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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Tara Rokpa Centre
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251111
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251205
DTSTAMP:20260509T074035
CREATED:20250511T170509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T113715Z
UID:4338-1762819200-1764892799@tararokpacentre.co.za
SUMMARY:Returning Home - Meditation Retreat with Dónal Creedon
DESCRIPTION:‘We shall not cease from exploration \nAnd the end of all our exploring \nWill be to arrive where we started \nAnd know the place for the first time.’ \nT.S. Elliot ‘Little Gidding’ \nThe journey home is a theme that runs through many traditions\, legends and stories. The home can be an actual place\, our native Ithaca. In the Buddhadharma\, home is the space of things (dharmadatu). Inwardly it is the vajra seat\, the heart\, the ‘still point of the turning world’. A place where struggle\, speed\, all wanting comes to rest. Meditation is both road and destination. Thus all our paths are a returning to ‘that which was the beginning’. \nCome to TRC\, far from the madding crowd\, a heavens-haven of retreat and blessed nature. Leave behind the haste and tyranny of merciless acceleration. We will rely on the teachings of the siddhas as our principle guide. As always meditation\, discourse and dialogue will be central to our retreat. \nRetreat Participation Guidelines\nThis Buddhist meditation retreat is particularly suitable for those with some prior knowledge and experience of meditation. However\, everyone is welcome\, provided they are willing to fully engage with the spirit and structure of the retreat. \nWe ask that each participant come with a sincere commitment to the programme\, and a willingness to set aside personal demands and agendas for the duration of the retreat. This commitment is essential for maintaining the supportive and focused environment necessary for deep practice. \nParticipation is based on ethical conduct grounded in the Buddhist precepts\, and on mutual consideration and respect for others. If you feel unable to meet these conditions\, we kindly request that you reconsider attending. \nThank you for your understanding and care in supporting a harmonious retreat space. \nRetreat Attendance Options\nIdeally\, participants are encouraged to attend the full retreat to gain the greatest benefit. However\, partial attendance is also welcome\, with a minimum stay of one week\, and 5 days for the first week. \nFor those attending part of the retreat\, entry is possible on the following dates: \n\n\nTuesday 11 November \n\n\nSunday 16 November \n\n\nSunday 23 November \n\n\nWe appreciate your understanding\, as set entry dates help maintain the integrity and flow of the retreat for everyone involved. \nAbout Dónal Creedon\nDónal Creedon is a highly respected Buddhist meditation teacher\, deeply appreciated for his warmth\, openness\, and sincerity. He brings many years of experience to his teaching\, grounded in deep personal practice and study. He trained extensively with masters of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in Europe\, India\, and Nepal\, including long periods of intensive retreat.  Dónal’s teaching is rooted in this tradition\, while also being informed by his time at the Krishnamurti Centre in Varanasi\, where he served as the resident Buddhist scholar. Dónal’s approach integrates Buddhist meditative training with the radical spirit of inquiry inspired by J. Krishnamurti\, offering a path that is both contemplative and deeply questioning. \nRetreat Cost\nThe retreat fee includes Accommodation\, Ova-lacto vegetarian meals from supper on the first night to lunch on the final day\, a supplement for the teacher’s airfare\, and an optional R60 environmental levy \nDiscounts (already applied to listed fees): \n\n5% off for stays of 7 days\n10% off for stays of 2 weeks\n15% off for the full 23-night retreat\n\nTRC members receive an additional 10% discount if membership has been paid up for at least 6 months before the retreat. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  1st Week      (5 nights)\n  7 Nights\n  11 Nights\n  14 Nights\n  23 Nights     (full retreat)\n\n\n  Camping (own tent)\n  R3\,800\n  R4\,500\n  R6\,200\n  R7\,000\n  R10\,100\n\n\n  Camping TRC Tent/Cabin\n  R4\,300\n  R5\,100\n  R7\,200\n  R8\,300\n  R12\,000\n\n\n  Dormitory\n  R4\,300\n  R5\,100\n  R7\,200\n  R8\,300\n  R12\,000\n\n\n  Twin/double room with shared bathroom (per   person):\n  R4\,800\n  R5\,800\n  R8\,300\n  R9\,600\n  R14\,000\n\n\n  Twin/double room with en suite bathroom (per person):\n  R5\,300\n  R6\,500\n  R9\,300\n  R10\,900\n  R16\,000\n\n\n  Single room with shared bathroom:\n  R5\,800\n  R7\,100\n  R10\,400\n  R12\,100\n  R18\,000\n\n\n  Single ensuite room\n  R6\,300\n  R7\,800\n  R11\,400\n  R13\,400\n  R19\,900\n\n\n\nPlease note: \n\n\nThe cost does not include Dana (a traditional offering of appreciation to the teacher) \n\n\nStaff tips are also not included \n\n\nFor the costs of additional days and other accommodation options off the main site\, please contact the office at retreat@tararokpacentre.co.za. \n\nFor volunteer/work exchange options\, please contact the office at retreat@tararokpacentre.co.za.\n\nTransport to/from TRC & Airport Shuttle Details\nShuttle Service (OR Tambo to TRC): \n\nAvailable Tuesday\, 11 November and change-over days\, if there are enough participants.\nReturn shuttle from TRC to OR Tambo: Thursday\, 4 December.\nCost: ~R1400 per person (round trip). Not included in retreat fees.\n\nAlternative: InterCape Bus: \n\nFrom OR Tambo airport to Groot Marico: Departs at 11 AM (~R350).\nTRC pickup/drop-off from/to Groot Marico: R175.\nReturn bus departs Groot Marico at 9 AM.\nWhen booking\, select OR Tambo (not Johannesburg) as your stop.\n\nFlight Timing Guidelines: \n\nArrival (to use shuttle or bus) by 10 AM latest (or 8 AM if using InterCape).\nDeparture: Shuttle arrives at OR Tambo by 5:30 PM on 14 December.\nBook domestic flights after 7 PM\, and international flights after 8 PM.\n\nCarpooling: \nTRC will assist in arranging carpooling where possible. \nTo Book\nPlease use our online booking form\, which can be completed easily on a phone or tablet. \nA 50% deposit will secure your choice of accommodation. You are also welcome to discuss a payment plan with us. \nPeople who stay for longer periods will be preferentially allocated their choice of accommodation.
URL:https://tararokpacentre.co.za/event/meditation-retreat-with-donal-creedon-2025/
LOCATION:Tara Rokpa Centre\, Tara Rokpa Centre\, Groot Marico District\, North West Province\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Contemplation,Dharma,Inquiry,Insight,Meditation,Mindfulness,Tibetan Buddhism
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DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20251216T180000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20251221T130000
DTSTAMP:20260509T074035
CREATED:20251026T155643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251026T155643Z
UID:4447-1765908000-1766322000@tararokpacentre.co.za
SUMMARY:Listening to Our Hearts
DESCRIPTION:Join Alan Muller and Anton Krueger for a transformative retreat focused on the deep connection between mindfulness and compassion. Drawing from a rich array of dharma teachings\, Alan will explore the essential Buddhist practice of compassion—how it arises from mindful awareness of suffering and fuels our wish to alleviate it. \nAlan’s talks will be woven together with a selection of inspiring stories\, reflecting the wisdom of Aleks Krotoski: “Stories are memory aids\, instruction manuals\, and moral compasses.” Through these narratives\, we’ll deepen our understanding and cultivate compassion in our daily lives. \nIn addition\, Anton Krueger (Mindfulness Africa) will guide a series of meditations and reflections\, creating space for insight and embodied practice throughout the retreat. \nAbout Alan Muller\n\nAlan Muller 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 vows. Alan remained a novice monk for six years and now presents courses and retreats as a layperson. \n\n\n\nAbout Anton Krueger\nAnton helps to run a Kagyu Buddhist centre in Makhanda (previously Grahamstown). His passion is facilitating creativity\, improvisation and mindfulness workshops. He’s a member of Mindfulness Africa and has presented papers on Mindfulness and Creativity in China\, the USA\, India\, Sweden\, Scotland and Italy. He’s also a creative writer and Head of the Department of Literary Studies in English at Rhodes University. \n  \nCost\nYou are welcome to attend the entire retreat or any part of it. The cost per person includes accommodation of your choice and wholesome meals\, from supper on the day of arrival to lunch on the day of departure. A  facilitation fee is included\, while staff gratuities and dana are optional extras. There is a 5% discount for staying the full 5 days\, which is already included in these costs: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  Accommodation Type:\n  2 Nights\n  5 Nights\n\n\n  Camping (own tent)\n R1\,400\n  R2\,600\n\n\n  Dormitory\n  R1\,600\n  R3\,100\n\n\n  Twin/double room with shared bathroom (sharing\, per person)\n  R1\,800\n  R3\,600\n\n\n  Twin/double room with en suite bathroom (sharing\, per person)\n  R2\,000\n  R4\,000\n\n\n  Single room with shared bathroom\n  R2\,200\n  R4\,500\n\n\n  Single ensuite room\n  R2\,400\n  R5\,000\n\n\n\nIf you’d like to stay for a shorter or longer time\, please feel free to contact us at retreat@tararokpacentre.co.za for the cost — we’ll be happy to help you find the option that suits you best. \nTo Book:\nPlease book by clicking on this online booking form – please indicate your preferred arrival and departure dates under “Other Info”. \nA 50% deposit will confirm your booking – here are the payment details. \n 
URL:https://tararokpacentre.co.za/event/listening-to-our-hearts/
LOCATION:North West Province
CATEGORIES:Buddhism,compassion,Contemplation,Meditation,Mindfulness,Relaxing,Spirituality
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