Cultivating the Undefended Heart

Bookings are now closed for this retreat

Teacher: Anton Eastick
Date: Thurs 18th April to 22nd April 2019
Venue: Kallara, Strathbogie Ranges
Accomodation Options:
Single Room - $530 + Dana for the teachings.   
Twin Share Room (same sex sharing only) -  $390 + Dana for the teachings.  

Retreat Practical Information:
This document contains important details about the retreat so please read this before booking or making an enquiry.
Download the practical information here

Retreat Theme
A key part of the Buddhist path is developing and cultivating the sure heart’s release. We’ll look at cultivating different expressions of love, and working with what gets in the way. This path of awakening leads us towards the wisdom of how to more fully inhabit our lives and how to belong and claim our rightful place in the world. As our understanding of what get's in the way of loving deepens, we naturally learn how to care for our whole selves, and how to live life with a wiser and undefended heart. An undefended heart does not mean being totally undefended and open to any attacks that may happen, rather it's about learning to trust our ability to be strong enough to deal with whatever happens with kindness. Protective love is as equally valued as sweet open connection. Having clear boundaries in life gives us the option to say "Yes" when we mean "Yes" and also to give a clear "No" when needed. A clear "No" can support a clear "Yes" and help a part of us relax.

Exploring classical and contemporary teachings of Insight Meditation, (Vipassana) this retreat is suitable for beginners and experienced meditators. There will be ongoing opportunities to ask questions and receive individual meditation guidance. Daily there will be group meditation instructions, guided meditations, talks, walking, chanting, sitting meditation and a yoga and/or qigong period. While we do give meditation instructions to the group, we consider it important that there are times for 1-1 interviews with the teachers throughout the day where you can explore on a more private and personalised level, what is happening for you.  

Noble silence
This retreat will be mostly held in noble silence except for interviews and question and answer periods and group study on the retreat theme. For beginners, please note that noble silence does not exclude common sense communication in times of emergency or at times when communication is needed to clarify meditation or work period instructions or questions you may have about anything you need to clarify. 

Retreat Practical Information: Please read this before booking or making an enquiry click here to download

Dear Anton;
I wanted to take some time to email you following up from the retreat.... For me, the retreat was a transformational experience. It's hard to put into words              everything that I received personally and spiritually, but I can say that I am now on a life path that is lined with meditation practice, dharma teachings and mind/body/soul nourishment. I have you to thank for this and I'll always have a heart full of gratitude to you for your dedication, care and the wisdom you  imparted- especially for helping me to understand and accept myself in a more loving way....
Louise

Accommodation
This is a fully residential retreat. There are single rooms and shared twin room accomodation. Shared rooms are allocated on a same sex basis only.  

Any Questions? 
Email us or to phone on 0412 018962. (no texting .... please use email for written enquiries)

Giving of service or Karma yoga ~ Insight meditation retreats are run on a non-profit basis, so in this way we are able to keep the costs down. Therefore In the same spirit we ask that everyone who comes to our retreats contributes one hour of their time each day towards the running of the retreat. This may be anything from washing up, veggie chopping, cleaning or something else connected with running the retreat. We thank you in advance. 

Volunteers Needed
The retreats we run are not for profit and we rely totally on the good will of organisers and volunteers to make a retreat like this happen. If you would like to assist in any way, please send us an email and let us know how you might be able to help. Specifically we are looking for assistance with

- Retreat managers (you need to have completed at least 2 x 7-day Insight Meditation retreats before and be known to Anton) Please do make contact if this interests you. 
- Help at the retreat. We often need help with setting up the venue, in the kitchen and packing up at the end.
- Retreat promotion. 
- Pass the word around. Letting other people know about the retreats and what they are about is a great way to support the teachings and truly appreciated
- Lifts to Kallara for people without cars and to keep the sharing culture alive

We hope to see you there