Celebrating Life - Loving The Earth

14-16 July 2023

This year our annual 'Loving the Earth” retreat falls wonderfully on Matariki. We will plant trees, celebrate life and enjoy Matariki, the beginning of the New Year in the Maori lunar calendar.

This is an opportunity for all who wish to join us to deepen the joy of Living Mindfully, caring for each other and caring for the earth. As with all retreats at Dharma Gaia, we will continue to offer the formal foundational practices of sitting and walking meditation, teachings, and sharing time as well as nourishing our capacity for peace and presence in our daily activities.

‘May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life’ -John O’Donohue

JOIN WITH THE COMMUNITY to nourish your mindfulness and meditation practice, touch the earth with your awareness and compassion, plant trees, rest and rejuvenate

We plant trees to nourish and protect Mother Earth and to deepen our loving connection with her and with each other. Growing in our wisdom of ‘Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet’ by Thich Nhat Hanh.

PLEASE BRING YOUR GUMBOOTS, WORKING GLOVES, AND SPADES IF YOU CAN. If you would like to plant a tree in the Ancestors Grove for any of your loved ones who have passed away, please email Anton at peace@dharmagaia.org so he can advise on what trees are suitable for the planting.

We welcome children, grandparents, and extended whanau too.

Retreat Cost:

$300 - $225 (sliding scale, please pay according to your financial capacity) +  DANA for the teachers. Dana is the practice in line with the Buddhist tradition that inspired our teachers to train and practice for the sake of all beings. The Teaching is offered on the basis of Dana - generosity and mutual support. Please offer your Dana for the teachings into this DANA ACCOUNT -03 0458 0238459 000 (or offer into the Dana bowl at the time of the retreat)  Dana - donation payments are tax-deductible so When making a Dana payment via internet banking, please include ‘Teacher’s Dana’ in the reference field. You can find more information here.

TO CONFIRM YOUR RETREAT BOOKING, please make payment into: 03-0458-0013241-000 and Please confirm your payment with an email to peace@dharmagaia.org and indicate in the email if this is your first retreat with us.

How to arrive:

We invite you to practice traveling and arriving in mindfulness, knowing that this will support an easeful retreat for yourself and others. We suggest you arrive between 3-5pm . If it is your first time to the Centre, please arrive early enough to be settled in your accommodation and ready for your orientation session at 4pm. On arrival please make your way to the foyer where you will be greeted by one of our residents.

GENERAL CANCELLATION POLICY

In the event of a cancellation up to 10 days prior to the starting date of the retreat, we can offer a 75% refund or the funds can be carried over to your next retreat.  

However, a cancellation within 10 days of the retreat starting date is non-refundable.

We write this in light of goodwill and in the understanding that life being life, things may change at the very last minute. Please, contact us to share/explain your circumstances.