A heart that is wild and spacious

A heart that is wild and spacious
Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.
Antonio Machado

When we think or talk of our heart, what springs to mind? Do we regard it as a garden needing meticulous care, tending, and monitoring? Or does it resemble an open area that can accommodate everyone and everything, more akin to a wilderness that is untamed, novel, and teeming with discoveries?

It is a lovely idea to have an open, spacious heart, but is it naïve? Can we maintain an open heart in a world that frequently feels harsh, painful, and hard? Practicing Metta Bhavana, or loving kindness, we engage with everyone we encounter in the world, growing ever more open. We are encouraged to dive below our familiar identities and to meet the world directly: we have to keep it real. Are we brave enough to venture into the exciting wilderness of our own hearts?

We will be exploring the stages of Metta Bhavana in our hearts, minds, and bodies, in meditation, nature, and our interactions. We will find ways to trust the wild and unexpected aspects of ourselves, the mind-heart in its natural state, through both indoor and outdoor practice.

Simple physical improvisational activities will increase our awareness of the present and make us more receptive to joy and light, bringing a spirit of discovery into our attention both inside and outside of meditation. We venture into the unknown through movement improvisation and meditation, a dance with ever-changing experience. Participating in this dance, we can learn where movement and stillness meet.

You can see this video by Jayachitta

RETREAT CATEGORY: INTRODUCTORY and people with some experience.
This retreat is suitable for people who are new to meditation and Buddhism and also people who have a regular meditation practice and who regularly attend retreats, a centre or a group within the context of the Triratna Buddhist Community. 

Please read our booking and cancellation policies and FAQs before booking.