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Summer Retreat Abbey House Glastonbury June 2009

 Residential weekend

In June 2009 YogaLiving is offering a rare opportunity to access excellent and authentic teaching focussing on the practice of Atma Vichara at a restful weekend summer retreat in Somerset.
The retreat will be silent.

YogaLiving has conducted residential retreats for the past 12 years and has an established skill in delivering quality experiences for participants.

Experiences from the 2008 retreat

During a weekend in July 2008, from all walks of life and all backgrounds, people were drawn together to hear and receive the ancient teachings. Spending 2 days in  affectionate silence, through meditation, discourse, chanting, the beauty of nature and the fellowship of like minded people the timeless and sublime teaching of Atma Vichara was lovingly revealed. Marvellous

The teacher

The weekend will be taught and led by Derek Thorne; highly experienced, and insightful he leads the YogaLiving Community Ashram supporting individuals to live the teachings of Atma Vichara in everyday life. For additional information see teacher

During this weekend you will

• Receive and develop the practice of Atma Vichara
• Spend time with a gifted teacher
• Encounter highly skilled, clear and direct guidance
• Be with like-minded people
• Rest in peace and nature
• Have space for silence and self discovery
• Open to your true potential

The questions of life

What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? Who am I?  Everyone asks these questions at some point. The answer is realised in the spontaneous freedom of natural joyful being; full of potential, creativity and loving affection.  This wisdom is timeless and has been known for millennia. Atma Vichara  reveals it. The practice is based on self-enquiry, meditation and inner reflection.

The programme

Sitting together in the large drawing room gazing out over the abbey ruins satsang is the method of instruction and will be the basis of the programme each day. Satsang means wise company and spiritual connection. The teacher will direct through instruction, silence, chanting and meditation, leading to insight, peace of mind and the opening of the heart. Participants can either sit in chairs or on the floor. The  nature is beautiful and there is opportunity for walking through the  lanes and hills. Free time is available to roam the garden or just to rest. Outside of the sessions silence is maintained throughout  the weekend enabling quietness in the house for sitting, relaxing, being and absorbing the teachings. Private interviews with the teacher are available.

Who should attend?

You should attend!. You do not need existing skill or experience although you may have that in abundance. You should come on this weekend if you are curious about your own nature, if you experience a questioning and a seeking and if you have an interest in the spiritual aspects of existence. You may be a practitioner of yoga with long experience or you may not know yoga at all, you may be young or old, active in the world or retired from it but you will be drawn to the question “Who am I?” and however you might describe it you will feel a familiar yearning for something: the truth, happiness, love, peace.

You may have felt this all your life or it may be arising anew but you will recognise it and you will know that this feeling in you is important, is not fleeting and is calling you sincerely. The level of the teaching is  preliminary and advanced both at the same time and therefore applicable to all because the impact of all authentic teaching is in the receptivity of the heart.

Dates and costs

The weekend will start on Friday 19th June 2009 in the early evening and will finish on the afternoon of Sunday 21st June 2009.
The cost is estimated at £250 for an all inclusive weekend

Bursary : YogaLiving is offering a bursary concession to those genuinely unable to meet the fees. Details available on application.

Booking

Use the contact us form to express your interest and request a place. We will then arrange a booking for you.