Before we can see clearly, we need to learn how to look, and before we can look deeply, the mind must first become still.

This weekend retreat offers an experiential introduction to shamatha, or calm-abiding meditation, a practice that gently cultivates three essential qualities of mind: relaxation, stability, and clarity. These aren’t just pleasant states, they are the necessary groundwork for the development of insight or Vipashyana. Without a settled, focused mind, insight and wisdom cannot take hold.

Over the course of the weekend, we’ll explore how to:

Relax into presence without losing wakefulness
Develop mental stability that supports sustained attention
Clarify the mind so that experience can be seen more directly
Recognise and skillfully navigate obstacles like dullness, agitation, and distraction
Understand why shamatha is indispensable for deep insight and lasting transformation

Through guided practice and short teachings, we’ll create the conditions to taste genuine stillness and see how this stability opens the door to wisdom. This will be a retreat in silence.

Whether you’re just beginning or looking to deepen your path, this retreat offers a clear, supportive space to cultivate the kind of mind that can meet life with greater freedom, resilience, and clarity.

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 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.

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The total retreat fee of $300.00 covers all food, facility fees, offerings and retreat materials.

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Please book accommodation separately if you wish to stay at the Centre.

Please email office@atishacentre.org.au to request accommodation type plus arrival and departure date:

Single room ensuite bathroom $80/night
Single room shared bathroom $60/night
Camping / campervan $20/night (unpowered)
Camping / campervan $25/night (powered - very limited)

We also have shared room options.

We look forward to seeing you soon.