Fri
14
Nov
2025
-
Mon
17
Nov
2025
London Weekend: Becoming a Buddha - Development, Surrender, Discovery, Emergence

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. This is a retreat for men practicing 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.

Led by
Maitreyabandhu and Dayanatha
Retreat Open To:
Men who attend a Buddhist Centre in London
Retreat Type
Open Retreat
Booking Availability
Spaces left
Spaces left
Spaces left
Coming on retreat

Coming on a retreat at Padmaloka is a step into another way of being, where we temporarily take up a way of life that is more supportive of Buddhist Practice. We go forth from our ordinary circumstances, our comforts and distractions so that we can discern and move towards our ideals and help others to do so as well.When booking a retreat at Padmaloka it is important to get a sense of how you will be living here - what our customs, etiquettes and requirements for being on retreat are.

Frequently asked questions

Upcoming Retreats
3 Aug
-
17 Aug
2025
3 Aug
2025
The Ten Pillars
25 Aug
-
1 Sep
2025
25 Aug
2025
Urgyen
5 Sep
-
7 Sep
2025
5 Sep
2025
Going for Refuge Weekend: The Liberation of the Heart
7 Sep
-
21 Sep
2025
7 Sep
2025
Brahmaviharas: Gateways to the Sublime