Cultivating the Awakened Heart with Insight, Benevolence, Compassion, Joy and Peace - 6 Night Silent Insight Meditation Retreat

This dana based retreat will explore the Buddhist Path of Awakening. It will be an invitation to the development of liberating insight and the cultivation of four heart qualities: benevolence, compassion, joy and equanimity.

The retreat is informed by a synthesis of Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Yoga practices and contemporary psychology. In addition, it will include: to Dharma/Dhamma talks, meditation instructions, gentle somatically-based yoga sessions, individual and small group meetings with teachers and Dhamma Dance (please see description of Dhamma Dance with Sandi Middleton below).

Teachers on this retreat include:  Malcolm Huxter, Lisa Brown, Anna McKay and Sandi Middleton  (see below for info about teachers). The retreat will be managed by Karen Plumbe.

The schedule will include: 

6.00 – 7.30am     Morning Gentle Embodied Mindful Yoga and Yoga Nidra with Lisa 

7.30 - 9.15am     Breakfast & Karma Yoga 

9.30 -11am         Morning instruction and guidance /workshop session                                        

11.00 -12.30am  Periods of silent meditation in a group or individually. Scheduled meetings.  

12.30 - 2.30pm    Lunch and rest 

2.30 - 3:45pm      Periods of silent meditation in a group or individually. Scheduled meetings

3:45 - 4:45pm     Dhamma Dance with Sandi

5.00-6.00pm        Dharma Talk   

6:00-7:15pm        Light dinner              

7.15 - 8.30pm      Meditation. Q &A & Discussion.  Chanting & Poetry

Cultivating the Awakened Heart Retreat — General Aims

• Heart-Mind Integration: Blending contemporary psychological insights with timeless Buddhist wisdom and meditation practices.

• Open & Connect: Cultivating inner calm and stillness, the heart qualities, and genuine connection with oneself and others.

• The Four divine abodes: Experiencing deep peace and interconnection through the boundless practices of benevolence, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

• Break Old Patterns: Transforming  harmful tendencies and habits into kind, compassionate, peaceful, and life-affirming ways of living.

• Discover True Freedom: Waking Up and stepping off cycles of stress and suffering to embrace a liberated, open heart.

Who is this retreat for?
This silent retreat is for anyone who has had some prior experience with meditation and wishes to enhance and practise these skills. The retreat is suited to the general public as well as health care practitioners, therapists, educators, programme leaders and it may partially fulfil CPD requirements for some professions and meditation teacher training programs. 

The fees. The cost of the retreat covers accommodation at beautiful Sangsurya Retreat Centre in Byron Bay, nutritious vegetarian meals and administration. There will be a $100 discount for Early Bird registration prior to 31st January, 2027. In accordance with Buddhist traditions, there is no fee for the teachings and guidance on this retreat as it is dana based. Dana refers to the economy of generosity where the teachings are given freely and those who receive the teachings have the opportunity to reciprocate with a financial gift that they feel is suitable, after the retreat has finished. 

BEFORE YOU REGISTER PLEASE READ THESE MEDITATION RETREAT HEALTH WARNINGS: Link to meditation retreat health warnings

BEFORE YOU REGISTER PLEASE READ THESE CONDITIONS OF ATTENDING RETREATS OF OVER 4 DAYS DURATION-which also apply to both in person and online retreats: Link to conditions of attending online meditation retreats of over 4 days

Malcolm Huxter (MAPS, AABCAP) is a clinical psychologist in private practice. He is the author of “Healing the Heart and Mind with Mindfulness.” Routledge 2016. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315715902/healing-heart-mind-mindfulness-malcolm-huxter

A practicing psychologist for nearly 35  years, he has been teaching mindfulness and the four heart qualities to the general public, a range of cultures, clinical populations, therapists and other professionals since 1991. He is a certified mindful self- compassion (MSC) teacher as well as Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) teacher.  He began training in Buddhist meditation practices in 1975, living in Thailand as a Buddhist monk for two years in the late 1970’s. As well as Theravada, he has trained in other Buddhist and spiritual traditions. For more details about Mal go to https://www.malhuxter.com/

Lisa Brown (AAPi, Yoga Aust, AABCAP) is an Insight Dharma Teacher, Registered Psychologist, Yoga Teacher, certified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Teacher (Brown University, USA) and trained Mindful Self-Compassion Facilitator. As an Adjunct Lecturer at Charles Sturt University, Lisa taught mindfulness and retreats for post-graduate students and has a deep interest in the conjunction  of western science, Buddhadharma and earth-based wisdom traditions in health, healing and trauma recovery. Lisa has a dedicated meditation and yoga practice of more than 25 years and currently works in private practice, facilitating groups and workshops on Gumbaynggirr Country, Coffs Harbour. Website:  Lisa's website 

Anna McKay is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Byron Bay. Before becoming a

psychologist, Anna was a naturopath and herbalist. Anna teaches meditation in two sanghas

in Northern NSW and has trained as a mindfulness and compassion teacher with the Insight

Meditation Institute (IMI). She is also in the Dharma teacher pathway with IMI. Anna has

practiced Insight meditation for many years and is always curious about how contemplative

practices can cultivate inner balance and support us to meet life’s challenges with clarity and

compassion.

Sandi Middleton has practised meditation for over 27 years, beginning in the Goenka Vipassana tradition and later deepening within the Western Insight lineage. Her studies include a Diploma Course in Buddhist Studies at the Vipassana Research Institute in India and a period of living under Buddhist nun precepts. She has completed the Mindfulness and Compassion Teacher Training and is currently on the Insight Meditation Institute’s 4 year Dhamma Teacher Pathway course. Her teachings are grounded in embodied presence, shaped by playfulness and a deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence and the teachings of the natural world. 

With a professional background as a Dance Movement Therapist Sandi is the founder of Dhamma Dance — a somatic meditation practice that weaves together authentic movement and embodied awareness. More Info: Fb@Dhamma Dance , Insta #DhammaDance

For more detailed information about the retreat, email Lisa Brown on lisa@mindful-wellbeing.com  or 0400491477  (Australia) or email malhuxter@gmail.com or phone 0431768299 (Australia)