Freedom of Being meditation retreat

with Subhana Barzaghi and Will James

23-30 January 2026 at Sangsurya Retreat Centre, Byron Bay

Insight meditation allows us to see clearly the reactions and distortions that arise in our daily life. It cultivates an awareness of the freedom and clarity that is available in each precious moment.

Teachers:

Subhana Barzaghi is a senior guiding teacher in the Insight Tradition and a Zen meditation teacher with over thirty years’ experience in Buddhist meditation. Subhana is an experienced psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and trainer for Buddhism and psychotherapy. She leads regular retreats, dharma gatherings and workshops throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Will James is the guiding teacher at the Tallowwood Sangha in Bellingen. He regularly leads retreats in Australia and Bali, has taught at the Dharma Gatherings in Australia and India, and is a Senior Mentor for the Insight Meditation Institute.

Detailed Retreat Information:

Please arrive between 3:00pm and 5:00 pm on Friday, 23 Jan. The retreat will finish after lunch on Friday 30 Jan.

Schedule: The full days have an early optional exercise period e.g. yoga, walking or individual exercise. The retreat program consists of sitting, standing, walking & guided meditation, meditation instruction, group and individual meetings with teachers, inquiry sessions, evening Dharma talks and daily mindfulness work periods.

The retreat is conducted in silence apart from meetings with teachers and essential communication.

Meetings with the teachers are an essential aspect of the retreat and will be in a small group format. Also there will be opportunity for individual interviews with teachers during the week.

Dana: Insight Meditation teachers give generously of their time and energy during retreats. They receive no payment for this and are supported by donations from those attending retreats.

A Dana (donation) box will be placed inside the meditation hall for donations to support the teachers.

What to Bring:

Meditation cushions and mat

Clothing plus meditation shawl or wrap

Torch with extra batteries: Sangsurya is in a forest setting and even though there is path lighting, a torch is handy for moving around the area at night.
Water bottle (please leave outside the meditation hall): Filtered water is available at the meditation hall and in the dining room.

Rain/sun protection:

Other useful items: Mosquito repellent and sunscreen. Yoga mat if you wish to participate in yoga. Personal toiletries.

Things to note: All bedding and linen including towels, sheets, blankets and pillows are provided.

Etiquette on Retreat:

The retreat will be run under the protection of the five precepts to create a safe and supportive environment. All participants are invited and encouraged to take up the five retreat precepts.

The teachers are also committed to this practice. If any student suspects that an insight teacher is slipping in ethical conduct, they are asked to discuss this with the manager.

The Five Precepts for the retreat are to take up the practices of:

1. Cultivating kindness and restraining from harmful actions.
2. Cultivating appreciation and generosity with possessions and restraining from taking what is not freely offered.
3. Cultivating inner joy and contentment and restraining from sexual expression.
4. Cultivating truthful and appropriate communication and restraining from speech that distorts or is damaging.
5. Cultivating clarity and restraining from habits that create dullness or heedlessness.

Cancellation Policy:

If you’re unable to attend, please notify us as early as possible. Cancellations made more than three weeks before the retreat will incur a $50 administration fee. For cancellations within three weeks of the retreat, a 50% refund will be provided. Cancellations made less than one week before the retreat will receive a 30% refund. Please note that this policy has changed from previous retreats.

We acknowledge that this retreat takes place on Arakwal Country and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

More information about the retreat schedule is available on our website at https://www.tallowwoodsangha.org.au/events

Contact the host of The Freedom of Being