Friday 6 November to Saturday 14 November 2020
Donal has kindly offered to run a virtual retreat for the Southern Africa Centres this November. Participants will need to register; there is a registration fee of R960 for non-members. Members of the Centre are offered a 30% discount on registration, so R670.
Participants will join via ZOOM
In Cape Town, we are offering three ways to participate in the retreat -
· Option 1: Self-retreat at home, joining the daily sessions via ZOOM
· Option 2: Join at the centre daily from arrival at 6.15am – 6pm (morning and afternoon sessions at the centre, then evening sessions at home. Participants may opt to do the afternoon sessions at home if they wish). Note - the centre will be closed to the public during the retreat and open only to retreatants attending the daily sessions.
· Option 3: Retreat at Cedar Peak in the Cedarberg, maximum 15 participants. This will run as a regular off-site retreat. We will do all our sessions together in the barn and ZOOM-in with one device. As the accommodation is limited, should demand exceed available space, preference will be given to the following
a) Applicants who have worked throughout the lock-down
b) Applicants who have attended previous retreats with Donal
c) Applicants who are currently attending Drupon Rinpoche’s teachings
Accommodation costs range from R550 - 850 per night. There is a camping option at R300 per night. The retreat will be self-catering with shared group meals. All rooms will be single occupancy.
To register for the online retreat - please email Charlotte - membership@kagyu.org.za
Please indicate how you plan to participate – 1, 2, or 3 as above, plus please state which of the three categories you comply with – a, b, c.
Dana:
We are all encouraged to offer Dana to Donal for this retreat, in response to him giving generously of his time for us. This gesture will offer us an opportunity to practice generosity. (You will be advised as to how the payment may be made)
Retreat Theme: Bodhicitta
An Affirming Flame
‘Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them,
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.’
(from September 1 1939 by W.H.Auden)
Retreat Schedule Friday 6 Nov to Sat 14 Nov 2020
(Please note times are SA/ Harare time (GMT +2)
Start: Friday 6th at 7.00 pm
Online:
· 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm – Opening session
Daily Schedule
Online:
· 6.30 am - 7.30 am - Meditation
Offline:
· 7.30 am – 8.50 am - Breakfast
Online:
· 9.00 am to 10.00 am - Teaching
· 10.30 am to 11.30 am - Meditation
Offline:
· 11.30 am to 3.30 pm - Lunch break. During this slot those who are attending Drupon Rinpoche’s teaching will attend online from 12 noon
Online:
· 3.45 pm to 4.45 pm - Meditation
· 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm - Q& A / discussion
Offline:
· 6.00 pm to 7.20 pm - Break
Online:
· 7.30 pm to 8.00 pm - Concluding Meditation
· 8.00 pm to 8.30 pm – Compassion-based meditation
Finish: Saturday 14th at 10am
Online:
· 6.30 am - 7.30 am Meditation
Offline:
· 7.30 am – 8.50 am Breakfast
Online:
· 9.00 am to 10.00 am – Concluding closing session
Please note that there may be some changes to the above schedule.
Retreat etiquette:
Participants will be required to attend the full retreat, and be present at all sessions, unless there is an urgent reason not to attend.
Please will retreatants endeavour to be on time for all sessions. We suggest that you be ready some ten minutes before the start, as once the sessions have started, it would be preferable to not interrupt by coming in late.
Although we will all be attending remotely, we will need to keep in mind that we are essentially on a retreat, and should thus conduct ourselves accordingly (even if we are attending from our homes).