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Oct 13
Wednesday Oct 13, 2027 - Friday Nov 19, 2027
(Start time Wed 16:00 CEST - End time Fri 14:00 CET) Christina Feldman, Antonia SumbunduRegistration on this retreat is subject to your application being approved. To proceed, please click on register to complete your application form.
Description
Price options:
Single Rooms: €1299
Twin Rooms: €1150
Theme:
Why Samadhi?
The word samadhi literally means ‘to put together’, ‘to join together’ and refers in our practice to the gathering together of the mind into a powerful and dynamic instrument to engage with the world around us. Without a degree of samadhi the mind is fragmented, distracted and unfocused. Samadhi is essential for developing balanced and engaged states of mind, but is usually considered to be something that can only be developed on long-term retreat aimed at the development of the jhānas (deep states of meditation).
This programme has been designed for participants to take part in an in-person retreat at the start and end of the programme period, with the format going online for guidance and practice in the time in-between, retaining the retreat format but allowing people to take part from home, or an alternative retreat setting. This is to give access to a longer retreat (over a month) to people who are engaged in in their day-to-day lives and may not be able to physically be on retreat in a different location during this longer time period.
This programme is by application only and your place is not guaranteed until you receive a confirmation email from Bodhi College.
Format
The programme begins and ends with an in-person retreat in Holland on October 13-17 and November 15-19. In the time between the two retreats, there will be regular online teaching, practice and meetings with the teachers - offering guidance and instructions for developing the practice, as well as to review how the practice is unfolding for each person.
What you might leave with
- A steadier, more collected mind. Experience what it is to gather a scattered, distracted mind into something focused, stable and responsive.
- A practice that fits your life. Learn to cultivate samadhi within the real conditions of work, family and daily responsibility, and discover that depth of concentration is possible there too.
- A felt understanding of samadhi. Move beyond the idea of concentration as strain or force, and see how it supports balanced, engaged and wise states of mind.
- A foundation for deeper practice. Build the stability that underlies insight, and gain a taste of the path toward the jhānas.
- Guidance that carries you through. Regular online meetings with the teachers give you instruction, feedback and a chance to work with obstacles as they arise, so your practice keeps unfolding.
- Support from a community of practitioners. Share the journey with others who are also learning to practise wholeheartedly alongside ordinary life
Who is this for?
Because this is an intensive training, there are specific criteria we ask of people participating. These are intended to ensure that participants have the foundation and the practical circumstances needed to benefit fully from the course. We encourage you to reflect carefully on these criteria and consider whether this is the right time in your life to undertake this training.
Required experience
Participants are expected to have a minimum of three years of experience in the Buddha's teaching, including at least four silent meditation retreats of five days or longer.
Required commitment
A commitment to attend both in-person retreats in full and to participate in the online meetings between the retreats.
A commitment to maintain two formal meditation sessions each day during the period between the retreats, unless undertaking a personal retreat.
A willingness to simplify daily life as much as possible, including reducing unnecessary commitments and undertaking as much digital fasting as possible.
These criteria are not meant to be exclusionary, but designed to enable participants to experience the maximum benefit from the programme. It is worth pondering the fact that in programmes such as this one, commitment is not optional but a necessity.
Why might this not be the right time for you?
There are times in our lives when we are navigating major transitions, taking on demanding new responsibilities, or experiencing a good deal of upheaval and stress. At such times, it can be difficult to devote the continuity, attention and steadiness that this training requires. While noone's life is ever completely calm or free from challenges, cultivating a collected mind is supported by a degree of stability and simplicity. If these conditions are not present in your life at this moment , we encourage you to consider undertaking the training at a later time, when conditions are more supportive.
The in person retreat dates are October 13-17 and November 15-19 at the ITC Naarden
You will be invited to participate in two online group interview meetings during each of the intervening weeks between the in-person retreats – one meeting with each of the teachers. Each meeting will last for one hour. The group interview meetings will take place during the daytime or afternoon (CET).
The dates for the online group meetings (subject to change) on line are:
October 18/23
October 24/31
November 1/7
November 8/13
Praise for our Teachers:
What students say about Antonia:
From previous courses co-taught by Christina and Antonia:
“I especially appreciated listening to experienced practitioners and teachers…. With wisdom and humour, they reminded us that the practice is about life as it is lived right now, not about some far off state we are striving towards.” – Dhammapada Course Participant 2023
Antonia Sumbundu says:
“In 2006 I meet Christina Feldman for the first time. It was at a retreat at Gaia House and Christina said: "I love speaking about Dana..." and then she gave the most beautiful dana talk. It stayed with me and inspired me. Until then I had never heard anyone speaking about generosity in such a moving and inspiring way and I recognized how the fruit of our practice is coming to expression in all aspects of our lives. That is like a guiding star for me. Looking to where there is openness, kindness and wisdom flowing in our lives is equally important as to look where we feel stuck, fear, holding back etc. We can bring it all to the path - all of it is our Path. It is an honor to be a student of the teachings and of life and I appreciate spaces where we can come together to practice and explore the teachings - we need it and the world needs it.”
What students say about Christina:
"I would attend this mentoring group every week!"
— Previous mentoring student with Christina
Both the teacher and students meshed well together to bring forth further insights and understandings."
— Previous mentoring student with Christina
"Christina's concise, practice-related overview of the different spiritual powers, followed by sharing with peers in the breakout rooms was very useful, particularly so when she gave us a couple of points to reflect on.
Event Details
Cost:
- This retreat is offered on a dana basis – you will be asked to make an additional monetary donation at the end of the course to support the livelihood of the teacher.
- If paying a deposit – balance to be paid no later than 4 weeks before the module start
- A limited number of Bursary places are available for this course.
Additional Information:
- Participants are asked to contribute 1 hour of work a day, in order to help with the running of the retreat.
- All meals included – vegetarian food with the possibility of catering for special diets
- For experienced students
Teachers:
ANTONIA SUMBUNDU has been a Tibetan Buddhist and mindfulness meditation practitioner for more than 30 years. She trained as a clinical psychologist specialized in CBT and supervision, and completed an MSt in MBCT from University of Oxford, where she currently is a senior associate trainer. For many years her work focused on the clinical applications of meditation, before shifting to teach meditation in a broader context and serving as a dharma teacher for an international meditation community.
Venue: