Last week, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the one-week long Natural Great
Peace retreat at Dzogchen Beara. For the past 10 years, the retreat has been offered
as a “no fee” event (i.e. a donation based no-fee retreat designed to allow anybody
to join whatever their means)

A group of 45 participants from Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Finland and USA
signed up to take part in a retreat that has been specifically designed for experienced
meditators committed to an intensive practice retreat (5 to 6 hours of meditation per
day) including several days in silence. The event was led by Andrew Warr, Veronica
Nicholson, and Olivier Riche.

The retreat’s title is inspired by a poem written by the great Dzogchen master Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. Practising meditation in a retreat environment is a special opportunity to refine one’s practice, enhance one’s understanding and simply enjoy a taste of the peace of mind and deep sense of well being that meditation brings.

Rest in Natural Great Peace this exhausted mind,
Beaten helpless by karma and neurotic thoughts,
Like the relentless fury of the pounding waves,
In the infinite ocean of samsara.
Rest in Natural Great Peace
~ Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche

The programme offers a progression of increasingly more subtle meditation techniques based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, including shamatha with objects, analytical meditation, loving kindness meditation, mantras, objectless shamatha and a direct approach to letting the mind settle naturally into a state of pure awareness.

Guidance and clarification through questions/answers was available each day. To balance extended periods of sitting meditation with physical practice, an on-site walking meditation was included in the daily schedule as well as Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga) sessions led by Matt Padwick to energise and harmonise mind and body. Participants expressed their gratitude for the warm and welcoming environment of Dzogchen Beara and how they were able to go deeper into meditation practice, settle and make friends with their mind, especially at this time of the year.

“A retreat for anyone wanting to quieten their mind and become friendly with their
thoughts. Gentle pace, insightful presenters, amazing food in one of the most beautiful
locations in Ireland.”
Joseph B. (participant)

The 2024 Natural Great Peace retreat is already open for registration. For future Natural Great Peace retreats check Dzogchen Beara’s event page at end of November, begining of December.