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The Diamond Throne FY21
[Past Retreats FY21]

The Diamond Throne FY21

Thursday 29 April 2021 – Sunday 9 May 2021 at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre in Minto Heights

10-day women's meditation retreat.

Touching the Earth is one of the most central and mythic images of Buddhism. And The Diamond Throne – on which the Buddha gained enlightenment as he meditated on the causes of suffering – was said to be the centre of the universe from where it first took form. 

Grounding ourselves in our direct experience enables us to become more intimate with it, and in turning towards our experience we turn towards the world. Meditation is then our most essential and profound path to opening towards that which is most meaningful, beautiful, perhaps even sacred. We could say that whenever we sit fully present, we are ourselves sitting on The Diamond Throne. 

On this retreat – through meditation, silence, the movements of Qi Gong, ritual, readings, and community living – we will move towards grounding and deepening our practice, bringing us into greater connection with our bodies and our hearts, opening to the mythic earth, both within and without. 
 

Open to all women* with an established meditation practice.

Arrive any time from 2pm, with official start time at 6:30pm. The last day ends by 2:30pm.

* This retreat is for anyone who identifies as a woman, and for genderqueer folk.

Book Now: $585 / $435

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.

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Typical Daily Programme

Time Activity
7am Meditation
9am Breakfast
10:30am Talk / Meditation / Reviews
1pm Lunch
3:30pm Qi Gong & Meditation
6:15pm Dinner
8pm Chanting, Meditation & Pūjā
More questions? Get in touch

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I need to have been practising?

The retreat will be best suited for those who have an established meditation practice, and who can sit quietly for 45 minutes without guidance.

Do I need to be a Buddhist?

Although our inspiration and practices come from Buddhist teachings, you do not need to be a Buddhist to attend or benefit from the retreat.

What does the cost include?

The retreat cost covers the full cost of the retreat, including all food.

When does the retreat start and end?

The retreat will begin with dinner on the Thursday evening at 6:30pm. You are welcome to arrive any time from 5pm. It is normally not advisable to plan to arrive later than this. If you think you might need to, please contact us before booking.

We will finish on the Sunday afternoon, around 3pm.

What will the accommodation be like?

Vijayaloka provides simple, but comfortable accommodation. Living communally is an important and enjoyable part of the retreat. We will be in shared single-sex rooms with 2-4 people in each, and will eat together communally.

Living communally means caring for each other. The team leading the retreat are volunteers who are on retreat as well and we will ask you to help out with simple chores. Working together is a good way of getting to know each other, and it also helps us keep the cost of the retreat to a minimum.

Can I have a single room?

Vijayaloka has two single rooms that can be allocated to people with special requirements. If you require a single room to be able to attend, please contact us before booking to ensure availability.

What will the food be like?

Many Buddhists eat a vegan diet as an expression of non-violence. As such, all food will be vegan.

If you have any allergies that aren't listed on the booking form, please contact us before booking to ensure we can cater for you.

What do I need to bring?

Unless you are coming a long distance we ask that you bring your own sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag (we have plenty of pillows).

It can be surprisingly cold in the early mornings and evenings, and quite hot in the middle of the day, so bring clothes suitable for all weather: we suggest you bring layers as well as a warm jumper or jacket. You'll also need a good sun hat and suitable shoes, especially if you want to bushwalk. There is a river that you can swim in, so you may also want to bring swimwear.

In addition you'll need to bring any toiletries you need including a towel, insect repellent, and sun block. It is also a good idea to bring a torch if you have one and you may also want to bring a notebook and pen.

The Team

Chittaprabha
Chittaprabha
Prakashika
Prakashika
Priyada
Priyada
Yasokaruna
Yasokaruna

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.