The Bliss of Concentration 26-28 April 2024

26 - 28 April The Bliss of Concentration banner

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The perfect retreat getaway

Set in an idyllic retreat venue in tranquil surroundings facing the ocean. Between meditations you can enjoy walking by the sea and on the coastal path, sitting in the garden by the stream, relaxing in the outdoor hot-tub or wandering around the 17th Century historic harbour.

The power of silence

Normally we are constantly distracted by external objects, busy activities and scattered thoughts. Observing silence is a powerful method to disengage us from busyness and to deepen our contemplation and concentration. The retreat is slient and participants are asked to switch off their phones for the duration of the retreat.

The retreat

This is a fully silent retreat designed to take you to deeper levels of concentration and peace through training in tranquil abiding on the nature of the mind.

Why train in concentration?

Our mind is extremely powerful, endlessly creating our experiences, but until we develop concentration we have no means to harness our mind’s power and use it to deeply transform our life and our world.

By training in concentration, we will develop deep peace, have fewer distractions, and experience unparalleled contentment. We will be able to focus freely on whatever we wish, creating extraordinary change in our lives.

This unique training in concentration leads us to a special quality of mind called “tranquil abiding,” a deeper level of concentration that arises through training in meditation in a systematic way over many sessions.

Tranquil abiding is a superior state of peace which brings us great power to make progress in our spiritual journey.

The retreat begins on Friday with dinner at 6pm and first session at 7:30pm, and finishes at 4pm on Sunday.

More info

More info:

The course is available to join in person only.
Each session includes guided meditation and short teachings
The retreat is silent from going to bed on Friday until just before lunch on Sunday.
The retreat is run by volunteers and participants are expected to join as part of the retreat experience in with small jobs to help the retreat run smoothly.
The food is simple homemade vegetarian food and we can cater for vegan / gluten-free requirements if arranged in advance. We recommend bringing some of your own supplies if you have specific requirements.
1hr 20mins from Aberdeen and Inverness
All income goes to running the centre which is a registered charity.

Accommodation

Accommodation at the Sail loft in Portsoy – all rooms have sea views!

Please note – single rooms are extremely limited, we encourage people to share rooms, all of which are of a very high and comfortable standard. Sharing with other participants can enhance the retreat experience.

If your chosen accommodation is not available please email us at info@meditateinaberdeen.org to ask to be placed on a waiting list or there is accommodation available locally.

The accommodation is simple but of high standard. Solid individual wooden beds, with high quality comfortable mattresses and fresh bed linen. The dorms have very comfortable bunkbeds in them with individual lights and which are high enough to sit comfortably in bed. Camping is behind the Sail loft, by the garden and burn. Campervans can park in the carpark in front of the sail loft. 24hr access to indoor showers & toilets provided. There is a common living room with an open fire, a dining room, and outdoor garden.

For those thinking of organising accommodation away from the retreat centre there is a caravan park next door, as well as nearby hotels and holiday accommodation.

Single room £385

Shared room (2 – 3 single beds): £275 per person

Dorm (4 or 6 beds in bunks): £200 per person

Camping / camper van: £180 per person

Offsite: £160 including meals or £105 without meals

Accommodation includes: 2 nights, all meals & refreshments and all the teaching & retreat sessions. All income goes to running the centre which is a registered charity.

If you wish to share with a specific person you should book all the places and send an email to let us know who is sharing. Please also let us know if you wish to book a twin room for mixed genders – this is possible if we have a full twin room available.

If you would like to pay in instalments please select to pay by standing order when you book and we will contact you to arrange payment of a deposit.

Cancellations up to 4 weeks prior to the course will receive a full refund minus a 10% admin fee, Cancellations up to 1 week before receive 50% refund. No refund for cancellations made in the seven days immediately prior to the retreat.

Schedule

Schedule:

The meditation sessions will take place in The Salmon Bothy, which is a short walk along the beach from the sail loft. For those with mobility problems you can drive and park easily at both venues.

It will be possible to return to the sail loft between sessions or to stay in the course room which also has tea and coffee facilities and toilets.

Each session will include essential teachings and a guided meditations. The mornings will include some silent periods between sessions.

There are breaks between sessions and in the afternoon to take walks in the beautiful surroundings.

FRIDAY

Arrival from 4:30pm, dinner at 6pm
Introduction to the Retreat: 7:30 – 8:30pm

SATURDAY

9 – 9:30am – Session 1 – Morning Meditation
10:00 – 11:00am – Session 2
12 – 1pm – Session 3
4:30- 5:30pm – Session 4
7:30- 8:30pm – Session 5

SUNDAY

9 – 9:30am – Session 1 – Morning Meditation
10:00 – 11:00am – Session 2
12 – 1pm – Session 3

3:00 – 4:00pm Q&A and Feedback

Getting There

The Venue

The accommodation and meals will be at The Sail Loft Back Green, Portsoy, AB45 2AF

The meditation sessions are a short walk along the beach from The Sail Loft and will be held at The Salmon Bothy, Links Road, Portsoy, AB45 2SS

Getting There

1hr 20mins from Aberdeen (via Huntly is the best route)
1 hr 30mins from Inverness

Both Aberdeen and Inverness have airports and train stations and we can help organise onward travel or lift shares from there.

The nearest train station is Huntly

0000000Tubchen outdoors in Copenhagen smiling_higher resolution (1) (1)

Gen Kelsang Tubchen is the Resident Teacher at KMC Aberdeen. An inspiring and gifted teacher, she is loved for her clear, powerful and practical teachings. She has 20 years of experience of engaging in, teaching and guiding retreats and has taught in both the Nordic region and the UK.

The Bliss of Concentration Retreat 26-28 Apr 24
£105.00 – £385.00
Please make a booking for your preferred accommodation & pay the course fee. If you would like to pay in instalments please select to pay by standing order when you book and we will contact you to arrange payment of a deposit. If for any reason we are unable to offer you your chosen accommodation […]

"Looking forward to a more peaceful day today and to our next meditation class. Since last Monday I seem to have this everlasting experience that my head, or mind, or consciousness is just an empty blue globe with experiences passing in and out like clouds in the sky."

Meditations for a Clear Mind - 4 week subscriber 7th May 2020
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