Meditation Immersion Retreat

Curious about retreats? And how to meditate effectively? This longer introductory retreat is an ideal first taste. Break out of your routine and spend 4 days learning transformative practices, connecting with others, and enjoying being in beautiful countryside. Whether you’re new to meditation and Buddhism or have been exploring it for a little while, this is an opportunity to discover the effects of immersing yourself in the practice.

On this weekend, you will:

• Discover the Buddhist approach to meditation.
• Learn or deepen two meditation practices: Mindfulness of Breathing and Cultivating Loving-Kindness
• Enjoy short periods of silence, as well as free time for walks, exercise, or rest.
• Be part of a retreat community for the weekend.

Come along and discover what’s possible with an effective and rich meditation practice!

WHEN: Wednesday 25th – Sunday 29th November 2026. The retreat starts with dinner at 7pm on Wednesday and ends around 3pm on Sunday.

WHERE: This retreat will take place in our Shubha Vihara retreat centre, in Ballycorrigan, Ballina, Co. Tipperary. It’s just under a 2 hour drive from Cork city. See here for a Google Map.

WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?  Our meditation immerstion retreat is suitable for people who want to have a deeper taste of what meditation can offer.

So if you’re

• …a complete beginner who want to learn to meditate
• …a meditator with some experience who’ve never been on retreat before
• …an existing meditator who want to deepen their meditation practice in the perfect conditions that a retreat can offer

then come along for this stimulating and inspiring weekend retreat!

THE RETREAT LEADERS:

Amalayodhin: An experienced Buddhist teacher, Amalayodhin recently returned to Cork, where he is originally from. He has been ordained for over decade and has spent the last year leading classes at the Cork Buddhist Centre. Before that he spent six years teaching and working at the London Buddhist Centre.  You can explore some of his talks on YouTube, including "The Way of the Compassionate Hero" and "The Honey Ball Sutta," which offer valuable insights into the Buddhist path and approach to life. 

Mokshartha: Originally from Crosshaven, Mokshartha has been practicing meditation and Buddhism for over two decades, first in Dublin and then in London. He has been teaching meditation to newcomers and regulars at the West London Buddhist Centre for the last year. He spent three months last year on an ordination retreat in a remote mountain valley in Spain and plans to support the development of the Cork Buddhist Centre now that he is ordained.

LIFE ON RETREAT: A Buddhist retreat is a chance to escape the noise and complexity of modern life and deepen your experience of yourself and of the world around you. It’s not a holiday or a spa, however most people come away refreshed and inspired.

Retreat life is simple, with a daily programme to follow. There will be periods of meditation, talks on aspects of Buddhism and simple rituals as well as free time for rest and walks in the countryside. As the retreat progresses there will be more meditation and longer periods of silence to allow for reflection. On most retreats there will also be small groups led by a team member in which you can discuss your experience of the retreat. Our retreats are known for being friendly, inspiring and enjoyable.

WHAT PEOPLE ENJOY MOST: 

When we ask retreat participants what the highlights were for them, they typically respond by talking about:

• A chance to escape the noise and complexity of modern life
• Meeting others on the retreat
• A simple life with a daily programme to follow
• The food!
• A chance to reflect on things
• Great instruction on meditation

HOW TO GET THERE:  Shubha Vihara retreat centre is an approximately 1 hour and 50 minute drive from Cork City.

For most retreats, we organise a car-sharing list so that people travelling from the same area can connect. If you need a lift or can offer one, simply let us know when you book. While we can’t guarantee a lift, car sharing is often possible and is a lovely way to begin your retreat in the spirit of friendship and community. 

Shubha Vihara is also accessible by public transport. The simplest route is to take a coach to Limerick and from there take Bus Éireann Route 323 to Ballina. By prior arrangement, we can usually organise collection from Ballina, making the final part of your journey to the retreat centre straightforward.

COST: 

Normal retreat rate: €300

Rate for full-time students, or people early in their career (18 - 30 year olds): €90

The cost inlcudes a non-refundable booking deposit of €50. If you want to make a cancellation more than 14 days before the retreat begins you will recieve a full refund minus the booking deposit. If cancellation occurs within 14 days of the retreat start date, no refund will be available.

THE FOOD: All dishes are vegan, but don’t let that put you off. We’ve astounded by many omnivores on our retreats who admitted they had no idea vegan food could be so tasty and filling! Every meal is cooked from scratch, and there is always enough for second helpings. No one ever goes hungry on our retreats.

ACCOMMODATION:  All bedrooms are shared with fellow participants, typically with three to five retreatants per room. There are no single rooms at this venue. Sharing a room is a meaningful aspect of the retreat. Many find it enriching to live simply alongside others, fostering a quiet sense of connection, mutual support, and community. This spirit of shared living reflects some key elements of Buddhist practice — simplicity, awareness of others, and compassion.