BUDDHISM & DEEP ECOLOGY
9th - 12th May 2025
“The smaller we come to feel ourselves compared to the mountain, the nearer we come to participating in its greatness."
- Arne Naess
Deep Ecology is a term coined by the late Norwegian philosopher, educator, activist and mountaineer Arne Naess. He said that all life has an intrinsic value over and above that which we put on it as human beings.
Arne Naess was inspired by the writings of the scientist Rachel Carson, the thinker Baruch Spinoza, the principles of non-violent direct action as espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, and the teachings of the Buddha.
His legacy lives on in the teachings of Buddhist practitioners such as Joanna Macy, Gary Snyder, David Loy and others.
Over these three days we will deepen our connection with these ideas through discussion, contemplation and experience.
FACILITATORS
SANGHASIHA
Based in East London but originally hailing from Dorset, Sanghasiha has been leading Buddhism and Deep Ecology days and residential or camping retreats for over a decade. A deep connection with the land has been as essential part of his spiritual practice for many years.
GUHYASAKHI
Guhyasakhi has lived in many parts of the world and has worked in many roles. She is a holistic therapist in Shiatsu and classical shamanism. She was a science teacher before becoming an educational psychologist. More recently, she trained in horticulture and completed a placement at a permaculture farm in north London.
There will be some short sessions of sitting in silence and attendees should have at least some experience of meditation.
timings & travel
TIMINGS
Please arrive between 3pm and 5pm on the first day. Dinner is served at 6pm. The retreat will finish by midday on the last day.
TRAVEL
The nearest railway stations are Bridgwater and Taunton. We are about 1h 15min from Bristol by car.
The 15 bus leaves Bridgwater at 16:50 during college term dates and stops at the Plough Inn in Holford. We are a 15min walk from there.
Please get in touch for further advice with public transport, or for help arranging lifts / carpools.
Make sure to put "Coach House 2, Alfoxton Park" into Google Maps. Other variations will take you to Alfoxton House nearby which is not us. Otherwise use grid reference 51.165187, -3.220080.
The What3Words for our car park are ///soup.candy.huddling
Accommodation & Food
ACCOMMODATION
This is a camping retreat - bring a tent or live-in vehicle. Toilets, showers and a sauna are available. Warm and waterproof clothing are advisable, along with gloves and boots or wellies. You may also wish to bring a torch and hot water bottle.
We have limited accommodation indoors for those with specific needs. Please let us know when you book if this is the case for you.
FOOD
Delicious vegan meals will be provided throughout the retreat.
Accessibility & Diets
We are committed to Alfoxton being a fully accessible venue and are working hard to achieve this. However, while the renovation work continues, visitors with specific mobility or accommodation needs may experience barriers to accessing all areas of the building and land.
If you have any questions or concerns, just get in touch, and please inform us of any significant dietary or accessibility requirements before submitting your booking request.
Costs
Alfoxton Park is a charity and works on the principle of Dana or a 'gift economy'. Read more about Dana here.
A £78 deposit will secure your place on this event. You will be invited to make a donation to Alfoxton when you attend.
If you are an Triratna Order member and need financial support to pay a retreat deposit, you can apply for a grant from the Abhayaratna Trust.
TECHNOLOGY, ALCOHOL & DRUGS
All of our events are alcohol and drug free.
During the meditation retreats we ask you to turn off your mobile phones and other devices and not contact people outside of the retreat.
For all other events and workshops we ask you to be mindful of the use of devices and stay present, in order to make the most of your time here.
Any Questions?
Check our FAQ page or send us an e-mail at events@alfoxtonpark.org.uk