Centre Retreats
Centre Retreats
What is a retreat?
During a retreat, we reduce our normal worldly activities and concentrate for a period of time on developing spiritual qualities and peaceful minds – finding happiness from within. Everyone is welcome to enjoy this special opportunity.
We offer two types of retreats:
Urban Retreats
Urban retreats are usually a half day or a full day. The format for these retreats are generally one-hour sessions with a short teaching and two or more guided meditations. There are breaks between each session. The purpose of these retreats is to introduce us to Buddhist meditation. These retreats are suitable for all levels.
Annual Retreats *
Our annual meditation retreats offer you the opportunity to deepen your meditation experience. “Retreat” means withdrawing into meditation. The focus is on essential meditations drawn from the Buddhist tradition.
Akshobya Centre offers annual retreats throughout the year and are usually longer retreats. These deeper retreats are led by our Resident Teacher, Kelsang Khacho, They are open to everyone.
Purification Retreat
Vajrasattva is the Buddha of purification. When we develop a basic understanding of the laws of karma, we begin to avoid negative actions and naturally wish to remove the seeds of sufferings in our own mind planted by past negative actions. During this retreat we have the opportunity to purify our negativity by engaging in the purification practices of Buddha Vajrasattva.
Through this practice we can remove the inner causes of our problems and sufferings, and create the cause for peace and happiness.
“The meditation and recitation practice of Vajrasattva is the method by which we can purify our negativities.” —Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Everyone is welcome.
April 15 & 16
Friday 15
Introduction: 7:00pm – 8:15pm
Saturday 16
Session 1: 9:00am – 10:00am
Session 2: 10:30am – 11:30am
Session 3: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Session 4: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Guru Yoga Mandala Retreat
Guru yoga is an especially powerful method for receiving the blessings of the Buddhas and increasing our merit. By following the Sutra path alone it would take a thousand aeons to accumulate the vast amount of merit needed to attain Buddhahood, but, as Sakya Pandita observed, by wholeheartedly practising Guru yoga we can accumulate the same amount of merit in the brief span of one human life.
The Friday night introduction is available online and in-person. Saturday sessions are in-person only.
Everyone is welcome.
It is important to attend the introduction if you have never attended this retreat before.
May 27 & 28
Friday 27
Introduction: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Saturday 28
Session 1: 9:00am – 10:15am
Session 2: 10:45am – 12:00pm
Session 3: 2:00pm – 3:15pm
Session 4: 3:45pm – 5:00pm
