Teacher, Mentor, Spiritual Friend, Guru – The Big Picture, With Bonni Ross
This is the first in a program of retreats in 2023/24 being offered by Bonni.
October 13 to 17, 2023
There may be a “Weekend Only” option (13-15th October) available, however preference will be given to those who can attend the full retreat. To request to attend for the weekend only, please contact the Course Manager Jane Hobday jane.hobday17@gmail.com
Open to All.
This retreat will examine different learning and teaching styles, traditional and contemporary. Namgyal Rinpoche said, more than once, “The student creates the teacher.” Our western cultural assumption is that in a learning situation, the teacher has all the power. In the context of liberation teaching, it is the curiosity and interest and dedication and innate wisdom of the student that determines what sort of teaching is offered.
Teacher, Mentor, Spiritual Friend, Guru. What do these words mean, and how do they fit in to healing and transformation? Spiritual work appears to be fundamentally a solitary activity, but supportive people, friends and communities of like-minded ones can ease the way to the realisation that no one does it alone! We are interconnected, influenced, inspired, discouraged, supported, and mesmerised by all of life. What can help us navigate this huge unknown?
For a few days, in supportive circumstances, we’ll explore and question, discuss, expand and shrink our views and learn to listen . . . to inner wisdom, the natural world and other humans. We’ll move our bodies, meditate alone and together, eat, sleep, dream and share.
Participants should be in reasonably good physical and mental health to enjoy the challenges, inner and outer, of life at Wangapeka.
About Bonni Ross
Bonni Ross has taught extensively at the Wangapeka over the last 30 years and is a deeply respected ‘Centre Elder’. She guides individuals in developing focused and skillful meditation and leads retreats for depth unfoldment.
Bonni began exploring the teachings of liberation in the early sixties. In the mid 70’s she met her principal teacher, Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche, whose direct, eclectic teaching and example are central to her life. Bonni teaches from a deep wealth of meditative experience. She communicates with sensitivity, creativity and humour in a way that resonates with each individual present.
Costs
Costs includes accommodation in a single room, meals, cooks fee and resource fee. It does not include dana to the teacher.
Rooms and huts
Members: $376
Non members: $416
Camping
Members: $304
Non members: $316
About 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.
Information and Registration
For further information contact the course manager Jane jane.hobday17@gmail.com
To register please fill out our online registration form
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.
Image credit: from Wind in the Willows.