Retreats & Courses

"Dear One, withdraw into solitude,
generate strong effort,
and quickly accomplish the final goal" Je Tsongkhapa

By removing ourselves to the isolated and peaceful environment of Tharpaland we can accomplish physical retreat and by maintaining the retreat condition of silence we can accomplish verbal retreat.

Together these two create the best possible conditions for us to accomplish powerful mental retreat and to gain deep feeling and experience in our spiritual practice.

Tharpaland offers guided group retreats for all levels of experience as well as solitary retreats for those practicing within the New Kadampa Tradition. Details of our group retreat programme are below, please contact us directly to enquire about solitary retreat availablity.

Medicine Buddha Empowerment Weekend
Gartocharn, Loch Lomond
June 19 - 21

more info on the special page

Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering Retreat
Tharpaland
June 24 - 2

Engaging in the practice of Guru Yoga together with offering the mandala creates a vast collection of merit through which we can receive the powerful blessings of our spiritual guide and fulfil our spiritual wishes.

Please note this retreat starts on a Wednesday evening and finishes on a Thursday morning

This retreat will be guided by Gen Tharchin and Kelsang Tubchen

Single £255 Twin £220 Dorm Cubicle £168.50 Dorm £145
(Includes breakfast on the 2nd)

Weekend Meditation Retreat
Tharpaland
July 3 - 5

Suitable for beginners our weekend meditation retreats are a perfect opportunity to unwind and relax in the peaceful retreat environment at Tharpaland.

With guided meditations and short teachings led by teachers experienced in meditation and retreat, there will be time for silence, time to meet others and time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

These retreats are also suitable for those with more experience of meditation who would like to engage in a gentle and relaxing retreat.

This retreat will be guided by Kelsang Opel

Single £95 Twin £85 Dorm Cubicle £75 Dorm £65

Post-Summer Festival Retreat
Tharpaland
August 10 - 15

This guided retreat is a special opportunity to take the teachings, empowerment and special blessings of the Summer Festival deeply to heart in silent retreat.

By engaging in this retreat we can deepen our connection with our Guru, Yiddam and Protector and gain a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the teachings we have received during the festival. Doing retreat following Geshe-la's teachings is an ideal way to consolidate them within our mind.

This retreat is only open to those who have attended the Summer Festival, as the retreat follows on from Geshe-la's teachings and empowerments at the Summer Festival.

The retreat will start on Monday evening, allowing everyone a little time to rest after the festival in the peaceful enviornment of Tharpaland.

There will be a coach from the Summer Festival to Tharpaland on Saturday the 8th at 3pm, which can be booked through Tharpaland.

Please indicate on the booking form if you require a seat on the coach.

Please note this retreat is now fully booked and waiting list only.

Single £200 Twin £175 Dorm Cubicle £135 Dorm £110
If arriving immediately after the festival on the 8th the additional nights are charged at the casual rate per night until the retreat starts on the 10th. The retreat cost includes lunch on the 15th.

Lamrim Retreat
Tharpaland
Aug 30 - Sept 7

Meditating on Lamrim overcomes all obstacles to our peace of mind, solves our daily problems, and leads us to the final realisation of our spiritual practice, Buddhahood.

By engaging in this special blessed sequence of meditations in silent retreat we can discover the happiness of following a pure spiritual path and create a powerful inner resource for our daily lives.

This retreat will be guided by Paul Ashton

Single £280 Twin £240 Dorm Cubicle £200 Dorm £160

Saturday-Sunday Course - Concentration
Tharpaland
September 26 -27

more info on the courses page

Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering Retreat
Tharpaland
Oct 9 - 17

Engaging in the practice of Guru Yoga together with making mandala offerings creates a vast collection of merit through which we can receive the powerful blessings of our Spiritual Guide and fulfil our spiritual wishes.

This retreat will be guided by Kelsang Tsalden

Single £280 Twin £240 Dorm Cubicle £200 Dorm £160

Mind and Its Functions
Weekend Course
Tharpaland
Oct 23 - 25

more info on the courses page

Tranquil Abiding Retreat
Tharpaland
Nov 13 - 18

One of the main functions of a Retreat Centre is to provide ideal conditions for developing concentration.

This intensive silent meditation retreat on the development of the mental abidings is the culmination of 6 weeks of training in concentration in daily practice. There will be several short meditation sessions each day.

As this retreat is based on 6 weeks of training in daily practice - if you are unable to attend the weekend course on Concentration from September 26 - 27 please contact Tharpaland for details of how to train in preparation for the retreat before this time.

Please note for those unable to attend the full 5 days of this retreat it may be possible to attend the retreat for the weekend only - although priority will be given to those attending the full retreat.

Single £175 Twin £150 Dorm Cubicle £125 Dorm £100

Post Scottish Dharma Celebration - Avalokiteshvara Retreat
Tharpaland
Nov 30 - Dec 3

Following on from the Scottish Dharma Celebration in Glasgow,(Nov 27 - 29) this retreat is a wonderful opportunity to take the teachings and blessings of the Scottish Dharma Celebration deeply to heart in retreat.

Single £125 Twin £110 Dorm Cubicle £95 Dorm £80

Vajrasattva Retreat
Tharpaland
Dec 11 - 19

Through purifying our mind with the practice of Vajrasattva, we can remove the inner basis for problems and obstacles and experience a profound inner peace and happiness.

Single £280 Twin £240 Dorm Cubicle £200 Dorm £160

Snows Retreat - Heruka
Tharpaland
Jan 4 - April 2 2010

The Snows Retreat will be a three month Heruka close retreat, following on from Venerable Geshe-la's Summer Festival teachings and empowerments and providing the time and opportunity to deeply train in the essential practices of Heruka in the powerful context of a group silent retreat.

For those who wish to complete a close retreat of numbers, there will be a Heruka fire puja at the end of the retreat.

Booking forms will be available online by July 12 and bookings will open August 17.

Year at a glance:

June 19 - 21 - Medicine Buddha Empowerment Weekend

June 24 - 2 - Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering Retreat

July 3 - 5 - Weekend Meditation Retreat

August 10 - 15 - Post-Summer Festival Retreat

Aug 30 - Sept 7 - Lamrim Retreat

September 26 -27 - Saturday-Sunday Course - Concentration

Oct 9 - 17 - Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering Retreat

Oct 23 - 25 - Mind and Its Functions
Weekend Course

Nov 13 - 18 - Tranquil Abiding Retreat

Nov 30 - Dec 3 - Post Scottish Dharma Celebration - Avalokiteshvara Retreat

Dec 11 - 19 - Vajrasattva Retreat

Jan 4 - April 2 2010 - Snows Retreat - Heruka

Info:

All retreats are guided by Gen Tharchin unless otherwise indicated or in unforeseen circumstances when they are guided by an experienced retreater.

All retreats at Tharpaland are silent for all or part of the retreat.

All of the retreats start on the evening of the first day and finish with lunch on the final day. Except for the Preliminary retreats which end at 9.30pm on the seventh day (an eighth night of accomodation is included in the cost and dates).

Costs:

Casual rate for additional nights
Single £30 Twin £25 Dorm Cubicle £20 Dorm £15

Please contact us for details of Solitary Retreat availability and cost.

Booking and Enquiries:

Please click on the link below to book:

For enquiries please Email
or Telephone: +44 (0)1387 860 618