Healing the heart, refining the mind, finding freedom

In the Buddha’s teaching, going on retreat can be understood as a powerful form of “taking refuge,” by temporarily withdrawing from our external responsibilities to tend to our inner life.

The peaceful natural environment of Te Moata supports deep rest and renewal, which in turn, supports the strengthening of our inner resources, our connection with sangha/community and our capacity to live with more ease and freedom in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.

Over the course of nine days, we will explore a variety of foundational Buddhist practices, including the Four Establishments of Mindfulness that orient us to deep freedom, the four Brahmavihāra practices of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity that open the heart and mind, and some relational practice meditating together in pairs or small groups, to strengthen our sense of sangha/community.

Each day will include a mix of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, optional mindful movement, small group discussion and individual meetings with the teachers.

Teachers: Jill Shepherd and Diana Robertson

Jill Shepherd began practicing insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centres and monasteries in the US, Australia, England, and Thailand. She spent seven years on staff at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of the IMS / Spirit Rock teacher training program in the US, under the guidance of Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal.

Di Robertson began practising insight meditation in 1994 at Gaia House in England. She has taught beginners’ courses since 2000, has led a number of short retreats, and co-taught longer retreats with Jeremy Logan, Yanai Postelnik, Jill Shepherd and Subhana Bazaghi. She lives in Christchurch and is a co-founder and trustee of Southern Insight Meditation. Di also works as an ecologist and counsellor, and is a stepparent and grandparent.

Experience level: This retreat is best suited to people who have done at least one previous insight meditation retreat of five days or longer.

Accommodation: Rooms are mainly curtained cubicles with shared bathrooms. Men and women are housed separately. A limited number of single rooms/cabins/cottages are available at a $10 a day surcharge#.

Food: The centre will provide simple vegetarian meals for the retreat. Please indicate on the registration form if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs.

Special diets: The centre requests a $10 per day surcharge to cater for special diets. This additional fee of $90 is payable directly to Te Moata so please bring cash for this.

Work meditation: To help integrate mindfulness into daily life activities, there will be a period of work meditation each day of approximately 45 minutes.

Retreat fees: sliding scale $900-$700 + dana*

Supporter rate $900 - Slightly more than actual-cost ticket: covers cost of food and accommodation, a contribution to the teacher's travel costs, and a contribution to scholarships for low-income attendees

Actual cost $800 - Actual-cost ticket covers cost of food and accommodation, and a small contribution to the teacher's travel costs

Early-bird/Scholarship rate $700 - Below cost ticket: covers a contribution towards cost of food and accommodation only

The retreat fee covers only the cost of food and accommodation, plus a small contribution to the teachers' travel costs. The teaching is freely offered, and there will be an opportunity to give dana* to the teachers at the end of the retreat.

To reserve a place on the retreat, you will need to pay a deposit of $100 through Humanitix. The balance of the retreat payment is due one week after registering with Humanitix. Account details for balance payments will be included on your Humanitix confirmation email.

Cancellation policy: The payment is refundable up to thirty days before the retreat begins. If you cancel after this time, the retreat cost will be forfeited and used to help provide scholarship places.

If we have to cancel the retreat due to Covid-19, you will receive a full refund.

*Dāna: In most Buddhist traditions the teachers are not paid to teach. Instead, the teachings are given on a ‘dana’ basis – dana being the Pali word for generosity or giving freely - so there will be an opportunity to offer a donation for the teaching at the end of the event.

#Please note: Single Accommodation, Bedding, and Special Diet Surcharges are payable directly to Te Moata so please bring cash for this and pay on arrival. Please contact the retreat centre directly for special accommodation requests retreat@temoata.org