A retreat for young adults (18-35)

In this monastic-led Wake Up retreat, we will practice mindful sitting, walking in nature, and Dharma sharing. With monastic guidance, we will rediscover our capacity to live with peace, compassion and purpose. Together we will cultivate presence, service and joy in community.

For young adults (18-35), the retreat brings mindfulness practice and purpose to life – mindfully, communally, and joyfully.

Over the retreat you will engage in the rhythms of mindful living: morning sits, walking meditation through nature, mindful meals, community service, Dharma talks and sharing circles. These elements combine to wake us up to our daily life, cultivating a peaceful heart amidst modern challenges. We will explore how our practice can allow us to actively participate in a more compassionate society. 

Under the guidance of monastic teachers we will wake up to new insight: a clearer sense of purpose, and a deeper connection to ourselves and others.

We will explore the 5 Mindfulness trainings as a grounded commitment to live with awareness in the world. This retreat will be a bridge between inner transformation and outward engagement and a chance to awaken, together.

Participants will experience

• Monastic-led sitting and walking meditations in the beauty of the Forest of Dean
• Mindful community living: shared meals, service meditation, and group tasks that help us discover mindfulness in every moment.
• Dharma talks and guided reflections from our monastic Dharma Teachers
• Small-group sharing (Dharma sharing families) where you can connect honestly with peers, listening and being listened to.
• Time to rest, reflect and integrate: a supportive community, simple environment, and the space to ask deep questions about how you live and why.

Many young people have abandoned their dreams. They might seem like the “living dead” to you, but give them space. They need love, like the rest of us. We are here today because we are aware of the situation in our society. We do not want to live in illusion or die in illusion. We must rebel against the forces that lead to a meaningless and illusory life. The secret is knowing how to rebel. There are ways of rebelling which only create more bondage and suffering. However, there are ways of rebelling that can offer us real freedom.Thich Nhat Hanh

Register here: https://beingpeace.uk/program/retreats/wake-up-retreat/