Find Inner Peace
Insight Vipassana Silent Meditation Retreat is a golden opportunity to meet your true self and cultivate inner peace, conscious action and mindful thought.
Dive into an ancient method of meditation – pristinely simple in principle and profoundly transformative in application.
Live in silence for a few days in a picturesque natural location with clean, fresh air in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Give yourself a digital detox: turn off the phone and take a break from the information flow and endless affairs and tasks. Establish a healthy daily routine and diet in harmony with nature and the sun’s cycles.
Get better: nourish your body with a healthy, nutritious plant-based diet, prepared with love, with many vegetables and herbs grown organically at the walled gardens of Hardwick Estate. Slow down: immerse yourself into plenty of quality, distraction-free time to listen to your inner voice and reflect on your life.
The program of the retreat will include sitting mindfulness meditation as well as dynamic walking meditation practice. Silence is observed for 5 full days – you will be surprised at how nourishing this experience can be when you don’t have to speak to anyone. The exception is the optional personal interviews with a teacher, where you will be able to clarify any questions related to the practice. Daily Hatha yoga asana supports the body in its mental and emotional endeavours, unlocking bodily blocks and releasing tension.
Use this time of solitude, supported by your conscious community and expert facilitators, to devote yourself to intense practice, deep learning, insights and clear seeing
Choose from two exclusive arrival/departure dates in this rare opportunity to experience this transformative practice in the rolling nature of the Thames Valley.
What’s included:
- Five Days of Silence – Rest in the rare and ultimate peace of total and utter silence for five full days of deep meditation.
- Sitting Meditations – This is a great opportunity to learn proven itself profound methods of mindfulness meditation.
- Walking Meditations – The rare opportunity to learn the art of the dynamic meditation which traditionally accompanied and enhanced the effects of the sitting meditation.
- Daily Yoga – Yoga asana is used for what it was originally designed for – to prepare the body for meditation. Movement helps to still the mind and ease tension in the hips, knees and back from sitting.
- Dhamma Talks – Insight into the nature of the mind and the self, with stories from the sutras to inspire long-lasting inner peace in everyday life.
- Teacher Interviews – Opportunity for personal consultation with our meditation teacher to help you on your path.
- Meals and Ayurvedic Teas – All our food is organic and locally sourced and lovingly prepared with your health and satisfaction in mind. We are so lucky to be surrounded by passionate and ethical growers!
- Riverside Sauna – Deeply relax in the warmth of the sauna with a spectacular view of the River Thames. The sauna will be available on day one and day seven of the retreat.
- Nature Connection – Connect to the sacred land around you through immersion into the generous wild at Hardwick Estate.
- Wild Swimming – We are blessed to have a clean and pure section of the Thames on our doorstep. Listed as one of the best wild swimming spots in the UK.
Monastery Life
At the retreat, we will stick to a simple schedule, you don’t even need to look at the clock – the ringing of the bell will let you know where you need to be at a certain point in time.
We ask you to follow the schedule in full and participate in all meditations and lectures. It is specially designed for continuity of practice and replicates life in a Buddhist monastery. You will have an opportunity for a personal interview with a teacher to help you with questions related to the meditation practice. You will have enough free time to rest, wash your clothes, etc. and reflect on your experience during specially provided breaks.
A sample daily retreat schedule is below:
4:30 – 5.00 Wake up
5:00 – 5:45 Sitting meditation
5:45 – 6:45 Meditative yoga
6:45 – 7:30 Sitting meditation
07:30 – 09:00 Breakfast / Shower / Work
9:00 – 10:00 Meditation Instructions
10:00 – 10:45 Walking Meditation
10:45 – 11:30 Sitting meditation
11:30 – 13:30 Lunch / Rest
13:30 – 14:15 Sitting meditation
14:15 – 15:00 Walking Meditation
15:00 – 15:45 Meditation Instructions
15:45 – 16:30 Walking Meditation / Interviews with a teacher
16:30 – 17:15 Sitting meditation / Interviews with a teacher
17:15 – 19:00 Drinks / Relaxation / Shower
19:00 – 20:00 Conversation, Q&A or Metta – Loving Kindness guided meditation.
20:00 – 20:30 Walking Meditation
20:30 – 21:00 Sitting meditation
21:00 – 21:30 Going to bed
Generosity-Based Program
The cost of participation in the retreat consists of two parts:
1 – organisational fee – to cover the basic price of accommodation and food for the participant.
2 — donation — for the retreat program itself.
It is important for Vipassana to be offered for donation, and not provided to generate private financial gain. This is the purest and most karmically beneficial path. The donation aspect allows both the organisers and the participants to show pure and sublime intentions.
As organisers and teachers of the retreat, we offer the teaching in the spirit of selfless service. Giving the gift of this meditation is a beautiful thing, and one we are honoured to have the opportunity to facilitate. There is great bliss in bringing this knowledge to others, purely for the benefit of each individual and for humanity as a whole.
As participants in the retreat, there is the opportunity to touch knowledge without a consumerist expectation. As only the basic costs have been covered, going into the retreat, the expectation of input from the organisers is only to provide this basic service, and then the exchange is equalised. Whatever occurs above that is at the discretion of the participant. It means that you yourself, based on the results of the retreat, have the right to evaluate how valuable the experience was for you and show adequate generosity for yourself so as not to devalue your experience.
There will be an opportunity for you to make whatever donation you feel moved to give at the end of the retreat.
Testimonials
I reached the point where too many life difficulties and challenges started piling up, there was too much stress and anxiety I couldn’t bear it any longer. A retreat can give you the time you really need to disconnect from everyday life and see everything from a different perspective. After the retreat positive events started to unfold in my life, everything started to “click” perfectly into place. I started regular mediation practice, my marriage got back on tracks, my family relationship and work improved. I can’t prise the retreat and organisers enough, attending the event was a life changing experience. Dmitri, Karen and a team are really passionate about what they do and you can feel their love every single day of a retreat and I am so grateful for meeting them all and attending retreat.
Dawid K
Daniel A.
“Dmitry is a brilliant communicator, able to make everyone laugh and to push on in cold weather, and to pay close attention and offer incisive, precise and compassionate guidance when required, which allowed me to go deeper into the practice than I could have imagined. I’ve worked with many teachers in many fields and Dmitri is right up at the top. Go for it.”
Ian M.
“This retreat was truly exceptional, possibly the best I’ve ever attended. Dimitry and Karen were absolutely fantastic hosts, creating a perfect balance of relaxation and rejuvenation. Their deep knowledge of yoga and wellness was evident in every session, making each practice enriching and accessible for all levels. Overall, this was a superb experience, and I left feeling completely renewed. Highly recommended!”
Rachel B.
“The Hardwick Estate is a magical place and Dmitry & Karen dedicated to helping, healing and sharing their gifts with the world. Under Dmitry’s kind, humorous and humble guidance, one can find their way back to their true selves. Karen and her team work quietly and attentively in the background, making sure that every is cared for and has all that they need. The food was another level! If you are looking for a genuine place to connect to yourself and your heart under the care of those who only have your best interests at heart, this is it.”
Anita M
“This was an amazing retreat – my best yet and i’ve been on a lot all over the world. The teachings were amazing, the food exemplary. It was a truly nurturing experience and even as a beginner yogi, I felt very welcome and able to follow and stretch as best I could without any inner criticism or comparisons to others, which is new. Thank you so much I truly looked forward to the next one”
I recently attended an incredible silent Vipassana retreat nestled in a serene woodland setting, and it exceeded all my expectations. The natural beauty of the surroundings provided the perfect backdrop for deep meditation and self-reflection. The silence allowed for a deep immersion into the practice, fostering an environment of profound inner peace and clarity.
The teachings were transformative, delivered by Dmitry who guided us with wisdom and compassion. The daily schedule was well-balanced.The food, prepared by Karen with her crew – was simply amazing. Every meal was thoughtfully prepared, nourishing, and delicious, with an array of fresh, wholesome ingredients. Yum
The sense of community among fellow participants, even in silence, was heartwarming and supportive.
Overall, this silent Vipassana retreat was a truly transformative experience, offering profound insights, inner peace, and a renewed sense of clarity. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a meaningful and rejuvenating retreat in a beautiful natural setting.
Thank you, I cannot wait to return x
Dionne H.
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info@sadhama.com
Hardwick Estate, Oxfordshire, UK
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