Foundations in Vipassana Retreat

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This retreat is designed for those of you who are confident in your foundation practices and feel ready to progress to the next stage. If you have done one or two retreats already with us and have established a solid home practice then this retreat is your next step.

Why Do We Practice Vipassana Meditation?

Vipassana is the practice of insight meditation that looks to the basis of our life itself as the very roots of our suffering. The focus of such practice is the systematic removal of the causes of suffering as a route to the experience of full awakening. Where the Heart Essence retreat develops our connection to our awakened state of mind, it remains the case that on account of the ‘ego’ self clinging, we may still fall into selfish states of greed and attachment, or anger and aversion, whenever we lose our sense connection to mindful awareness.

Since our awakened mind has never caused suffering to ourselves and is already pure in nature, it remains the lower aspects of our mind that needs on-going refinement through meditation and daily mindfulness, even after we have recognised the higher mind’s intrinsic purity.

In the practice of Vipassana we look to the very causes of our selfish habit patterns, be they greed, jealousy, anger, shame or pride. As our insight into their nature and causes matures through this practice, we are able to let them go at deeper and deeper levels.

Why are we meditating?

As we learn what the Dharma actually is, what we seek from it may change over time.

How does it feel?

Introducing how we start to pay wise attention in the body. As we become more concentrated in the body, we experience different layers of feeling, and start to see for ourselves how these feelings condition our lives.

Introducing the 4 Elements Meditation

This practice was widely taught by the Buddha as a way of breaking down the perception of compactness in our experience and to open the doorway to genuine Insight Meditation. It is not often taught these days because it takes time and careful instruction to develop confidence in this practice.

Once we have learned to perceive the body with wise attention, as the four elements of ultimate materiality, the doorway opens to a significantly deeper exploration of material states. It also becomes the basis for the deep absorption practices known as the Kassina Meditations. Both higher levels of Vipassana and Samatha meditation are greatly supported once we have attained a level of competence with this practice.

Retreat Details

Cost of Retreat

The cost of your retreat is broken into two parts:

1. Published prices cover the costs for your food and accommodation which go to the venue minus admin costs. Deposits are inclusive of the published prices.
None of this money goes to Burgs.

2. Donation to Burgs for the teachings he shares during the week. This amount is given at your discretion at the end of your retreat.

The deposit is non-refundable. Under certain circumstances we may be able to transfer deposits to another scheduled retreat (such as illness).

Donation for Teachings:

Since starting to teach meditation in Asia, Burgs has always offered teachings on dana (donation). You will be invited to make a donation to the teacher at the end of the retreat (anonymously if you so wish).

This is a way of expressing our gratitude for the teachings that you have received, and a way to support both the teacher and the teachings, so that they can carry on being offered to others.

It is an important part of the retreat to take time to reflect on your experience whilst on retreat, and you are invited to make your own reflections on the value of what you have learned and so give accordingly.

Cancellation Policy:

If you cancel your retreat outside of 4 weeks of the published start date, there will be a 50% cancellation fee applied.

If you cancel your retreat within 4 weeks of the event, you are eligible to pay for the whole cost of the retreat, ie. 100% cancellation fee.

Deposits are not transferable within 4 weeks of the start of retreat. You can transfer your deposit to an event within the current shown schedule.

The deposit is a non-refundable.

Concessionary Rates:

We do try and support those who really are in financial difficulty and are unable to commit to the full suggested donation amount for shared accommodation.

If you feel you qualify for this, then please email us about this during the booking process. Please note we would normally only offer concessionary rates to attend retreats hosted in the UK.

Concessionary places are agreed prior to arrival on retreat.

A Typical Day on Retreat

The guided meditation sessions on this retreat are generally between 30 – 40 minutes.
Regular 20 minute breaks are given between sessions.
There are guided exercise sessions at least twice a day, along with a 2 hour lunch break to enjoy walking outside or to have a nice afternoon rest.
Meditation sessions are guided by the teacher (or assistants on occasion).
These sessions are supported by regular discourses which help clarify and explain the process and practice of meditation.
There are regular opportunities to ask Burgs questions as needed to clarify the practices being taught.
Instructions are always repeated throughout the day so there’s no need to remember anything during the week.

6.15am Wakeup
6.45am Morning Meditation (unguided)
7.30am Breakfast
8.30am Morning session (instructions for the day and meditations)
11.30am Exercise session (chi kung / yoga)
12.30pm Lunch
2.30pm Afternoon session (clarifying discourses and meditations)
5.30pm Exercise session (chi kung / yoga)
6.30pm Soup
7.30pm Evening Discourse and Meditation (generally of a motivational and inspirational nature)
8.30pm Bedtime

Who Is It For?

This retreat assumes you have attended at least one 7 day Foundation Retreat (Level 1) and kept a reasonable home practice since your last retreat.
For those who wish to learn the 4 Elements meditation practice.
If you are not sure whether you are ready for this retreat then please contact us individually for enquiries.

Retreat Experience Already?

Have you learned with other teachers? Maybe you are well practiced with the Goenka vipassana practice? Or another teacher practicing vipassana or non-duality?
Regardless of your experience, we do ask that you attend the Art of Meditation Level 1 retreat first, irrespective of experience.
The Level 1 retreat provides a solid foundation to the way Burgs teachers and provides a framework and understanding to meditation practice, the technology of mind and consciousness and how it functions.
For those interested, more details about this is explained in Volume One & Two of the Flavour of Liberation.

House Rules

The basis for the successful practice of meditation is sīla (virtuous / moral conduct). It is extremely difficult to develop Strong Concentration (samadhi) and Insight / Wisdom (panna) while our mind is unrestrained and disorganised.
When the Buddha taught meditation he suggested that those hoping to make real progress adhere to a simple code of conduct that would support this endeavour. While on retreat we will likewise follow these same guidelines.
It is our aim to offer retreats which enable the student to develop and deepen their practice in the most supported environment possible. As such, each student is asked to observe a few simple rules so that they may get the most out of their time on retreat.
The basic tenets with which we ask you to follow are:

– To abstain from killing any living being.
All meals will be vegetarian during the week.

– To abstain from taking what is not given.
All basic requirements will be provided for during your stay such as food.

– To abstain from sexual activity.
Male and female students will have separate rooms for sleeping accommodation during the retreat.

– To abstain from untruthfulness.
Noble silence will be observed for 6 days of the retreat.

– To abstain from all intoxicants.
No smoking, alcohol or other drugs use will be permitted. Please inform us of any prescribed drugs you will be using whilst on retreat.

Silent Retreat

Noble Silence is a key aspects to your retreat. It is the foundation on which your meditation practice and progress will be built upon.
It is a key part of this experience and will be maintained for 6 days of the retreat. The final afternoon on the last full day will be an opportunity to slowly start to come out of retreat mode.
Although many people find the idea of remaining silent quite daunting at first, almost all find that it adds considerably to the whole experience of being on retreat.
The main benefit of this practice is to allow the internal mindfulness of the student to develop over the week allowing them to be undistracted during their retreat.
There will be opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification from the teacher or any of his assistants at appropriate times. It is not considered to be breaking your silence to seek clarification on what you are being asked to do.

Below are some aspects of Noble Silence we ask you to follow:

Handing in Mobile Phones and other technology. All participants are asked to hand in their mobile phones at the start of the retreat (after supper on arrival day). This also includes smart watches, laptops, ipads and other tech devices you might have.
To be secluded from your daily life for a whole week allows you to fully engage with the teachings being shared in an undistracted way.
If there is a need to be contactable due to special circumstances such as family illness, then please use the emergency phone number provided. Please discuss this with an assistant upon arrival.
No talking to or distracting of other students. Many people find it hard to take time away from their busy lives to attend retreat. If you feel you are struggling with the silence then you can always speak to one of the assistants who can help you with this.
No reading. No note taking. No writing diaries or journals. All these activities engages the mind which undermines the process you will be engaging with during the week. There will be an opportunity to make notes and write in your diaries once we have broken silence on day 6.
No physical contact with anyone is permitted as this disturbs all parties involved.
Eye contact should be avoided within reason. Seeking to distract people while on your retreat is something that we advise against as this disturbs both you and the other person(s) involved.

Waiting List

Our retreats do get booked quickly so it’s a good idea to book as soon as you can.
If however you find that the retreat is already full, then it is a good idea to get onto the waiting list.
We do usually get a few last minute cancellations and people transferring to other retreats, so you might find that we can offer you a place on the retreat of your choice.
This is particularly applicable to those of you who can make arrangements at short notice.
You will still need to complete the booking process (pay deposit and complete a booking form) when a space becomes available.