General Retreat Information
Bookings: Prior booking is essential for all events. Unless a different contact name is given, please book with Sunyata Retreat centre tel 061 367073 or email: info@sunyatacentre.com and request an application form (emailing is better). When you return the form, please send a 50 Euro deposit, payable to Sunyata Retreat Centre, for all residential retreats. Please tell the retreat manager in advance if you have any special dietary requirements (food is generally vegetarian). Unless specifically mentioned all retreats are suitable for beginners and more experienced meditators.
Retreat Schedule: Unless otherwise stated all weekend retreats start at 6 p.m. on a Friday, when retreatants arrive for light supper and welcome by retreat manager. All meals are good quality vegetarian food. The first meditation starts about 8 p.m. Accommodation is in shared rooms. We can accommodate between 15-17 people on residential retreats. We rise early with the first sitting beween 5 or 6:30 am. Breakfast is about 7.15 am. The daily routine involves sitting and walking meditation, talks from the teacher, question and answer sessions and sometimes periods of working meditation. Lunch is about 12 noon and there is tea and a hearty soup at 5 p.m. Unless specified differently, weekend retreats usually end at 4 p.m. on the Sunday and longer retreats during lunch on the last day. Retreats are held in "congenial noble silence" i.e. no talking unless necessary. The freedom from having to engage in social chit-chat gives everyone the space to withdraw inwards and benefit from the meditation practice.
What to bring on retreat: Please bring your own towel; loose, warm, comfortable clothing; outdoor shoes and coat for walking meditation outside; slippers or thick socks for indoor wear; and a torch/flashlight. If you like, bring ear plugs and/or an umbrella and/or a watch.
Please do NOT bring books, tape-recorder or walkman, mobile phones - your mind will be quite distracting enough without these!
Please also do NOT bring a clock that makes a ticking sound as this will disturb other retreatants. A "silent" clock is fine.
All bedding and meditation cushions/chairs are provided.
Dana (Generosity) - The price listed for residential retreats includes food, accommodation, administrative costs and the teachers' travelling expenses.
The teachers at Sunyata give of their time, energy and understanding. The retreat charge only covers food, accommodation, teacher travel and retreat overheads. No part of your fee is reserved for the teachers. All teachers at Sunyata offer their services on the principle of Dana (this may not be true for those whose retreat you need to book by contacting the teacher directly).
Dana is a Pali word meaning generosity or free will offering. As the first of the ten Paramitas (qualities leading to Buddhahood), it is the foundation of the Path. The offering of Dhamma teachings is considered the highest Dana, such teachings are considered beyond price and therefore we do not charge for such teachings. Rather retreatants are encouraged to respond in the spirit of Dana which helps sustain the continuity of teachings at Sunyata. At the end of retreats there is a Dana bowl for teachers.
About Insight Meditation: many of the retreats at Sunyata teach Insight Meditation, also known as "Vipassana." This is rooted in the 2500 year-old Buddhist tradition and has a deep and immediate relevance to our lives today. It connects us with our capacity to be present in each moment with a warm and open-hearted attention to every experience. From this quality of being present, our heart and mind can awaken to a depth of peace and clarity which liberates us from the power of craving, negativity and confusion. Wisdom born of seeing deeply into what is real in the moment reveals a natural freedom in life and a genuine love and compassion for others, for ourselves and for all of life.
For information on retreats and bookings (unless otherwise specified) please contact the retreat managers at Sunyata.
Tel: +353+(0)6136 7073; email: info@sunyatacentre.com,or visit our web-site: www.sunyatacentre.com