Buddhism teaches that we can have a direct realisation of transcendental wisdom. This is the ‘experience’ the Buddha attained two-and-a-half thousand years ago. It goes beyond the physical senses and the rational mind. It goes beyond the sense of a really-existing world ‘out there’ and a really-existing I ‘in here’. We won’t be able to understand transcendental wisdom if we are not sufficiently receptive, concentrated, and openhearted. This is why the Buddha taught a path (the dharma) in the context of a community or network of spiritual friendships (the sangha). If we try to grasp reality alone and with our unaided intellect, we are bound to distort it. Transcendental wisdom goes beyond all myths, but we can only approach it through myth. This retreat explores the four myths of dharma-life. They are approaches to wisdom: as a journey, an opening up, a discovery, or an allowing to emerge.

Who is the retreat aimed at?

This intensive men’s weekend is for men who take the dharma-life seriously and want to explore it in depth. We are especially inviting men from all the London Centres - the LBC, NLBC, WLBC, Brixton and Croydon. We want to forge strong dharma-connection between men in London.

What we’ll be doing on the retreat

Three seminars given by Maitreyabandhu. Maitreyabandhu is currently writing a book with Jnanavaca on the four myths (due out in 2026)

Interactive explorations of the myths, exploring the ‘front’ and ‘back’ of each myth, their strengths and shortcomings.

Periods of silence and meditation. There’ll be more silence and more meditation on the retreat than usual.

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