Interbeing - An Ecodharma Journey

Join us for this six night Ecodharma retreat with Carol Perry, Suzie Brown, Lisa Brown and assisted by Lody Levy

26 March – 1 April 2027

How do we remember who we are and begin to reconnect to ourselves, the Earth and all beings? This retreat offers space to explore and deepen our connection through the Dharma and experiential practices.

Interbeing is a term that can be traced back to the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, reflecting the teachings of the Buddha, who taught the interconnected relationality of all things. In this retreat we will explore what it is to experience and deeply realise interbeing. How do we unlearn and decondition our heart mind from the habits of separation? How might our individual liberation be bound up with the liberation of the earth and of all people?

To be disconnected from the natural world and all beings is a major cause of suffering in the world today, manifesting as the polycrisis and showing up as imbalances, poor health, exploitation of the natural world and ongoing domination. How did this separation begin? What stories, structures and habits of mind have taught us to see ourselves as apart from — rather than part of — the living world around us? And what might it mean to trace this disconnection back further still: to the origins of colonialism and racism, and systems of domination and exploitation.

With embodied mindfulness practices and supportive Sangha, we will open to the deep interdependence of all life — and this can reveal joy, wonder, grief, and our innate capacity for resilience and compassionate action.

Join us on sacred Gumbaynggirr lands, in the beautiful forest and ocean surrounds of Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre, for this special week of silent sitting and walking meditation (in- and outdoors), Dharma inquiry, gentle Heart Yoga, deep relaxation, and meditative and art-based activities.

The unique combination of teachers offering this retreat brings deep experience in activism, conflict resolution, community building, yoga and embodied practices, and art-based practices, alongside a depth of Dharma insight and experience.

Accommodation: The Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre has comfortable 4-berth bunk rooms with shared bathrooms. We are offering these rooms as single rooms or twin share rooms. There is also abundant space for camping in tents or campervans.

Cost: The cost for six nights’ accommodation and all meals is $1050 in a single room, $725 in a twin share room, or $650 for camping/campervans (bring your own). Thanks to generous donations, there are limited scholarship places for activists (twin share or camping only) - pre-approval is required to access these places so please contact us first.

Dana: In accordance with a 2,500-year-Buddhist tradition, the teachers provide the teachings as a gift and rely on your return of that gift in the form of Dana (financial generosity) to support the teachings

Digital Detox: This will be a device-free retreat to support your connection to the Earth and the Sangha.

The teachers:

Carol Perry has 45 years’ experience in the Insight tradition.  She is a senior teacher with Melbourne Insight Meditation and a long-time social activist on ecological and social justice issues.  Carol leads a monthly Women's Wisdom & the Dharma group in the Northern Rivers area, mentors emerging teachers and is a Certified Hakomi Psychotherapist. She recently published a book: The Whole of the Path: Dharma, Community and social action

Suzie Brown is an Insight Dharma teacher, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher and environmental activist. She co-founded the Melbourne Insight Meditation Group in 2009 and has trained as an Insight Dharma Teacher both in Australia, with the Insight Meditation Institute, and in the USA, with James Baraz. Suzie works with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, previously as a mentor in their Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP) and, now in their online dharma platform, Banyan. She has also been an environmental activist for over 20 years, founding the national group, Parents for Climate.

Lisa Brown is an Insight Dharma Teacher, Psychologist, Senior Yoga Teacher, and certified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Teacher. She 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: www.mindfulnesspsychologywellbeing.com 

Lody Levy is a Buddhist psychotherapist working in Brisbane (Magandjin) and is a Dharma teacher-in-training with the Insight Meditation Institute of Australia.  She is a meditation teacher and teaches regularly at Heart Insight in Brisbane.  Lody is a facilitator with The Work that Reconnects and is passionate about social and ecological justice.