Young Adults Retreat 2023
with
Daniel Burgess-Milne & Jaime Howell
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
All huts and rooms in the units are now fully booked.
If you’d still like to participate, there are camping sites available. Please indicate on the Registration Form that you are willing to camp.
The Young Adults Retreat (YAR) provides the opportunity for young adults (18-35) to come together to learn and deepen the craft of meditation. YAR offers a friendly introduction to a universal meditation retreat at an affordable price. There will be periods of silence and reflective time to allow you to connect with your own inner wisdom. Guidance will be available for those young adults who are interested in learning to meditate, as well as for those who wish to develop their meditation practice.
This year we will explore the four Postures.
Meditation is often associated with sitting cross-legged on the floor, but a life of meditation extends beyond this narrow traditional image. Viewing our practice as only one expression of activity can limit our understanding and create a separation between daily experience and formal sitting practice.
In reality, the Buddha taught meditation in the four postures, offering a framework that embraces meditation in all expressions of the human body. Together, we will delve into these four postures: sitting, standing, walking, and lying down.
This exploration will enable us to bridge the gap between formal meditation sessions and the richness of our daily existence. By incorporating meditation into all our postures, we can cultivate a greater sense of presence, clarity, and understanding in all our actions and experiences.
Costs
Cost: $275
This includes food, accommodation, and resources. The overall cost is subsidised through the work exchange aspect of the course.
The retreat is subsidised to make it affordable and accessible to young people. This is achieved by inviting the participants to contribute some love and energy to the land at the Wangapeka through a work exchange programme. In exchange, participants do not pay accommodation costs during their time at the centre.
We encourage you to apply for support if cost is a barrier. Funds have been donated to Wangapeka to offer support for people who cannot afford the retreat but want to attend; this is called ‘Sangha Support’ and operates like a scholarship. To apply, contact the Wangapeka Office Caretaker with your inquiry – [email protected].
In the Buddhist spirit of dana, the teachings are offered freely by facilitators. Dana translates as ‘generosity’ – an act that empowers giver and receiver – and is at the core of everything that happens at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre. You will need to bring cash to make this offering.
More Information
If you are interested in participating but have questions about any aspect of the retreat, please contact the course manager, Dan: [email protected].
Daniel Burgess-Milne has been studying Buddhadharma since 2012 and has received teachings from various teachers including Tarchin Hearn, Bonni Ross and Lama Mark Webber. He has been both a participant and facilitator of Young Adult’s Retreats and has a background working in mental health with youth. Dan has a passion for understanding insight through a contemporary lens, and finding new concepts and methods for exploring timeless wisdom in a modern world.
Jaime Howell is a founder of The Centre for the Great Turning. He has been developing and delivering wilderness rites of passage journeys that include myth, meditation and conscious movement. He has a Masters in Education and over fifteen years exploring meditation and mindfulness with people of all ages. Jaime is a facilitator and Director for the Rites of Passage Foundation. He loves to sing and write songs that evoke the deep imagination, in the spirit and the necessity of what Joanna Macy calls the ‘Great Turning.’
The Wangapeka Retreat Experience
Whenua Land
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.
Kainga Accommodation
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.
Kai Food
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.
Whare Wānanga Teaching Space
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.
Whare kai Main Hall
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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