Day of Practice Retreat

The Day of Practice will provide an opportunity to take a pause from the busyness and complexities of daily life to focus on meditation, awareness, and tranquility. We will minimise interactions with others, put our phones on aeroplane mode, and take a break from our usual concerns. This will create a container that allows us to deepen our meditation and awareness in ways that may not always be possible during daily life.

Uposatha days are a common practice in Buddhism where practitioners reaffirm and renew their commitment to dharma practice. By consciously and intentionally dedicating a period of time to the practice of meditation, keeping precepts, and studying the dharma with others, the practice is developed and strengthened.

This is an opportunity to receive instruction from a teacher and practice with others in conditions similar to a retreat setting. Throughout the day there will be seated and walking meditation, guided group practice, a dharma talk, and a 1:1 meeting with Kynan.

Arrive from 8:45am. Please come on time as we will close the doors before beginning the first session. All attendees will be expected to stay for the whole day.

There are plenty of chairs, zafus, cushions, and benches. There is a dedicated lunch break with time to get food from a local establishment. There are many cafes and restaurants in the area, including Newtown which is a 10-minute walk.

This event is offered in a hybrid format and you may join in-person or via Zoom.

If you have any questions, please contact Kynan on kynantctan@gmail.com

Details

Testimonials

Some notes from previous participants:

“I attended the one day with Kynan. It was great for inspiring me to meditate more consistently and refreshed my thinking around the Buddhist texts. Kynan is a thoughtful and very grounded teacher. I trust him and would recommend him to anyone thinking of attending one of his meditation days, whatever level you’re at.”

“I was getting too reliant on guided meditations and this really helped me to realise how wonderful meditation can be without a voice to guide. Kynan provides a perfect container that felt warm, friendly and safe.”

“Being my first full day of meditation practice I was very surprised how easily the day flew by. Kynan’s seemingly easy yet structured style of teaching and engaging with students even via zoom is engaging. Plenty of opportunities for questions to which you receive thought provoking responses. So very pleased I was able to join Kynan on this day of practice.”

“I’ve been meditating since the beginning of Covid. Kynan gave me tips on overcoming pain. I have now graduated from meditating on a chair to a cushion and am delighted with my progress!”

“Good mix of practice methods and dharma teaching. Very enthusiastic and friendly teacher.”

FAQ

What happens during the retreat?
The retreat will mostly consist of alternating sessions of seated and walking meditation (or whatever meditation posture suits you).
In the orientation we will answer any questions about what and how to practice. We will talk about setting our intention for practising for the day as well as discussing what retreats typically look like and why you might choose to practise noble silence.
The closing ceremony is a chance to chat with other practitioners and end the retreat with a sense of community. We will also do a guided practice together.
There’s also a window of time for a meal, break, or exercise.

An example schedule is available here.

I still have questions!
Please contact me! I’m happy to talk through the format and how you might want to practice ahead of the retreat.

If you have any questions, please email kynantctan@gmail.com