Friday, January 8, 2010
Tour Completed!
The New Zealand and Australia tour of retreats is now complete!
15 retreats in New Zealand in 14 days - view map New Zealand Retreats
14 retreats in Australia in 16 days - view map Australia Retreats
In the coming months you will be seeing a great deal more retreats from these two wonderful countries on the site with a full expanstion to their own sister sites of
RetreatFinder.co.nz
RetreatFinder.com.au
In addition, with any luck you will also begin seeing videos of selected retreats on this and other sites.
15 retreats in New Zealand in 14 days - view map New Zealand Retreats
14 retreats in Australia in 16 days - view map Australia Retreats
In the coming months you will be seeing a great deal more retreats from these two wonderful countries on the site with a full expanstion to their own sister sites of
RetreatFinder.co.nz
RetreatFinder.com.au
In addition, with any luck you will also begin seeing videos of selected retreats on this and other sites.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 1:10 PM
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Atisha Centre
Myers Flat, VIC outside Bendigo, Australia
This darling but arid retreat centre is also a home to a Mahayana Buddhist (FPMT) monastery. The centre is in the process of completing a new building for accommodations that will prove to be simple but very comfortable.
Currently accommodations are small dorm style in the old gompa with room for camping under the trees.
The arid environment of the land is balanced by wonderful landscaping with many water elements and luscious plants.
The kitchen and bookshop make a lovely place to drop in an visit but call first to make sure they are open.
The Gompa (Meditation Hall) is quite large, supporting 40-60 people, and maintains a reasonable temperature with just windows and ceiling fans.
A magnificent large stupa is also in the process of being built but will be a few years until completion. In the mean time it is a wonderful opportunity to see a stupa being constructed.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 12:56 PM
Monday, December 28, 2009
Virupa Retreat Centre
Carwoola, NSW, Australia
Located on a windy hill just outside Canberra, ACT, Virupa is small retreat centre in the Buddhist Sakya tradition under the direction of Lama Choedak Rinpoche. Operating as Rinpoche’s main retreat centre for many years, SIBA, located just 4 hours away, is now offering the bulk of his retreats in the region.
Known mainly to locals and used mainly by Sakya practitioners Virupa offers three retreat huts that can be used for long term or short term use. However, if used for more than a few days, you must prove that you are under the direction of a teacher, as there are no resident teachers available.
The center also runs its own retreats about once a month. Many of the retreats focus on the introductory practice of Calm Abiding Meditation which is a great technique for increasing clarity of mind and the stability of attention.
While windy, the grounds offer stunning views, hearty walks and are occupied by a plethora of kangaroos.
The shrine room is quite a powerful place and tops out at about 25 people.
The centre is quite compact. The main building holds an office, small bookstore, kitchen and dining area.
The main accommodations are dorm style bunk beds.
The centre can be hired by like minded groups who can meet in the dining area, small lounge area, or use the shrine room is appropriate.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 2:25 PM
St Marys Towers Retreat Centre
Douglas Park, NSW, Australia
Located less than an hour southwest of Sydney and 2.5 hours from Canberra, St Marys Towers Retreat Centre is a beautifully preserved retreat offered by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. With 1000 acres of land and many well marked tracks for wandering this center is close to nature.
Retreatants can partake of one of the centre’s programmed retreats, enjoy a personal self-directed retreat, or receive one hour of personal spiritual direction daily on a directed retreat. No matter which option you choose, all retreats at the center are in silence.
“Life’s Healing Journey” is a powerful retreat experience offered by the center that is based on the proven techniques used by Alcoholics Anonymous. During this retreat you examine your life and the areas you would like to improve and receive the support needed to make the changes you desire. Retreatants have reported powerful life changes occurring as a result of this retreat.
Accommodations are in single rooms with twin beds, a few with ensuite facilities. There are three meeting spaces that can be used for talks or space for personal reflection. There are separate rooms for spiritual direction and even a room for massage.
The facility is well maintained as one would expect from a historical landmark. The ceilings are high, the walls are sandstone and the floors are comfortably carpeted.
Groups of up to 45 can also hire the facility to hold retreats, but groups should be of a like mind to the retreat centre.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 2:20 PM
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Vijayaloka Buddhist Retreat Centre
Newtown, NSW, Australia
Located about 45 minutes outside Sydney this retreat of the FWBO Sydney Buddhist Centre is quite rustic yet appears well loved by its members at they return year after year on retreat. The Sydney Buddhist Centre holds about 25 programs a year here and also hires out the facility.
Starting its life as a temporary military barrack, the retreat has recently been brought up to modern code but the facility is definitely a work in progress. There are about 10 dormitory rooms that accommodate a total of 25-30 people. But if you are uncomfortable with camping or the crawling creatures of nature, this is not the retreat for you. If however, you would like to work on your attachments and aversions, the multitudinous cobwebs, stained ceilings and worn patchwork carpet will offer you excellent practice.
In contrast to the living spaces at the center, the meditation hall has been looked after with newer carpet, paint and is quite comfortable for a group of up to 20.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 2:24 AM
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Satyananda Yoga Mangrove Retreat Center
Mangrove Creek, NSW, Australia
Located just 1.5 hours from Sydney in the Blue Mountains, this beautiful center with many newly renovated buildings sits along a salt water creek with a delightful swimming hole and under a hill with a wonderful cliff trail and views.
Satyananda Yoga, the largest residential retreat centre in the southern hemisphere, welcomes people of all spiritual backgrounds to their teachings which is considered an integral yoga which brings together many branches of yoga so that the whole person can develop and evolve. The staff of this vibrant healthy and warm hearted community range in age and backgrounds and easily convey the message that spirituality is both serious and fun.
Established in 1975, the center now runs programs on a variety of topics including wellbeing and vitality, Hatha yoga cleansing, yoga for the blues, yoga art and yoga dance, Kirtan, Ayervedic cooking and nutrition, yoga ecology and women’s spirituality, as well as in-depth courses in yogic studies and yoga teacher training.
Personal retreat are also available in which you create your own retreat, or you can join in on any of the daily activities or the entire schedule.
The daily schedule starts with a 6am yoga class followed by breakfast and chanting then an hour of karma yoga cleaning and optional additional karma yoga. The community gathers again at noon for relaxing Yoga Nidra then lunch and cleanup. Various activities round out the day.
With three delicious vegetarian meals and two tea breaks per day one is never want for food, even if you are diary free, gluten free, onion or garlic free.
Accommodations range from a single room with ensuite facilities to shared rooms with five beds and shared facilities. With the observance of Mauna (silence) each evening starting at 8:15pm and ending with morning chanting, what may seem like close physical quarters suddenly become ample.
The compact campus has wonderfully landscaped grounds and three meditation/yoga/class rooms in the main building. All buildings rely on the air conditioning supplied by nature and maintain focus on the environment with timed heaters sot that energy is not wasted.
But just because this is an ashram it does not mean that people are disconnected. A nice student room is provided for those who need computer access.
For those who are a bit weary of ashrams, I would like to share a bit of my personal experience at Satyananda. In a wonderful display of the centre’s spiritual inclusiveness there was chanting of the names of Jesus and singing carols on Christmas day even when the center was on staff holiday and closed to non-residents.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 1:29 AM
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Mount Carmel Retreat Centre
Varroville, NSW, Australia
Located just an hour south of Sydney and accessible by train, the Discalced Carmelite Friars and Sisters of Mount Carmel Retreat Centre offer a wonderful opportunity to “come aside and rest a while.”
The centre offers weekend retreats throughout the year on a number of themes including ‘Praying with Carmelite Saints’, ‘What does God want me to do?’, as well as holiday retreats and a young adult retreat. The friars at Mt Carmel are quite jovial and welcome people from all backgrounds to enjoy their hospitality.
These programs include time to unwind and relax, reflect on the talks given, attend liturgy and prayer, and if requested time for spiritual direction.
If you wish for a more private retreat, the centre has two hard walled yurts with ensuite facilities and small kitchenette. Meals can be taken at the main center or self catered and the hermitages have heat and air conditioning. Retreatants can simply take time alone, or join the community in Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, and silent prayer. Spiritual direction and sacrament of reconciliation are also available.
Occupying grazing land outside the city, the centre is very quiet with open views and a few walking tracks across the land. Built in the mid 1960s the accommodations are three stories of single rooms with shared facilities for total occupation of around 40. The rooms are simple and comfortable with a twin bed, desk, lounge chair and small wardrobe. There are also a few shared kitchenettes and lounge areas. However the only air conditioning is natures own breeze.
The Novitiate house may occasionally be hired by groups for retreats. The separate building has its own full kitchen for self catering, a large lounge area, a small meeting room, and accommodations for seven in single rooms.
# posted by Retreat Finder : 1:00 AM
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]