Retreat Schedule
Bookings
Prior booking is important for all events. Unless a different contact name is given, please book with Sunyata Retreat centre tel 061 367073 or by email: info@sunyatacentre.com and request an application form (emailing is better).
If there is time to book by snailmail, when you return the form, please send a 50 Euro deposit, payable to Sunyata Retreat Centre, for all residential retreats. Please tell the retreat manager in advance if you have any special dietary requirements (food is vegetarian). Unless specifically mentioned all retreats are suitable for beginners as well as more experienced meditators.
Refunds
All refunds incur a €5 handling fee. If you book a retreat space and ask for a refund a week or more before the retreat occurs (unless more time is requested for a particular retreat), we will be happy to provide a full refund minus the handling fee.
Retreat Schedule
Unless otherwise stated all residential retreats start between 6 PM-7PM on a Friday, when retreatants arrive for light supper and welcome by retreat manager. All meals are good quality vegetarian food. The first meditation starts betweem 8 and 8:30PM. Accommodation is typically in shared rooms though there are opportunities for being alone in a room. We can accommodate between 15-22 people on residential retreats. We rise early with the first sitting beween 5- 6:30 am. Breakfast is about 7.15 am. The daily routine involves sitting and walking meditation, talks from the teacher, question and answer sessions and sometimes periods of working meditation. Lunch is about 12 noon and there is tea, bread, soup and sometimes more between 5 PM and 5:30PM. Unless specified differently, weekend retreats usually end at 4 PM on Sunday and longer retreats between lunch and 4PM on the last day. Retreats are held in "congenial noble silence" i.e. no talking unless necessary and no righteous criticism of oneself or other (the congenial aspect). The freedom from having to engage in social chit-chat gives everyone the space to withdraw inwards and benefit more deeply from the meditation practice.
What to bring on retreat
Please bring your own towel; loose, warm, comfortable clothing; outdoor shoes and coat for walking meditation outside; slippers or thick socks for indoor wear; and a torch/flashlight. If you like, bring ear plugs and/or an umbrella and/or a watch. Please do NOT bring books, tape-recorder or walkman, mobile phones - your mind will be quite distracting enough without these! Please also do NOT bring a clock that makes a ticking sound as this will disturb other retreatants. A "silent" clock is fine. All bedding and meditation cushions/chairs are provided.
Dana (Generosity)
The price listed for residential retreats includes food, accommodation, administrative costs and the teachers' travelling expenses. The teachers at Sunyata give of their time, energy and understanding. The retreat charge only covers food, accommodation, teacher travel and retreat overheads. No part of your fee is reserved for the teachers. All teachers at Sunyata offer their services on the principle of Dana (this may not be true for those whose retreat you need to book by contacting the teacher directly).
