This is one of a four-part retreat series on the Brahmaviharas or ‘Divine Abodes’: four qualities of the heart to cultivate for wellbeing and liberation - loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha).
Over the course of two years, The Barn will host four retreats on these qualities and you are invited to come to all four, or fewer if needed. View them here
In this retreat, we will explore the meaning, significance and depths of joy - with a particular focus on the attitudes and practices that support its cultivation.
The search for joy is deeply rooted in our hearts. Everything we do is directed toward it, whether or not we are aware of that.
The Buddha gave joy a special place in his teachings, placing it as one of the four qualities of heart and mind that guide us on the path to awakening.
If you decide to stay with us, we’ll send you a list of what you need to bring for this retreat in your Welcome Letter that we send out after you've booked.
You can also find out more about staying with us on our Frequently Asked Questions page, including:
The weekly schedule provides opportunities for both individual reflection and group meditation.
If you're coming to stay with us on retreat, it is important to make a commitment to arrive in time for the first group meeting and to attend all the days.
This ensures you experience the retreat programme from start to finish and helps your group of participants to gel.
It is important that you are willing to participate in working on the land as part of your mindfulness practice (we can easily find suitable tasks for people with health difficulties) and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week. This includes three 40 minute formal meditation periods each day.
All our retreats include periods of silence as a way of deepening into mindful awareness.
If you are new to spending time in silence in the company of other people, it can feel awkward to begin with. But we encourage you to explore the silent periods with a spirit of openness and curiosity - people usually find it to be a positive experience.
Note that we hold silence overnight from 8.40pm to 9.15am in the morning, and all day Wednesday.
Afternoon |
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2.00pm to 4.00pm – Your arrival |
5.00pm – Welcome Meeting |
6.30pm – Light evening meal. Then settling in |
8.00pm – Meditation, followed by silence until 9.15am the next day |
Mornings | Afternoons |
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6.20am – Wake up | 12.20pm – Guided or silent meditation |
6.45am – Movement & meditation | 1.00pm – Lunch |
7.30am – Household tasks | 2.00pm – Personal time |
8.00am – Breakfast | 4.30pm – Dharma talk |
9.15am – Silence ends, morning meeting & check-in (except Wednesday) | 6.30pm – Light supper |
10.30am – Mindful gardening | 8.00pm – Guided or silent meditation followed by silence until 9.15am the following day |
As above until 8.00am. Silence ends at breakfast. Then it's time to clear your room and depart between 9.00am and 10.00am.
Our popular meditation retreat venue in the Buddhist tradition is where up to 11 people join together living in community for weekly retreats, including a variety of themed retreats - scroll on to see them all.
You'll be staying within a friendly atmosphere of fellowship, sitting together in daily meditations and mindfully tending our organic vegetable gardens.
You'll have your own single room, you'll get to eat produce from what's grown on the land here and you'll also get time to explore the wonder of the beautiful and contemplation-inspiring Sharpham Estate.
Get Directions View VenueParticipants at The Barn can select which rate they pay according to need:
Supported Rate £475
The Sharpham Trust is committed to ensuring that retreats at The Barn are accessible to all - regardless of income. The Trust therefore offers a heavily subsidised Supported Rate for those unable to pay the Standard or Benefactor Rate.
Standard Rate £525
Paying the Standard Rate means you will be contributing towards our running costs, supporting the work of The Barn and helping retreatants of lower incomes to access our retreats.
Benefactor Rate £595
If you are able to pay the Benefactor Rate, that means that you'll be supporting others who cannot afford to benefit from a Barn retreat on The Sharpham Estate. Your choice to pay this rate will help us with the running costs of The Barn, enabling us to continue our charitable work connecting people to nature and fostering mindfulness and wellbeing, as well as caring for the land, wildlife and wider estate.
Dana is the Pali word for generosity or donation. The volunteer coordinators are receiving only a small payment for expenses whilst living at The Barn and are generously giving their energy and understanding to us all. If you are able donations are welcome.
There will be a maximum of 11 participants on this retreat.
All rooms are single occupancy, giving you your own space in which to relax.
Book easily and securely online or by phoning 01803 732542
Please click here to see our booking and cancellations policy
Click here for more information on our types of bedrooms and facilities.
All rooms are comfortable single rooms, with a shared bathroom. All rooms are randomly allocated, unless you have medical needs relating to your room allocation. If you have such a need, let us know on your booking form before the retreat begins.
Limited 50% bursaries offering reduced-price retreats are available for those experiencing financial hardship. Please contact the Programme Administrator at least 4 weeks in advance if you wish to apply.
Our bursary fund relies on donations. If you’d like to help another to go on retreat here through our bursary scheme, you can give online quickly and easily by clicking here
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