A 3-night meditation retreat in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW

About this event

Dates: Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April 2024

Cost: $335 – $450 per person depending on the type of accommodation. Early bird prices are available until 18 February. Registrations close 27 March.

Wisdom from Stillness

Easter weekend retreat with Venerable Akaliko Bhikkhu

Meditation is not just for de-stressing from life’s busy-ness; it has a far deeper potential to deliver powerful insights about the meaning of life. Learn about the causes and conditions we need to cultivate to transform our practice into a profound tool that cuts through ignorance and illuminates our mind with wisdom.

JOIN BHANTE AKĀLIKO FOR A WEEKEND RETREAT ON HOW TO DEVELOP A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL MEDITATION PRACTICE.

Bhante Akāliko

Akāliko Bhikkhu is an Australian monk in the Theravada forest tradition. He is the spiritual director of Little Dust and founder of Rainbodhi LGBTQIA+ Buddhist Community. Bhante Akāliko is also the spiritual advisor of Central West Buddhists and a chaplain at Western Sydney University. He sits on the boards of the Buddhist Council of NSW and the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils.

Bhante Akāliko went forth as a monastic in 2016 and received full ordination with Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana monastery in 2017. He lived for several years with Bhante Sujato at the Monastery at the End of the World in Sydney and now lives as a wandering monk, looking for a place to settle and shake off the dust.

Venue and Cost

Vejjasala, located just outside the village of Wingello in the Southern Highlands of NSW, is the retreat centre of the Association of Engaged Buddhists (AEB). The name, Vejjasala, means a place for healing. This beautiful retreat centre features recently renovated, comfortable accommodation, expanses of bushland, and lots of amazing wildlife.

The event cost includes accommodation and food, with three vegetarian meals per day. Please indicate if you have any allergies or dietary requirements. We may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Costs range from $335 – $450 per person depending on the type of accommodation. Early bird prices are available until 18 February. Registrations close 27 March.

There are different prices for different rooms. All shared rooms will be allocated to people of the same gender (please indicate on the form if you are booking a shared room and this is not suitable for you). You can read more about the accommodation options.

Registration is at the bottom of the page via Ticket Tailor. Please complete the form and pay the full cost to reserve your place.

Scholarships are available via Open Dharma Foundation.

Payment to the teacher is made by donation (dāna or generosity) after the retreat. This continues the ancient Buddhist tradition where the teachings are offered freely. Participants are invited to make a donation that feels sustainable and generous according to their situation. These retreats and teachings are possible because of the generosity of others in the past and any dāna given will help make the teachings available in the future.

Full details about Vejjasala, accommodation options, directions, and information about what to bring can be found on the website.

There is a train station in Wingello, however trains do not frequently stop there. We will attempt to organise carpooling with the organisers and other participants, or you can take the train to a nearby station and then we will pick you up. Please indicate on the signup form if you require a lift or are able to offer lifts to others.

Vejjasala is a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ people.

Fire Danger

Due to its rural location in the bush, Vejjasala Retreat Centre is ‘not to be occupied’ on days with an ‘extreme’ or ‘catastrophic’ fire danger rating (per Wingecarribee Shire Council DA for the property). During the bushfire season, if the forecast before the retreat is for an ‘extreme’ or ‘catastrophic’ fire danger rating, the retreat will not be able to proceed. We will monitor the fire danger, and in the case of ‘extreme’ or ‘catastrophic’ fire danger rating, we will advise all participants as soon as possible and provide a full refund. The on-site retreat manager, caretaker or other AEB committee member will monitor the fire danger rating for the duration of the retreat.

Risks and Responsibility

This retreat will be conducted in silence (you can talk to the teacher as required). This may not be a good environment for you if you are experiencing mental health issues, or if you have experienced recent or severe trauma. While meditation retreats are generally beneficial, intensive meditation practice can lead to distress or adverse effects. The teacher and volunteers will do their best to support you but they are not qualified to provide mental health support. Please consider your own situation and discuss with the organisers and teacher if you have any concerns. The teacher may ask to arrange a phone call prior to the retreat to make sure they understand your situation and how they can best support your meditation practice.

It should be noted that participants attend these retreats entirely at their own discretion and should consider their own risks and responsibilities in regard to their own health needs and COVID. While reasonable efforts will be taken in regard to providing a safe environment, the Association takes no responsibility for individuals’ behaviour or health consequences arising from attending a retreat. 

If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID please take a RAT or PCR test and notify the organisers at office@engagedbuddhists.org.au. If you test positive for COVID you will not be able to attend the retreat and we will arrange a refund. If you have a negative result you may still be able to attend, depending on the severity of your symptoms and in discussion with the organisers.

Refund Policy

PLEASE NOTE: Bookings may be cancelled at no charge 14 days prior to the event with a full refund (minus booking fees). As catering materials need to be purchased in advance by the Association, bookings cancelled less than 14 days prior to the event will incur a 50% fee, unless the space is able to be filled by another retreatant, in which case a full refund (minus booking fees) will be issued.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about the retreat, please contact office@engagedbuddhists.org.au