Living Compassionately in Challenging Times

If we wish to find lasting happiness, we need to look at how to tame the mind and uncover our compassionate nature. We are so lucky to still be able to access the wisdom of ancient Tibetan masters, whose advice is very relevant in today’s degenerate times. The text The Eight verses for Training the Mind by Langri Tangpa points to how to tame our minds and work compassionately with others.

“Some people recite the Eight Verses only as a prayer or aspiration, but that was not Geshe Langri Thangpa’s intention. He envisioned the text being used as a handbook for the practice of mind training. In these verses, he tells us precisely what we have to do.” Quote from HH 17th Karmapa.

Alan will guide us through this text, and we will look at various commentaries and do guided meditations associated with the text.

During this compassion-based retreat, Pippa will offer daily sessions of voluntary attendance of:

• Exercises based on compassion, taken from the Tara Rokpa Therapy Process. This is a healing process steered by the late Akong Rinpoche and a team of western doctors and therapists which amalgamates the ancient wisdom of Tibetan Healing with Western Therapies.
• Gentle Movement based on restorative yoga, and gentle somatics. These exercises can be done by anyone, and are adaptable to anyone interested in exploring the inward body/mind connections.

There will also be time to do your own thing, take walks, star-gaze around the campfire, swim, and relax.

Facilitators:

Alan Muller who took refuge in 1997 with Akong Rinpoche. In 2003, he completed a one-year closed retreat under the guidance of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland. During this period, he took novice monk’s vows. Alan remained a novice monk for six years and now presents courses and retreats as a layperson. He has formed Ngondro groups since 2004 around Southern Africa.

Pippa Cope has been involved with the Tara Rokpa Therapy process for over 20 years and has offered courses both in SA , Zimbabwe and Canada. She has also been involved with yoga for over 20 years. Pippa is certified by an
internationally acclaimed Yoga teacher -Donna Fahri , and has followed Somatic movement since being introduced to it over 4 years ago.

Costs:

This is a dana-based retreat, and the costs include meals, teas, and accommodation. It excludes a monetary offering for the facilitators and staff tips. Please contact us if you have financial constraints, but would like to attend.

To Book:

Please fill in the online booking form here.

A 50 % deposit, non-refundable, but transferrable, will secure the accommodation of your choice.