Diamond Way Buddhism Retreat

Buddhist meditation shows the mind to the practitioner. It reduces the influence of habits, of external expectations, as well as internalized, solidified patterns. A retreat of a few days or weeks tremendously amplifies such results by creating more distance to everyday life. The lack of distraction by daily necessities leads to a deeper and more fluid experience of calmness of mind and insight. Due to the view in Diamond Way Buddhism shorter retreats and daily life blend together excellently and have beneficial effects on each other. Diamond Way retreat centers enable modern people having family and profession the combination of activity and meditation. The local friends who uphold the retreat centers are well experienced and skilled people in meditation and have a profound understanding of Buddha’s teachings.

Different Types of Retreats

Each practitioner decides for him- or herself on the duration and content of the retreat. For beginners open retreats with four daily sittings may be advisable: One short sitting before breakfast, two longer sessions before and after noon, and another shorter one in the evening, possibly together with the practitioners of the local center. Of course it is possible to restrict the number of sessions, but it is advisable to create a daily schedule and stick to it. The remaining time of an open retreat is used to help out in the center and to engage in an exchange with the people who live there. This type of retreat can be performed at any center and is well suited for couples.

In closed retreats the practitioner does not talk to others, or he speaks only with certain advisors selected prior to the beginning of the retreat. The practitioner also eats by him- or herself. This type of retreat is recommended for people who are used to meditation and who have a few years experience with Diamond Way meditation.
Meditating alone, or in special cases together with people who are very close, will create space to remove disturbing impressions from the consciousness' long term memory. Since one does not have to be concerned with others while meditating alone, all impressions can naturally arise and evolve in wisdom. The goals for a retreat should be chosen modestly, goals that are set too high may spoil the enjoyment of it.

Some centers offer group retreats. In such a case, some meditations are performed together as a group, and others are practiced alone. Many places offer additional time for questions and answers and/or evening lectures by local teachers, all of which are immensely beneficial. Practicing together as a group and the individual's Buddhist insights that arise during such group retreats create strong connections amongst the participants, and the resulting friendships enable us to benefit others to the fullest of our potential.

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