heart and mind free from the dispersion or distraction that seem to fill much of our everyday lives.

We find many of the answers we seek within ourselves, in the depth of our being as we feel deeper into the experience of who we are.

This week offers the possibility of taking the inwards steps to reconnect with the source of what is healing and nourishing in all of us.  

One of the more impactful and profound experiences given to us to live is to recollect heart and mind in an intensive period of silent and still sitting.

This is a moment when, while attending and caring for whatever is unfolding outside, we begin to turn our light inwards, as the Buddha encouraged us to do in his last recorded words.

Turning our light inwards is another way of speaking of intimacy and coming home.

Intimacy means no one other than you can take the steps, often steep, at times disquietening, that take you away from the distractions of the world and lead you to who you really are.

To be truly who you are is to come home, and to come home is beyond words and descriptions.

This is the gift of immersion in silence and stillness. 

HOW THE DAYS UNFOLD

The first six days will be spent in silence and the schedule will include zazen (seated meditation), Kinhin (walking meditation), walks in nature, Heart of Yoga guided by Fiona and daily dharma talks by Hamid.

Traditionally at the end of a silent retreat, the participants all leave with a little time to discuss the thoughts and feelings that came up for them during the silence.

However, at this retreat, we will have a group meeting on the last day, during which time we can share and open up with regards to whatever we have processed during the meditation sessions.

We can explore further different aspects of the teachings to offer a framework to help you make better sense of your experience, so as to support incorporating it into your daily lives.

This is an opportunity to spend time away from distractions and dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to meditation which is the practice of sitting in an open and non-judgmental way with the rising and falling of thought processes without getting carried away by them.

When the ripples of an over-active mind are calmed as you focus your attention on the present, the look you take at your life deepens.

Connecting your mind through Zen meditation will help you see the world and yourself with a greater sense of clarity.

8 days/ 7 nights intensive silent meditation retreat with dharma teachings, a group encounter, walks in nature and heart yoga.

ABOUT THE TEACHERS

Hamid has been a student of Zen for over twenty-five years and was ordained as a monk in 2000. He is a disciple of Zen Master Ryotan Tokuda who in 2012 gave him sanction to teach. Hamid is a counsellor in practice. He has spent over ten years in India and Indonesia where he has taught meditation, philosophy, and comparative spirituality.

The teachings are inspired by both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, particularly Zen Buddhism.

 ABOUT THE RETREAT CENTRE

Karuna Retreat Center is a dedicated meditation retreat centre located in the green and scented mountains of Serra de Monchique in the Algarve. Serra the Monchique is known for it’s healing thermal water, medicinal plants, pure air and lush green landscapes. The Retreat Center offers a stunning view over Portugal's southern coast and the Atlantic Ocean and is just 20 minutes away from pristine beaches and less than 10 minutes away from the picturesque village of Monchique and Caldas de Monchique (Thermal SPA). Karuna is amongst one of the most secluded and silent places in this area and is home to a variety of local flora and fauna. The Retreat Center’s property is isolated and perfect for those in search of silence, seclusion and peace.

COST

680 euros per person Deposit of 340 euros payable to secure your place and a further 340 euros payable in cash on arrival.

NUMBER OF PLACES

Limited to 18 people

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

Accommodation - single bed in a shared double / triple room

Food - Three beautiful and healthy vegetarian meals provided each day.

All the retreat activites. 

Free water, hot beverages and fruits.

NOT INCLUDED

Flights and transport to the retreat center.. See Less