The Guru Principle with Bonni Ross
Thursday 8th – Tuesday 27th January 2026
INTRODUCTION
A message from Bonni:
“In over fifty years committed engagement with Buddhadharma, my teachers have met my longing for liberation by lavishly sharing lineage, systems, methods, concepts and opportunities to study and practice. Paradoxically, the potency of that blessing grows stronger as the body wanes in capacity. In whatever time remains, I welcome sincere practitioners, of any age and stage, to request work they need to enhance the requirements of the Path. This year’s program, in two parts, arose from conversations with sincere students. “The student creates the teacher.” May all beings increase in curiosity and question and find their way to living, breathing humans who embody the Teaching. If you rely on an AI Avatar to feed your conceptual mind with Dharma babble, please think twice about registering for these explorations. “
The Guru Principle
This retreat will begin with exploration of the Seven Line Prayer of Guru Rinpoche. Each line of this extraordinary evocation of embodied, enlightened consciousness has potential to unveil mysteries that leave the conceptual mind (with its conditioned beliefs and opinions arising from states of hatred, desire and ignorance) behind.
Our final period of practice will engage with the Namgyal Sadhana in Three Cantos, revealed by Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche, whose teachings have inspired and sustained Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre for over 50 years.
This retreat will be predominantly silent. In addition to meditation instruction, opportunities to ask questions and individual and group practice, there will be time to immerse ourselves in the supportive natural environment of the Centre.
The terrain is quite rugged and participants should be in reasonably good physical and mental health to enjoy the challenges, inner and outer, of retreat life at the Wangapeka.
Priority will be given to those who can attend the whole retreat but if space allows it may be possible to attend for a shorter period, so long as you start at the beginning. Please contact the course manager who will register your interest, and let you know if there is space one month before the retreat starts.
Bonni Ross
Bonni Ross has taught at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre for 30 years and is a deeply respected Centre Elder. The Dharma teachings she shares, both in the community and through leading meditation retreats, stem from decades of meditation experience and intensive study with her main teacher Namgyal Rinpoche. Encouragement from His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, teachings from many great Buddhist masters, as well as innovative artists, scientists, philosophers and mystery writers have fuelled the quest. With her partner, Matthew Eades, she founded the Sunshine Coast Retreat Centre in 2002 before moving to Nelson in 2017 where she has initiated, guided and supported a wide range of innovative ways to share teachings of liberation. Bonni is a mother and grandmother with a deeply practical, integrated presentation of ancient wisdom.
Costs
Costs include accommodation, food, cooks fee and a resource fee. It does not include dana to the teacher.
Rooms and Huts
Members $ 1808
Non members $ 1998
Camping
Members $1409
Non members $1466
Dana
These priceless teachings can’t be quantified in monetary terms. Liberation teachings have always been given freely by Bonni.
An offering can be made to the teacher, traditionally at the beginning of the retreat, and is a profound practice in itself. Giving can help us open; and through an open-hearted state of receptivity, we can find ourselves more able to receive.
Giving as generously as you can enables Bonni to continue sharing the precious Buddhadharma for the benefit of all.
Financial Support
We are keen that this retreat be open to those who have a strong aspiration to do this work. If you are someone who would sincerely like to attend, but face barriers in terms of finance or family responsibilities, please contact the course manager to discuss:
Jane Hobday: jane.hobday17@gmail.com
It would be helpful if you could state why you would like to attend this retreat and what might help you to do so.
Information and Registration
For more information please contact the Course Manager Jane Hobday: jane.hobday17@gmail.com
To register please fill out our online registration form
Payment
Payment details are included on the Registration Form. Thank you.
If using Paypal please add 5% of the total cost and include with your payment to cover Paypal’s fees.
Please consider becoming a Wangapeka member – click here for details.
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