with
Bonni Ross
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
What’s a Human Being made of? What are we for?
This is a love song to the Star One,
and all the precious friends and worthy opponents
who hold Buddhadharma in their hearts to
nurture and protect islands of sanity
for the benefit of all.
On our planet, Sakyamuni Buddha declared that human beings are the only life form that is capable of enlightenment. This capacity in human consciousness gives us immense power, which supports selfish or altruistic activity. All the goodness and distortion we experience in this reality, on this world, is the result of values-based choices made by human beings, the alpha species on our planet.
We’ll start with singularity, a dimensionless point containing all the elements necessary for the creation of a Universe, some 13.8 billion years ago. We’ll travel at warp speed through Universe unfolding, culminating in 2025, our here and now. With experiential understanding through mind expansion — in the boundless states of meditation, embodied feeling and conceptual knowledge — we may glimpse the vast interconnected expanse from which human consciousness is woven.
This retreat will be predominantly silent. In addition to meditation instruction, individual and group practice and opportunity to ask questions, there will be time to immerse ourselves in the supportive natural environment of the Wangapeka.
The terrain is quite rugged and participants should be in reasonably good physical and mental health to enjoy the challenges, inner and outer, of life at Wangapeka.
Bonni Ross has taught at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre for 30 years and is a deeply respected Centre Elder. The Dharma teachings she shares, both in the community and through leading meditation retreats, stem from decades of meditation experience and intensive study with her main teacher Namgyal Rinpoche. Encouragement from His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, teachings from many great Buddhist masters, as well as innovative artists, scientists, philosophers and mystery writers have fuelled the quest. With her partner, Matthew Eades, she founded the Sunshine Coast Retreat Centre in 2002 before moving to Nelson in 2017 where she has initiated, guided and supported a wide range of innovative ways to share teachings of liberation. Bonni is a mother and grandmother with a deeply practical, integrated presentation of ancient wisdom.
The retreat takes place on the beautiful Wangapeka whenua nestled in stunning native forests with expansive views down the Wangapeka valley. The land itself provides a healing sanctuary surrounded by mature trees and offering the perfect environment for reflection and reconnection with nature.
Accommodation is included in the price of the retreat, with all rooms being comfortable and well-appointed with single beds and electric heating. Shared bathroom facilities are conveniently located close to all rooms.
All meals are included in this retreat to support the your well-being and focus. Our kitchen team prepares nourishing vegetarian food to sustain and delight you throughout your stay. Specific dietary requirements can be accommodated and self-catering is also possible if you prefer to bring and prepare your own food.
This teaching room is beautifully crafted and has been used for a wide variety of teaching for over 20 years. It has a wooden parquet floor and a pot belly stove to keep away winter chills. Set amongst beautiful mature trees, it offers a charming view looking down the Wangapeka valley, creating an inspiring environment for movement and meditation practices.
The original building at Wangapeka, the Main Hall serves as the heart of community life with its combined living and dining room, library, and welcoming wood burner. Tea, coffee, and snacks are freely available here throughout your stay. Whether you choose to relax in the cosy interior or step out onto the porch to enjoy the expansive views, this space invites connection and contemplation. The hall also houses the kitchen, bathroom facilities, and laundry for your convenience.
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