Mitra Unretreat
Experienced

Mitra Unretreat

Thursday 16 January 2025 – Sunday 19 January 2025 at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre in Minto Heights

This event is open to mitras only.

Join us for the 2025 Mitra Unretreat—a unique opportunity exclusively for Mitras committed to the five precepts. This unstructured retreat offers a flexible and spacious environment to deepen your practice, nurture sangha friendships, and enjoy quiet reflection. With no formal program, you are free to spend your time in meditation, reading, or taking walks and swims. Silence is encouraged near the accommodation block and shrine rooms, while playful noise is welcome beyond the dining room.

Retreat Intent and Structure

This retreat is a sangha-building exercise. It is designed to challenge the comfort of regularly scheduled retreats, inviting us to explore how our practices evolve in the spaciousness of uncertainty. With no formal programming, this retreat allows for personal exploration and deepening of practice.

Participants may offer engagement activities by writing them on a shared board, but everything is optional. Whether joining an activity, meditating independently, or simply reflecting, the choice remains with you—without expectation or pressure.

Practicalities and Guidance

  • Self-Supported Practice: No meditation will be led; the only timekeepers will be bells for meals.
  • Evening Check-Ins: Each evening offers a voluntary check-in for participants to share their experiences and reflections.
  • Organiser Support: If at any time you feel uncomfortable, the retreat organisers are available for support. For matters they cannot resolve, off-site support from Mitra Convenors is available.
  • Safety Guidelines: Walks and swims must be undertaken in pairs to ensure safety.

Logistics and Accommodation

  • Duration: Stay with us for 1-3 nights, or even just for half a day. A minimum registration of 1 day is required, as catering will be provided for you.
  • Accommodation: Choose to stay in your own tent or a shared room.
  • Meal Times & Rosters: Meal times and the usual cooking and cleaning rosters will follow regular Vijayaloka Retreat practices.

Getting Here

We will do our best to assist with pick-ups from the train station, but advance booking for your arrival days is essential.

Questions?

Contact us at info@sydneybuddhistcentre.com or message the Organising Committee: Stav Zotalis, Darrin Ball, Shannon Black, Dane Hunnerup.

Book Now: $70 / $105 / $135

We want everyone to have the opportunity to come on retreat. If you cannot afford the cost even with concessions, we may be able to help. Please contact us to discuss.

About Vijayaloka

Our retreats are held at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre which provides simple shared accommodation for approximately 40 people in a beautiful bush setting on the George's River.

Where to Find Us

The retreat is at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre in Minto Heights.

Driving

Vijayaloka's address for use in sat-navs is 36 Howard Road, Minto Heights NSW 2566. Travel time from central Sydney is about one hour.

There is a blue sign at Vijayaloka's entrance. Enter there and then park the car park immediately on your right.

If you are able to offer a lift to others travelling from Sydney, please let us know.

Train

Vijayaloka is very easy to access by train. The closest train station is Minto which is on the T8 Airport Line towards MacArthur and Campbelltown. Travel time is about 50 minutes from Central.

We can normally arrange for those travelling by train to be picked up from the train station. Please indicate when booking if you need to be picked up and aim to be at Minto around 5:30-6pm. We will contact you shortly before the start of the retreat to confirm. Alternatively you can take a taxi from the bottle shop across the road from the station, or an Uber.

If you are travelling from outside Sydney and don't have an Opal card, you can use any contactless credit/debit card to travel on Sydney Trains.