Alone beneath the Bodhi Tree, Siddhartha made a radical vow: he would not rise until he had penetrated the truth of existence. Through the night he faced temptation, fear, desire and violence in all their forms. Nothing was avoided. Nothing was turned away.

The Buddha's Enlightenment is the story of a man who transformed the forces that bind and divide us into wisdom, compassion and freedom. In an age of fragmentation, confusion and conflict, it offers a powerful vision of inner victory.

This Great Gathering explores the Buddha's struggle with Mara as a profound image of the spiritual life. How can we discover an identity deeper than the stories we tell about ourselves? How can we awaken courage in the face of uncertainty?

Join us as we explore the possibility that the greatest battle is not against the world, but against everything that prevents us from truly seeing it.  

Details and Timings

This retreat Leads into the Men's Open Retreat. Consider making the most of your journey to Padmaloka by booking onto both retreats for a reduced rate, which you will find on the booking form (Note: The concession rate discount appears to be lower than the retreat rate, but the overall price is still lower)

The retreat starts with dinner on the first day at 6:30pm and finishes on the final day at 2:30pm

Banner and thumbnail image: Cropped and edited drawing by Padmabhasa ©