Pundarika UK Summer Retreat 2026
Wed 12th – Tues 18th August 2026
Aspiration of Mahamudra
Advanced Retreat with Mingyur Rinpoche
** Bookings Open 20th April at 9am BST **
We are pleased to announce that bookings for our summer retreat will open at 9am 20th April 2026 BST. The retreat will be held at the Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire on the 12th-18th August 2026.
For many years, Tsoknyi Rinpoche has taught at our annual UK retreat. In 2026, however, Rinpoche has decided not to lead retreats internationally in accordance with traditional advice that lamas avoid extensive travel during their 60th year. In light of this, Pundarika UK and Tsoknyi Rinpoche made a special request to invite Mingyur Rinpoche to lead our 2026 summer retreat. We are delighted to share that Mingyur Rinpoche has very generously accepted our invitation and has made space for us within his exceptionally full schedule.
Rinpoche has kindly offered to lead an advanced retreat following the experiential style of the Mahamudra tradition. Drawing on the Third Karmapa’s Aspiration of Mahamudra, Mingyur Rinpoche will guide participants in recognising the nature of mind. With his characteristic warmth and clarity, Rinpoche will teach how all arising phenomena are taken as the path, serving as friends that support the recognition of our true nature as pristine awareness, the Dharmakaya.
As this is an advanced, the following pre-requisites apply. You can only attend the retreat if you meet these requirements.
- Pointing-out instruction from either Mingyur Rinpoche or Tsoknyi Rinpoche.
OR
2. From other teachers:
- Pointing-out instruction plus either:
- Completion of full ngöndro (110,000), or
- Five years of regular meditation practice and 30 days of accumulated retreat
If you are unsure whether you meet these requirements please contact us at bookings@pundarika.org.uk. Once bookings open, you can book and pay for your place on the retreat at the bottom of this page.
Please note that this is a silent retreat.
Retreat Schedule
Wednesday 12th August |
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| 2pm – 5pm | Registration | |
| 6pm – 7pm | Dinner | |
| 7pm – 8:30pm | Welcome Talk and Teachings with Rinpoche | |
Thursday 13th, Friday 14th, Saturday 15th, Monday 17th August |
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| 7am – 7:40am | Meditation | |
| 7:45am – 8:45am | Breakfast | |
| 9am – 9:40am | Meditation | |
| 10am – 11:30am | Teachings with Rinpoche | |
| 11:30am – 11:45am | Break | |
| 11:45am – 12:45pm | Q&A with Rinpoche | |
| 12:45pm – 1:45pm | Lunch | |
| 3pm – 3:40pm | Meditation | |
| 4pm – 5pm | Q&A with Gerardo Abboud | |
| 6pm – 7pm | Dinner | |
| 8pm – 8:40pm | Meditation | |
Sunday 10th August |
|
| 7am – 7:40am | Meditation |
| 9:30am – 10:30am | Brunch |
| 11am – 12:30pm | Teachings with Rinpoche |
| 12:30pm – 12:40pm | Break |
| 12:40pm – 1:40pm | Q&A with Rinpoche |
| 3pm – 3:40pm | Meditation |
| 4pm – 5pm | Q&A with Gerardo Abboud |
| 5:15pm – 6pm | Dinner |
| 7pm – 7:40pm | Meditation |
| 8pm – 8:40pm | Meditation |
Tuesday 12th August |
|
| 7am – 7:40am | Meditation |
| 7:45am – 8:45am | Breakfast |
| 9am – 11am | Teachings with Rinpoche |
Cost
- Single room: £700
- Double room (2 persons): £1100*
- Dorm bed: £500
- Offsite no meals: £300
- Offsite with meals: £400
All above costs include the retreat fee. As usual, donations can be made at the end of the retreat.
* This year, people wishing to stay in double rooms must book together. We are not able to receive bookings for single beds in double rooms. The cost of £1,100.00 is the total for 2 people.
Bursaries: we endeavour to make the retreat as accessible as possible and so can provide a limited number of bursaries. To apply please contact bookings@pundarika.org.uk
Location
Lord Wandsworth College
Long Sutton
Hook
Hampshire
RG29 1TA
Transport
We have booked a coach on August 12 to take retreatants from Hook railway station to the venue. The coach will meet the 12:42 train from London Waterloo, arriving at Hook station at 13:48. The cost is £15 per person (which includes a return journey on August 18) and the coach accommodates 53 people. The coach will then return to Hook station and make a second trip to the college, leaving Hook station at 14.45, for anyone the coach was not able to accommodate in the first trip.
We have also booked the same coach to take retreatants to Hook railway station on August 18. The coach will depart from the coach car park at 12:30, to catch the 13:01 train from Hook to London Waterloo. It will then return to the college to make a second trip at 13.30 for anyone the coach was not able to accommodate in the first trip. Later trains from Hook to London Waterloo are: 14.01, 14.31 and then at .01 and .31 past the hour.
You can purchase a ticket for the coach when booking you place on the retreat.
Video Recordings
In-person retreatants will also be able to watch video recordings of the teachings. These will be accessed via the online retreat page of our website. They will be available for two weeks beyond the conclusion of the retreat. The link and password to this secure page will be sent closer to the retreat.
Further Information
For further information about the retreat including our cancellation policy, please click here.
Bursaries and Young People’s Volunteering Discount
Whilst we endeavour to keep the cost of the in-person retreat as low as possible, we recognise that many find it hard to afford the cost. For this reason, we offer retreat bursaries to assist those in financial need. Bursaries offer a £100 discount off the total retreat fee. To apply for a bursary, contact bookings@pundarika.org.uk providing a brief outline of your circumstances and financial need. Bursaries are only available for the in-person retreat and you are welcome to apply before bookings open. We also offer a bursary of a £150 discount to monastics. Any monastic wanting to apply for this bursary should email bookings@pundarika.org.uk.
To make the retreat more accessible to young people, we are offering a Young People’s Volunteering Discounted Rate. This is available for anyone between the ages of 16-30. The volunteers will assist our various work teams before, during and at the end of the retreat but will be able to fully participate in the retreat schedule. In return, volunteers will pay only £300 to stay in dormitory accommodation. To apply for the Young People’s Volunteering Discounted Rate please email bookings@pundarika.org.uk.
To assist us with our bursary schemes, please consider making a donation to our retreat scholarship fund. By doing so, you will be helping us to make the Dharma accessible to those who may not be able to participate otherwise. To support our bursaries, click on the donate button and select the Retreat Scholarship Fund from the dropdown menu. Thank you!
Register Here
Bookings Open 9am 20th April 2026 BST
NOTE: The bookings and checkout will appear here once places go on sale.