Day Retreat, 3rd February,
| UK GMT 10 - 17.30| Europe CET 11 - 18:30 |
How did we get into this mess in the first place?
Frustratingly, Buddhism doesn’t offer many answers to the obvious question, why are we not already enlightened? How did we come to be so painfully separated from reality?
The teachings on the fetters offer us one answer to that question.
The 10 Fetters are ten illusions or beliefs that keep us from being free. In practice we start, where we must start, with the first fetter of self-view. Releasing the first fetter, our belief in a separate self, is akin to getting our hands untied. It’s the first step on the way to being free.
But there’s a whole other way of looking at the fetters, one where self-view, rather than coming first, is ‘the cherry on the cake’. The final and finishing touch to a process that started way back with the 10th fetter of ignorance.
Let’s look at how we got into this bind in the first place. It all starts with ignorance.
Schedule: The morning and afternoon sessions will be a combination of dharma teaching, meditation and reflection. All times UK GMT
10am - 12am Morning Session:
An overview of the 10 Fetters starting with ‘ignorance’, what is it we are ignoring?
12am - 4pm Free Time:
I’ll offer a couple of little creative assignments for the free time if you want to take your reflections deeper.
3pm - 3.45pm Optional small group discussion:
Small groups for those that want to discuss the themes.
4pm - 5.30pm Afternoon Session
A closer look at the sense of self, how the first 3 fetters reinforce one another and how we can start to loosen them.
Online resources and recordings
When you sign up for the day retreat you’ll make an account which will allow you to sign into an online space here on the Red Ladder Studio website. There you’ll find a selection of resources around the theme of the 10 fetters.
The retreat will take place on Zoom and afterwards I will upload the videos of the sessions to this space. They’ll be available to revisit after the retreat, or if you are unable to make it on the day.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is suitable for anyone with a regular meditation practice and a basic understanding of dharmic concepts such as, conditionality, the 3 lakshanas, and emptiness. It wouldn’t be suitable for those that are new to meditation and Buddhism.
As with all meditation practices, these may not be suitable for those currently experiencing mental health difficulties.
If you are in any doubt as to whether the retreat might be suitable for you please drop me a line.
An online day retreat - Saturday 23rd March 2024
If the cost of the retreat is too much for you, please get in touch and I’ll happily reduce it.
You can read my pricing policy here.