When: Friday 8th – Tuesday 12th August 2014 ( Public holidays 11 and 12 August)
Where:  Susurumba, Juliasdale, Nyanga
Course Presenters: Dave and Pam Sheehan

“The starting point of the spiritual path, is the understanding that we can transform ourselves. Our innate qualities, like loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom, and our abilities to help ourselves and others can be cultivated.”
~ Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

The retreat will focus on developing these innate beneficial qualities through sharing the teachings of wise teachers, and meditation practice.

This retreat will appeal to all those who would like to develop a more honest approach to their lives through developing their inner wisdom and compassion. The day will consist of guidance, followed by periods of meditation interspersed with deep reflections, plus allowing for walks and swims within the majestic natural surroundings of Susurumba.

Timings

Start time:   Suggested arrival 14:00 – 16:00 on Friday 8th August
Evening soup is at 18:00 followed by Introductory Talk at 19:00.
Finish time:  10.00 on Tuesday 12th August

Suggested Cost

• Shared rooms – $120 (or $35 per night )
• Single room – 50% surcharge
• Camping $80 (or $20 per night)

Please contact us if you have financial constraints – this should not be an obstacle to attending the retreat.

Retreatants may be asked to make an offering of soup or a pre-cooked meal but we will contact you closer to the time when numbers are confirmed.

Venue

Susurumba, Juliasdale, Nyanga (immediately behind Pine Tree Inn) – approximately 70kms from Rusape, take the Pine Tree turnoff and follow the driveway to the hotel. At the hotel car park, branch left behind the hotel buildings. Follow this road for +/- 1 km, keeping left.

Susurumba – Main cottage

Bookings

Please contact Dave or Pam Sheehan at zimsheehans [at] gmail.com for a booking form.

Background about retreats

Regard joining the retreat as an act of compassion to yourself

Retreats offer us ‘time out’ from our busy, often stressful lives, to ground ourselves in our meditation/mindfulness practice. The peaceful seclusion and mountainous setting of Susurumba, Nyanga, assists in the process of allowing our busy, distracted minds to settle, allowing our deeper energies of kindness, compassion, wisdom and clarity to reveal themselves. Retreatants can find solace and a deeper inner peace through meditation, taking breathtaking walks, swimming in the clear mountain dams, etc.

While there is now limited cell phone reception at Susurumba, we recommend that you keep your cell phones turned off – you are, after all    trying to get away from the bustle of everyday life. If you must use a cell phone – even for SMS – we request that you do so in the privacy of your room/ tent and not in the public spaces. While in the shrine room or dining room, they must be switched off.

Noble silence

All attending will be encouraged to observe “Noble Silence” for part of the day, as this will help you obtain   maximum benefits from the retreat. Noble Silence will be explained at the beginning of the retreat, but in essence it acts as a method to access deeper tranquility and to connect with others at a level beyond words and concept. If we are constantly engaged in conversation it becomes increasingly difficult for the Mind to settle.

Daily Programme

Susurumba – Bottom Dam

The day will begin with early morning meditation followed by breakfast.  After breakfast there will be meditation instruction, discussion and meditation practice.  This will be followed by tea, then sitting/walking meditation, mindful activity leading up to lunch and rest.

There will be one afternoon sitting/walking session followed by tea and a guided walk around the valley.

In the evenings there will be soup followed by a talk /discussions/loving kindness training.

Participants have total freedom to attend as many or as few sessions as they see fit; there is no pressure whatsoever. Mindful walking and even swimming are encouraged (although Nyanga water can be quite invigorating in winter!).

Susurumba kopje

What to bring

• Bedding (remember Nyanga can be quite cold –especially early mornings), pillows,  towel
• Raincoats/umbrellas (it can rain at Nyanga at any time of the year)
• Torches/headlamps & spare batteries (very important)
• Toiletries/bath soap. Hand washing powder if you need to do personal laundry
• Comfortable walking shoes (plus optional CROCS?)
• Loose, comfortable clothing
• Warm clothing plus wraps for when sitting in the meditation room (tracksuits, extra socks)
• Hat & sunblock cream
• Notebook and pens
• Towels and swimming costumes (lovely refreshing mountain dams and small swimming pool).
• Personal meditation cushions and mats (there are cushions available at the retreat centre)