9 Day Heart Awakening Silent Meditation Retreat

Consider the depth that only silence can bring and come retreat with us, yet into your own self!

Join us in exploration of the innate Silence of our being in this 9 days retreat, including 8 full days program with meditation, deep relaxation and self-exploration while observing noble silence(mauna)

This length of retreat offers the complete spectrum of guidance and enough time for one to experience the true depth and benefit of meditation. Unfolding as a gradual coaxing into stillness, this would be the best format to solidify the understanding of the meditation practice and bring it to the next level.

All retreats are suitable for beginners and for experienced meditators equally.

Dates: 15-14th September 2023 

15th September, Friday, is the arrival day, with time for registration, accommodation, dinner and an intro session 

24th September, Sunday - morning practice, packing, tidy up, departure

Food: the retreat is catered with 3 yummy vegan meals per day +meals upon departure and before leaving 

The diet is Sattvic (pure and balanced), with no caffeine, alcohol or drug intake which facilitates the detox and rejuvenation of the body and mind and creates the right conditions for yoga and meditation practice.

The chef will provide simpe, but delicious and nutritious vegan meals. 

Please indicate on the registration form if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs (there is a surcharge of $10 per day for any special dietary requirements that will require additional food being purchased and prepared)

Daily Schedule: 

6.30 - 8.30 – Meditation sessions (with breaks)

8.30 - 9.00 – Breakfast 

9.00 - 10.00 - Karma Yoga 

10.00 – 11.00 – Teachings 

11.10 – 13.00 – Hatha yoga and meditation 

13.00 – 16.00 – Lunch and rest, time for walks, journalling or self-practice

16.00 – 16.50 – Yoga practice (relaxation/pranayama) 

17.00 – 18.30 – Meditation sessions (with breaks)

18.30 – 19.30 – Dinner 

19.30 – 21.00 – Questions and answers / satsang and evening meditation

Accommodation and Venue: 

Private or shared (twin or four beds) rooms available. 

The retreat venue is a beautiful old homestead surrounded by lush gardens on a 10 acre property where we can take walks and feel close to nature, sitting by the pond or walking through the Goddess path in the Totara forest.  

The venue is easily accessible - only couple of kms from SH1 into the country. 

Pick ups can be arranged from the town of Otaki or the train station of Waikanae Look up www.stratheanretreat.nz

Pricing for 9 nights and 8 full days with 3 vegan meals/day:

~ 9 nights and 8 full days with 3 vegan meals/day -$1390 (price for a shared room)

~ Early bird discount with all bookings before the 25th April 2023/ Return reteaters discount - $80 off the price

~ Private small room - $150 additional charge

~ Bedding provided by the venue - $60 additional charge

~ Special diet - $90 additional charge

~ A non-refundable deposit of $200 NZD is to be paid upon subscription, the rest of payment due up to a week before the retreat starts 

(If signing up with the EB price, it is still only expected to put through the non-refundable deposit before the 15th March, then the rest is due at any time before the retreat starts)

~ Payment plans available - weekly, forth-nightly, monthly 

~ If you are in a difficult financial situation, but would like to attend, there might be scholraships/ discounts that apply, please be in touch to discuss possiblities

*** All prices include GST, a GST invoice can be issued upon request

Limited spaces

For more info and TO REGISTER, please go to www.heartawakening.org 

or contact Radha via email: radha.heartawakening@gmail.com 

*WHAT IS A SILENT RETREAT? A silent retreat means that everyone participating observes mauna, noble silence. No conversations, but also no use of phone or any devices, not even reading. This external vow of silence may seem harsh or difficult, yet it is actually a very natural and normal once begun and inevitably brings an experience of deep peace. In an environment with less information intake, the mind gets the chance to quiet down and meditation is natural and easy. Being in silence is a very unique, deeply purifying and enlightening experience. It creates space for a deep insight and a proper reset for the mind and the emotions.

*WHY MEDITATION? Meditation is known for thousands of years as one of the most powerful practices, within and outside of spiritual context. It is good not only for creating a state of calm or relaxation, but also is the best known path to self-knowledge and self-love. When we retreat into silence beyond mind, there is an unmistakable feeling of being back home, in the heart of being, a sense of connection and purpose.

*WHY "HEART AWAKENING"? The retreat is held in the tradition of Hridaya Yoga. Hridaya (meaning the Spiritual Heart) is a spiritual path based on the philosophy of non-duality, Advaita, and the teachings of the great Indian sage Ramana Maharishi. Nevertheless, it combines techniques from all authentic spiritual traditions (Buddhism, Sufism, Yoga, Christian mysticism) and sacred poetry reading in order to provide a broad and comprehensive view in the search for the Self. A search that starts and ends in the Heart. 

“An awakened heart leads to an entirely new way of looking at life, yourself, others, society and ultimately at the whole created order. What that means in practical and everyday terms will differ for each of us.”- Peter Spink

 Awakening of the Heart and through the Heart - a path of revealing love as the very essence of our being.