PUNDARIKA UK 2024 RETREAT INFORMATION

Welcome to our Summer Retreat!

Dear Retreatant,

Welcome to our retreat; we do hope you find it a valuable experience.  We are very fortunate to be able to spend this time with our wonderful teacher away from the demands of everyday life.  Below please find information you will need.

Registration

Wednesday 7th August

Arrive and register 2 – 5.15 pm. We have  helpers outside registration and dotted around the site waiting to show you where to go: look for people with Pundarika badges. And please ask if you’re lost! Supper will be served – at 6.00 pm – a chance to meet old friends before silence starts in the morning! There will be a welcome talk at 7pm in Gavin Hall. You must attend this as important information about the retreat will be shared. Teachings will start at 7.30.

Daily Schedule 8 – 12th August 

Except Sunday and subject to changes – see noticeboard

7.00 – 7.40          Meditation in Shrine Room

7.45 – 8.45          Breakfast

9.00 – 11.30        Teachings with Rinpoche

11.45  – 12.45     Meditation session in Shrine Room or Group Interviews with Rinpoche (sign the sheet for small group interviews on the first evening, sheets in shrine room lobby.)

12.45 – 1.45        Lunch

3.00 – 3.40          Meditation

4.00 – 5.00          Q & A in shrine room with Gerardo

6.00 – 7.00          Dinner

8.00 – 8.40          Meditation

Sunday 11th August

7am – 7:40am     Meditation

9am – 9:40am     Meditation

10am – 11am      Brunch

1pm – 3:30pm    Teachings with Rinpoche

4pm – 5pm         Group Interviews with Rinpoche / Q&A with Gerardo Abboud

5:15pm – 6pm    Dinner

7pm – 7:40pm    Meditation

8pm – 8:40pm    Tsoknyi Gechak School Presentation

Tuesday 13th August

7am – 7:40am        Meditation

7:45am – 8:45am   Breakfast

9am – 11am           Teachings with Rinpoche

Please keep an eye on the time and be in the meditation hall ready for Rinpoche’s arrival. Respect all Dharma texts by not putting them directly on the floor.

Group Interviews

Rinpoche will not be giving private interviews, but sign up when you arrive for one group interview session and use that time to ask practice or personal questions, etc. The sign-up sheets are by the noticeboard in the shrine room lobby. Make sure you know where these are held in plenty of time so you’re not late (turn left out of the shrine room and follow signs). You will need to go straight there after the morning teachings on the day you chose, so please make sure you know where the room is.

Accommodation

We hope you are comfortable. If you have problems please let us know by writing on the Feedback Sheets in the box near the noticeboard in the foyer outside the shrine room.  To avoid any disturbance, bedrooms will not be cleaned.  Please leave the communal bathrooms as you would wish to find them.

PAT testing

Non-UK electrical items need to be PAT tested at 9am tomorrow morning. Please leave on the table at the front of your hall of residence. You will be able to reclaim them at noon that day. They will be secure.

Dharma Shop

Karin, Mike and the shop team are kindly running this for us again this year. All profits go to Rinpoche’s nuns/school. You’ll find a range of items to buy and borrow – do go and have a browse.

Opening Times

Wednesday 16.00 – 17.30

Thursday – Saturday    13.00 – 14.15 & 17.15 – 18.15

Sunday 11.00 – 12.00 & 17.15 – 18.15

Monday 13.00 – 14.15

Talking, WiFi, Mobiles

The silence of our retreat is to help us be present in the moment and make us more receptive to Rinpoche’s teachings; please honour that. However, when you need to communicate with the school staff then please be polite and do talk to them (e.g. meal serving, etc.)

In order to help us all benefit from our seclusion, please observe the following guidelines.

– keep mobile/WiFi usage to a minimum

– avoid phone calls unless in an emergency; text if absolutely necessary

– SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONE IN THE SHRINE ROOM, as you would in a theatre or cinema

– keep off social media for the 6 days

Recordings

They will be made available via our own high quality recording system on our website after the retreat. These are only for the use of those at the retreat, and please do not record the teachings yourself, thank you.

Noticeboards

There is a noticeboard in the foyer of the shrine room, where you can communicate  with other retreatants or the course managers. It will also have daily updates on activities such as yoga or any change of programme. Please check this board daily, thank you.

End of silence

Talking is permitted again after the last teaching on Monday 12th. There will be a social gathering in the dining room that evening, bring a bottle if you like. Please stay after supper for a chat and meet the sangha – an important part of Buddhist life.

Tsoknyi Gechak School

We take a special interest in helping financially towards the running of this excellent school; there will be an opportunity to be updated on progress there as well as a live first-hand report from a volunteer at the school. A big Thank You for your continued support with this.

Arrangements for last day

Final teachings will run from 9.00 – 11.00, by which time rooms should be cleared. Cases can be left in common rooms. Meet the coach for Hook train station at 12.30 am at the coach car park. This will return and pick up the second trip at 1.30pm.

Thank you for being here with us and supporting Rinpoche. Hope you have a great retreat.

Best wishes,

The Pundarika Team