Developing the practice of meditation in the Tibetan tradition

Meditation retreats and study retreats led by

Rob Preece and Anna Murray Preece

Retreats exploring Tibetan Buddhist practice through the experience of meditation and movement.

 

Meditation retreats

Tibetan Buddhism is vast and profound. It incorporates many different aspects of Buddhist philosophy and practice contained within both the Sutra and Tantra traditions. As the Tibetan tradition has come to the West it has needed to evolve to suit the Western mind and life. Rob Preece has spent many years deepening his experience of the Tibetan tradition alongside his psychotherapy work and has found a way of bringing together these worlds in his teaching work. Western psychology offers useful insights alongside traditional Buddhist understanding and these are brought into his guidance of retreats and meditation. Rob has also recognised what practices are especially beneficial for Western minds so that they meet our particular psychological needs.

Within these meditation retreats there is a gradual introduction to aspects of both the Sutra and Tantra teachings so as to create a balanced basis for practice. Those particularly interested in the Sutra teachings would find the Foundation Study Retreat Program below useful.

The Tantric or Vajrayana school of Buddhism has a living lineage of experience passed down from the time of the Buddha and held intact within the Tibetan tradition. During the past forty years Tantra has gradually been introduced to the west. Today it still remains one of the most profound esoteric approaches to spiritual transformation.

At the heart of Tantra is the principle of creative transformation, embodying and manifesting our essential nature in the world creatively and compassionately. To understand Tantra requires experience, not just intellectual knowledge. These retreats will focus upon specific themes of meditation aimed at providing a foundation of practice that can be built upon and deepened.

The purpose of these retreats is to provide an opportunity for those with some experience of meditation to continue to develop their practice. They will also offer an introduction to meditation from the Tantric tradition for those who have not explored this kind of practice.

During these retreats many of the fundamentals of Buddhist psychology will be introduced. The heart of meditation will be the practice of Mahamudra for the cultivation of clarity and insight into the nature of the mind as well as exploration of the principles of deity practice central to Buddhist Tantra.

In the Devon retreats meditation will be supported by movement to help embody experience more fully and add a dynamic expression of our vitality. Movement helps the transformation and release of stagnant, blocked energy in the body which can result from prolonged sitting. It also facilitates the process of grounding and integrating meditation through the body. Anna has worked with movement alongside these meditation retreats for many years and helped to create an important resource for processing experiences that arise in the course of retreat.

These retreats are silent but time is provided for discussion and exploration of problems that can arise in integrating meditation practice. Those who attend these retreats are welcome to receive further mentoring to support on going practice if they so wish.

 

Retreat Program

2012

With Rob Preece & Anna Murray Preece

February 18-19.Vajrayogini retreat; Devon (non residential)

March 10-11. Mahamudra/Tara Retreat; Bristol (non residential)

March 24-25. Meditation retreat; Netherlands

April 14-15. Mahamudra Retreat; Devon (non residential)

May 25-June 1. Vajrayogini retreat; Devon (residential)

July 14-15. Retreat; Bristol (non residential)

September 13-19. Integrating the masculine and feminine; Holy Island, Scotland (residential)

October 5-8. The psychology of Buddhist Tantra; Vajrapani Inst. Boulder Creek, California.

October 11-14. Tonglen retreat; Vajrapani Inst. Boulder Creek, California.

November 9-16; Vajrasattva retreat; Devon (residential)

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Devon Residential Retreats

(Rob Preece & Anna Murray Preece)

May 25-June 1 2012; Vajrayogini retreat

November 9-16 2012; Vajrasattva retreat

Venue: Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet, Devon

Cost: £300 accommodation and food (deposit of £100 to secure a space) The facilitation fee is by donation to enable those on lower incomes to attend retreats. We request that those that can afford it make a donation of at least £175 which will enable us to continue working in this way. (A small bursury fund is available for these retreats)Places for these retreats will be limited to 12 so please book early to reserve your place. Please note that your place cannot be held without a deposit. .

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Devon non-residential retreats (Rob Preece)

February 18-19; April 14-15

Venue: Haytor Vale WI hall, Dartmoore.

Fee: £95

Times: 9.45-5.30 Saturday; 9.45-4.30 Sunday

A deposit of £45 is needed to reserve a place.

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Bristol non-residential retreats (Rob Preece)

March 10-11; July 14-15

Venue:The Coach House, 40a Eastfield, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 4BE

Fee: £105 per weekend

Times: 9.45 - 5.30 Saturday 9.45 - 4.30 Sunday

A deposit of £50 is needed to reserve a place. Places are limited.

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For information and to apply contact: robpreece@mudra.co.uk

or phone 01364 653208

For details of Rob and Anna go to Biography