Alfoxton Park - A Spirit that Impels

A Spirit that Impels
Myth, Ritual and the Bodhisattva Ideal

Meditation Intensive with Suvajra, Vimalachitta, Jayaraja and Dhibajana

6th - 19th June 2026

At the heart of our summer programme lies this two week intensive meditation retreat.

Meditation will be guided by two practitioners with profound experience shaping the Triratna Buddhist Order over the last fourty years. Both Vimalachitta and Suvajra practise with deep devotion and a veneration for the mythic. The retreat will move us into the world of Green Tara, inviting qualities of compassion and responsiveness into sitting practise. There will be significant silence, alongside evenings of ritual that imbue an imaginal dimension into the retreat experience.

This retreat is new for 2026, and a rare opportunity to dwell in meditative stillness in the wild beauty of this enchanted land.

Facilitation Team

Suvajra

Suvajra is one of the earliest members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, ordained for over 45 years. He was also one of the first people to ordain others once Bhante started handing this on.

With his decades of experience in Buddhist exploration, he is known for his reflective, imaginative and experiential approach to practice.

In his recent memoir, 'Thunder in the Depths', he explores the intersections of spiritual practice, history, and the natural world.

Vimalachitta

Vimalachitta has been ordained since 1990. She taught full-time at the London Buddhist Centre for 13 years, followed by a decade sharing secular mindfulness. Now, she focuses on developing the Sangha in Stroud.

She has always been fascinated by ritual, mantra, and the mythical dimensions of the Dharma, and is especially drawn to the power of the voice, seeing it as an accessible yet mysterious gateway to deeper, more integrated states of being - and sometimes just plain fun!

Dhibajana

Dhibajana grew up in Vienna and moved to London in 2016 where she first encountered the Dharma via the LBC.

Ordained in 2023, Dhibhajana means "she who partakes in Wisdom". Her practice has a very devotional nature, and she feels spiritual friendship to be a doorway to the transcendental.

Dhibajana lives in the countryside near Frome, and is currently working as a massage therapist whilst looking after the Kesa Management and making.

Jayaraja

Jayaraja has been teaching meditation and mindfulness for over 25 years. He has been a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order since 1993 and is currently serving as the Chair of Alfoxton Park.

He has a diploma in Gestalt psychotherapy and trained in Nonviolent Communication with Marshall Rosenberg. He has trained in Restorative Circles and has studied neuroscience, developmental psychology and trauma.

This retreat is suitable if you know the Metta Bhavana and the Mindfulness of Breathing, and if you have had a regular meditation practice for at least one year.

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 £181 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 alfoxtonevents@gmail.com

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse