The day will start and end with a silent sitting and some chanting. After the morning meditation and breakfast, there will be 45mns time for daily life participation (chopping veg etc). For certain tasks the timing will be different - washing up after lunch or supper, for example will be after lunch or supper! After this moment of participating in the practical life of the retreat, we'll spend the mornings in meditation, silent and guided, with slots for gentle walking meditations.
In the afternoons,coming out of silence, we'll gather to mud together as a team, absorbing into the delights of working our hands through natural textures: we'll mix clay & spread it on the walls, chop straw to put into the mix...this can be fun & safe as very little tools required, & no chemical products. This is also a time for awareness in connection with others & ourselves as we are in activity.
There will be times for showering & more connecting, if desired, before supper, in this more social time we can also feel into creating some sculptures from mud and /or wood from the forest....We will then end the day together in silence.
This retreat will be open to multilingual with translation as needed.
LGBTQI Retreat
15 to 20 August 2024
With Tisara & Noon
Noon Baldwin
Noon Baldwin is an ex circus artist & street performer who retired from the circus in 2004 to dedicate his life to spiritual practice, living in dhamma centers (France & south Africa) & Amaravati monastery, (UK).
Noon co-created Ekuthuleni rustic retreat place with Sumedha (Hannah) Bagshaw. Ekuthuleni is a back to basics meditation center in the foothills of the french Pyrenees. The emphasis is on meditation & ecological awareness, & bringing these two together. Noon's main influence is the buddhist tradition of Ajahn Chah , with an interest in all spiritualities, (following retreats & courses with Jaya Ashmore from Open Dharma since 2008).
He enjoys how the traditional & open spirituality practices meet as one in his heart. Noon's varied life experience brings a listening with vibrancy,an alive practice he loves to share. Noon participated in a two year course at "London Focussing Institut", Eugene Gendlin's way from 2020 to 2022. He hopes to pay for the certification soon when/if some dana arrives...
Connecting with curiosity & energy, with a sense of embodying spiritual practice through in depth body grounding meditations are Noon's fields of exploration. He is transgendered....a two spirit person all in one.
Tisara
Tisārā began meditating in 2000 and discovered the Buddha's teachings in 2002 under the guidance of Bhante Bodhidhamma. In 2005 after a solo journey through Asia, she joined the Amaravati and Chithurst community in the lineage of Ajahn Chah's forest monks. In addition to her practical involvement in the management of the community, she taught and organised numerous retreats for families and young people; and facilitated both creative and more formal meditation meetings and sessions.
Since left the monastery in 2020 but continues to share her experience of the Path and teaches regularly at Maison Mudita in Switzerland and for the Association Vivekarama in Paris. Her approach to practice is very down to earth. With patience and simplicity, observing and contemplating ordinary experience, its ups and downs, its fears and joys, to continue walking the path of liberation.
Relaxing & Activity for our bodies & minds.
Meditation, making natural clay walls, clay sculptures, times of silence, times for community connecting.
Practicals
Please bring clothes suitable for eco building!
The space of practice that is Ekuthuleni is made available with a heart of practice and integrity. All of what is here has been offered in one way or another - through, energy, time, in meditation or money. This is the spirit of dana or generosity.
There is a non refundable and non transferable booking fee for each retreat. If events are cancelled due to Covid , Ekuthuleni will refund the booking fee entirely. The booking fee covers basic costs (such as food, insurance, gas and water). We are a non profit organisation and for all other costs we depend on donations, dana. It is this way of participation and generosity that really keeps the Dharma rolling, as in dharma centers all over the world!
Cost
Booking fee for this retreat:
€150 plus €10 membership of Association Ekuthuleni for one year (a legal requirement to take part in our activities)
