NEW YEAR URBAN RETREAT: Still Point of the Turning World

Join us for a four day-long urban retreat to start the New Year with confidence and inspiration. The retreat is suitable for complete newcomers and for those who already practice Buddhism and meditation. 

Retreat details at a glance

• Timings: Monday, 28th December 6.00pm to Friday, 1st January 1.00am
• Led by Vajragupta, Gambhiralila and team
• Vegan lunch and dinner will be provided
• Suggested donation: £210 (waged) / £140 (unwaged)
• Open to All levels of experience, including newcomers
  
  

The Tibetan word “bardo” literally means “between-two.” The idea is that there are special times when we’re between the old and the new, poised between what has been and what could be. By being more aware of the bardos in our lives (personal as well as collective), we can draw out their full significance for freedom, creativity, and change.

For us, New Year is an obvious time of bardo, a time of in-between. Rather than drift through this bardo, we can reflect on it, realise its meaning, and travel through it more fully and consciously. We can create a still point in the turning world, a chance to step back and consider what we really want from our lives, where we really want to be heading.

Join us for our annual New Year Urban Retreat, with four days of meditation, reflection, friendship, ritual, poetry, silence, beauty, chanting, and more. This is one of our most popular events of the year, and every time a magical atmosphere builds up in the Buddhist Centre, culminating in a special Buddhist ritual to welcome the New Year.

Retreat structure

On an urban retreat we spend the days at the Centre and go home for the night. Please attend everything if you possibly can, though it is OK to miss the pre-breakfast meditations, and evening activities if you have far to travel. However, please only book on this event if you can attend everyday.

During the day we meditate together in the shrine room, listen to Dharma teachings, share meals and have inspiring discussions. All meals provided, you just need to turn up with an open mind.

The first evening

Monday 28th Dec, 6.00pm to 9.00pm - We'll have dinner together and ritually open the retreat. We ask everyone to attend this evening session, as it is important that we lay the grounds together that will hold the rest of the retreat.

The body of the retreat

Monday 28th Dec to Wednesday 31st Dec - each day will comprise:

• An optional morning double meditation from 7.30am to 9.00am. 
• A day of meditation, talks and reflection from 10.30am to 4.30pm that we ask everyone to attend. 
• An evening of practice from 6.00pm to 9.30pm, which we'd recommend you attend if you can.

New Years Eve 

Different to last years' urban retreats,  on New Year's Eve we’ll open the doors and invite others to join the atmosphere we’ve created. There’ll be an evening of meditation, poetry, and a special Buddhist ritual taking us to midnight (and to the end of the old year and the start of a new one). We really hope you stay for this, as it’ll be a magical way to finish! 

Retreat cost

This retreat is run on a donation basis. There’s no fixed fee - because the Dharma is priceless, and we want it to be accessible to all. But your donations are essential. They keep the Croydon Buddhist Centre running - not just for today, but for future generations who will come here to discover and explore the Dharma.

For this event, we suggest a donation of £210 (waged) / £140 (unwaged). Please give what you can - more if you’re able, less if you need to. What matters most is your presence and participation. Learn more about the Dana economy here. 

Any questions?

If you have further questions about this retreat or the Croydon Buddhist Centre, reach out to us on info@buddhistcentrecroydon.org.