Vajraloka Retreats

Retreat Title: The Dynamics of Insight

Led by Kamalashila and Tejananda

Exploring spiritual death, and its implications in practice
In our system of practice, spiritual death, or insight, is followed by spiritual rebirth.
As meditation practice, spiritual rebirth can take the form of visualising a Buddha or Bodhisattva - symbolising the awakened being that we can become. But there is also a principle involved: spiritual death enables us to see through delusion while spiritual rebirth embodies what we ‘open to’ after some aspect of delusion has actually been seen through.
As the metaphors of ‘death’ and ‘rebirth’ suggest, it’s likely that as well as opening up new perspectives, both of these phases of insight will have their challenges. As in the stories of Mara’s attacks on the Buddha-to-be, when threatened by insight, the ego tends to fight back. This can take many forms – for example fear, anxiety or a strong desire to fall back into the welcoming arms of samsara!
So on this retreat, from the basis of integration and positive emotion, we want to explore spiritual death and rebirth in a clear and compassionate way. Deepening in our practice depends on working with what presents itself – whether it’s
openness and pleasure, or contraction and pain. Difficulties are an opportunity but we need the confidence that comes from knowing how best to approach them. This retreat will explore both the difficulties, and the opportunities, of the path to Awakening.

This retreat is suitable for people who have been meditating for at least 3 years

Start Date: 23rd Jan 2015
End Date: 30th Jan 2015
Price: £280 (Full Price) / £252 (Conc Price)

This retreat is nearly full. Please ring or email to confirm a place is available before trying to book.