Alfoxton Park - Introduction to Buddhist Meditation

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation
Core Practices for Beginners

15th - 18th August

An opportunity for those new to the world of Buddhist meditation to spend a weekend learning core meditation practices. Led by experienced dharma practitioners, the weekend offers an opportunity to step out of our daily lives and develop techniques to support and nourish ourselves and those around us.

Over the course of the weekend, we’ll explore:

Mindfulness of Breathing: Cultivating focus, presence, and calm through the power of the breath.
Metta Bhavana: Developing loving-kindness and compassion for ourselves and others.
The Psychology of Meditation: Understanding the principles and science behind meditation and how it positively impacts the mind.

There will also be plenty of time to enjoy our 50 acres of ancient woodland, as well as the nearby Quantock Hills.

What we will do

Gain an understanding of foundational meditation practices that you can integrate into your daily life to reduce stress and improve well-being.
Reflect, rest, and recharge in a peaceful and supportive environment.
Experience a sense of connection—both inwardly with yourself and outwardly with the natural world and like-minded individuals.

Whether you’re looking to cultivate mindfulness, foster a deeper sense of compassion, or create a moment of stillness amidst life’s busyness, this retreat provides the tools and space to support your journey.

No prior experience is necessary and you don't have to consider yourself a Buddhist to join this retreat - just bring an open mind, a willingness to explore and a readiness to be inspired.

Facilitation Team

Jayaraja

Jayaraja has been teaching meditation and mindfulness for over 25 years. He has been a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order since 1993.

He has a diploma in Gestalt psychotherapy and trained in Nonviolent Communication with Marshall Rosenberg. He is the co-author of two books on play and community building and two books on communication for teenagers. He has trained in Restorative Circles and has studied neuroscience, developmental psychology and trauma.

Vandika

Vandika lives in Somerset and was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2006. Decades working as a designer together with her passion for exploring meditative experience and the Dharma through painting and drawing have led to her life now as a painter and textile artist.

Find out more on her website here.

Vilokini

Vilokini lives in Cambridge and was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Community in 2008. She completed an MA in Printmaking in 2014 and since then she has led many Arts retreats - some with Vandika - encouraging others to find self-expression and confidence through meditation, drawing and painting. Her creative life includes photography and curating exhibitions at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre.

Find out more on her website here.

Timings & Travel

Timings

Unless otherwise stated, please arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. Dinner is served at 6pm. Our retreats usually finish by midday on the last day.

The exact schedule will be provided either in your confirmation email or when you arrive.

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. 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 deposit of £78 will secure your place. 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 and 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.