Friday 14 to Sunday 16 February 2025

Becoming Your Own Therapist

In this retreat, Martin Ström will offer practical ways of applying the transformative teachings of Mahayana Buddhism in everyday life.

Being your own therapist means cultivating inner peace, compassion and wisdom through meditation, introspection and contemplative practice.

Martin will provide guidance on understanding the mind’s nature and how to navigate your thoughts and emotions skillfully. The silence observed throughout the retreat enhances your ability to connect with your inner self, promoting clarity and spiritual growth.

Key Topics of the Retreat

● Self-reflection and Awareness. By turning our attention towards our own minds, we become aware of our own thoughts, emotions and mental patterns. This way we can identify and transform the root causes of our suffering.
● Mind as the Source of Experience: Happiness and suffering originate in the mind, not in external circumstances. By changing our mindset we can transform our perception of the world.
● Practical Application of Buddhist Teachings: The Dharma (Buddhist teachings) needs to be a lived experience rather than mere intellectual concepts. Learn to apply buddhist philosophy and meditation in everyday life.
● Personal Responsibility: The concept of being one’s own therapist revolves around taking ownership of one’s mental and emotional health. Become more self-reliant in personal development and healing.
● Understanding Emptiness and Impermanence. Recognising that all phenomena are changing and understanding interdependence helps reduce attachment and alleviate suffering.

About Martin Ström

Martin Ström is a long-time Dharma student, licensed psychologist and meditation teacher. He attended his first teachings with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at the November course at Kopan Monastery in 2003. Other important teachers for Martin are Lama Lhundrup, Lama Alan Wallace, Geshe Sherab, Stephan Pende and Venerable Robina Courtin. Martin is the founder of the FPMT centre - Yeshin Norbu in Stockholm, where he was also the director from 2017 to 2021. He was very inspired by Lama Yeshe’s vision of Universal Education and the His Holiness Dalai Lama’s vision of secular ethics. He has taught meditation and mind training to leaders and staff of several large companies. Martin currently lives in Melbourne, Australia with his family.

About Carmela Quimbo

Carmela Quimbo is a social worker, pastoral care worker and Buddhist chaplain, currently training as an inter-spiritual guide / companion. She is dedicated to developing ways of being that support deep connection with ourselves, other beings and the world we live in.

The first session each day will be led by Carmela Quimbo with ‘Body and Breath’ work.

Cost of the whole retreat is $220.00 (Members' discounts apply)

This covers facility fees, all meals and retreat materials as well as offerings.

At Atisha Centre we provide delicious vegetarian meals; ON THIS OCCASION THE MEALS WILL BE VEGAN. We can also cater to celiac/gluten free (extra cost).

Please BYO food for other dietary needs. Thank you for your understanding.

Please book accommodation separately here.