Learning to accept presence is ceaselessly new and beyond all words. Allowing reactive patterns such as anxiety and craving to soften and unwind. Through practice, it naturally brings us into a more intimate and relaxed relationship with all experience, people and life as it unfolds.

Young person’s Retreat Training:

1. This retreat is an organic process of transformation for individuals. It is also a precious opportunity to reflect on one's own life, to see into the true nature of the mind and to find a meaningful direction in life.

2. Practitioners are invited to observe the 8 Mindfulness training including one meal a day and simplicity of life. Participants will be assigned a simple task for mindful practice such as cooking, cleaning, gardening and washing up as a mindfulness practice.

3. The retreat will also focus on clearing sensory and karmic overload and residues that impact the heart. Clearing unhelpful projections within the interactive heart while staying present gives us confidence that we can move forward with a sense of path, of foundation, and of gratitude.

4. Retreating together with like minded young people to practice mindful walking, eating, meditation and yoga. To explore Buddhis teachings and ideas. To explore one's inner world and direction of life.

5. Time to laugh, think, contemplate, live together. To dedicate to cultivate an open heart and stable calm/mind.

https://www.ddmbasf.org/chan-practices

Mindfulness in nature at Serene Valley Cottage:

When you experience Serene Valley inspiring and nourishing environment, we hope you'll connect spiritually with the natural world, so you’ll:

*become aware of how we are all part of nature - not artificially separate from it

*pay attention to and appreciate the natural world surrounding us

*explore nature through your senses and your natural creativity

*Tread more lightly on our finite planet, developing a respect and reverence for all living things

Retreat requirements:

1. Age 18-38 willing to take Sr. Jinho as Spiritual Guide during the retreat.

2. Observe Noble Silence and no internet or device distractions.

3. We invite each participant to bring food enough for 15 people for one meal to cook together and we will gather fund for buying food to cook when necessary.

4. Practicing living in primitive living conditions in rural areas. There is choice of camping and indoor sharing space with 3-4 participants.

5. Please indicate week 1 (arriving on 25rd June) or week 2 (arriving 9th July )if you are only attending the retreat for only one week.

What might you bring?

Camping equipments

Comfortable, loose clothing for meditation and movement sessions

Suitable seasonal clothes – it can getvery cold in the evening and in the winter

Boots or comfy waterproof outdoor shoes and waterproof jacket

Transport:

1. Take train to Caresws station and arrange a lift or walk to Seren Vally Chan Retreat Centre. 2. Arrange a lift from Bristol with Sr. Jinho

Retreat Fee: The retreat is offered freely.

Suggest donation £150-£200.

Donation collected would be for Sunyata Buddhist Centre Ireland, Mio-Fa Chan Temple Burlin and a selected Chairty.

Booking :

1. give booking fee of £ 3-5 via this website

2. send suggested donation £150 -£200 to the following account to complete the registration:

Natwest account: 4311-3087, code number: 01-04-92.

Account name: Min-Ting, Chiu

IBAN: GB46NWBK01049243113087

Address: Lancaster (A), Natwest Bank, PO Box 17, 68 Church street, Lancaster, Depot code 197. Postcode: LA1 1LN

***I am also planning a two month 'convivial retreat' - mixtures of silent , convivial and building young people’s community retreat. For both retreats mentioned above all participants are requested to book a minimum of attending 5-7 days to ensure the depths and qualities of the retreat. Please talk to me if you have any questions or concerns.

It’s possible for practitioners who have a full time job or study to join the two months building community retreat based on individual case by case agreements to fulfil or facilitate long term personal needs.

Important note:

PLEASE do a COVID test on the day coming to the retreat. Please don’t come to the retreat without doing a test.

Thank you for your understanding.

The retreat is designed to have only one main meal a day as a practice. Every participant will cook one meal to offer to the community.

Everyone could choose to just have a meal and fast for the rest of the day or have something during the break depending on the individual's health and capacity.

Let me know if you have any question or problem with cooking rota could adjust depending on daily situation.

1. Please prepare all the ingredients enough to cook 1-2 meals for 12-15 people each meal.

2. Bring food you would share with others or for personal needs.

To follow the Eastern yogi and Buddhist spiritual traditions, (if possible) PLEASE avoid “onion, garlic, leeks and chives” in your ingredients.

For the meal for the community: suggest to bring fruits, veggies, pudding, Soft drink, Soya or oat milk, nuts, Tea, bread, jam, butter….

What might you bring?

1. Food.

2. Camping equipments

3. Comfortable, loose clothing for meditation and movement sessions

4. Suitable seasonal clothes – it can getvery cold in the evening and in the winter

5. Boots or comfy waterproof outdoor shoes and waterproof jacket

6. Personal necessity including toilet paper 🧻.

Transport:

1. Take train to Caresws station and arrange a lift or walk to Seren Vally Chan Retreat Centre.

2. Arrange a lift from London or Bristol.

Please read above information carefully and prepare yourself for the retreat to the best you could.

Thank you 🙏 and I look forward to meeting you and experiencing retreat together.

Please note this retreat is a Chan training program to face reality of life so could be difficult but rewarding.

You might want to give up in the process so please cultivate determination and willingness to learn and stay open.

With kind regards.

Sr. Jinho

Camping Retreat Schedule - 25th June-16/18th July:

25th June / 2nd July Fridays (First & Second week of the retreat)

7:00 pm Arrival/settle down/tea

10:00 pm Light out

26th June/2nd July (first day of the retreat)

Free adjustment/Personal Time

27th - 30th June / 3rd-7th July Daily:

6:30-7:00 Wake up, Tea

7:00-8:00 Meditation/Walking meditation morning chanting

8:00-9:00 Tea/rest

09:00-12:00 Meditation*3/Walking/Chanting Exploring personal practice/Meditation

10:00-14:00 Prepare for lunch/ lunch/ working meditation/rest

14:00-17:30 Walking meditation or sitting meditation/Outdoor Walking meditation

17:30-19:00 Quiet personal time/Rest

19:00-21:00 Meditation/Dharma sharing/Exploring personal vows and practice

21:00--21:45 Quiet tea time

22:00 Light out

1st/8th July (last day of the retreat)

Personal Time

2nd/9th July (Leaving/closing day):

6:30-7:00 Wake up, tea, Exercise

7:00-8:00 Meditation/morning chanting

8:00-9:00 Breakfast

09:00-10:00 Clear up Leaving.

**Students can arrive later or leave early for lectures.

***Lifts are available if book early or travel by train and pick up by Marian & Nick with a small donation. Please speak to Sr. Jinho

This article describes a variety of meditation postures and offers guidance that may be supportive. https://www.ddmbasf.org/howtomeditate

Before you book, please read these guidelines about mental well-being and silent retreats: Meditation retreats can be very nourishing; however, as they require sustained meditation practice, they also need some stability of psychological health. If you have recently (within the past year or so) experienced significant trauma or psychiatric illness, or if you are currently experiencing acute emotional distress such as serious depression or anxiety, it may not be the best time for you to participate in a retreat. The teachers might not be able to give you the kind of individual psychological care you need at this time. A setting with more opportunities for interpersonal engagement may be more appropriate.

If you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, please discuss your attendance with them. You should be in a relatively stable period of mental well-being and have adequate psychological resilience. If you have any questions about this, please contact Susanne using the email address, sisterjinho@gmail.com