Uncontrived mindfulness meditation retreat led by Vajradevi - FULL

Deep in the forests outside Oslo we will practice the Buddha’s words from the Satipatthana Sutta.

Mindfulness has the potential to transform our lives. The magic of the present moment experienced through our senses can deepen the colour of a blue sky or heighten the quality of a magnificent concert. It can enrich and enliven our experience bringing a second-by-second joyfulness.

But if that is all it does, we have missed out on the vast potential inherent in awareness; that is, as a crucial support to wisdom. Using mindfulness and right view no more is asked of the moment than to recognise whatever is happening in the mind with simplicity and openness. With continuity of practice a deeper understanding of the way things are is naturally revealed.

The retreat will mostly be in silence with input most days and meditation reviews. We ask you to have 2 years practice of meditating in Triratna, and to ask us for a conversations if you have less experience and want to come.

Vajradevi started meditating in 1983 in London, after travelling in Asia. She was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1995 and has worked within many 'Right Livelihood' settings including managing a vegetarian restaurant and setting up a retreat centre for women to be ordained (Akashavana) in the Spanish mountains. Her interest in practising and then teaching mindfulness with a strong insight dimension, emerged over 20 years ago. To further her practice, she has studied with specialists in Satipatthana such as Joseph Goldstein and Sayadaw U Tejaniya.

Vajradevi's style is relaxed and natural, and encourages both receptivity and precision of observation, in learning to watch the mind. You can read her meditation blog at www.uncontrivedmindfulness.net. Her book ‘Uncontrived Mindfulness: ending suffering through attention, curiosity and wisdom’ is available at https://bit.ly/UncontrivedMindfulness

Practical information: The retreat will be held in Lillomarkskapellet, a previous sportschapel in the forest, 40 min drive outside Oslo. It is quiet and beautiful surroundings, a small lake for swimming and natural walks on dirtroad and paths in the forest. You share room with 3-4 others in bunkbeds, there are showers and toilets. We ask everyone to contribute with some cooking and cleaning during retreat. We make our own retreatcenter, and meditation-, sitting- and diningroom is one big room with curtains to meditationspace.

The retreat starts with supper 7 pm Friday and ends 3 pm on Sunday. We might ask you to take a bus from Oslo to Kjul (40 min) and you will be picked up there, so please arrange to be in Oslo city by 5.30 pm Friday. It takes 25 min by Vy-train from Oslo Airport Gardermoen to Oslo central station. We will ask those who are able to walk up from the busstation, aproximately 1 hour; 4,3 kilometer, to do so andwe will take your luggage, and those who cant walk will get a lift.

Booking: We ask you to book before 9th of June 2023. Price: We ask for NOK 4.500 to cover cost for food, lodging and transport from Kjul or Oslo, and we have 3 spaces for NOK 3.000 available. Ask us for one on those if you need it. We ask for a non-refundable deposit of NOK 500 to confirm your booking. We will ask for dana to Vajradevi on top of that. If you have questions, please send an email to post@oslobuddhistsenter.no.