The Retreat | The Venue | Booking | Practicalities

MEDITATION BY THE BEACH:

a 7-day meditation retreat and sustainable living workshop

Next retreat : dates to be decided

This retreat will be similar to the one held in November 2007. Meanwhile, the details of the 2007 retreat have been kept here to give an idea of what to expect.

November 2007 retreat

Join us for an inner journey, a seven-day meditation retreat in the rainforest heart of Bongil Bongil Coastal National Park, while exploring the life affirming possibilities of sustainable living.

Inspired by the surrounding beauty and tranquillity, we will use Bundagen community’s meditation space to explore our ‘inner landscape’. This is a time to slow down, introspect and meditate to develop your peace of mind, health and wellbeing. The retreat is of medium intensity and designed for beginners as well as experienced meditators.

The sustainable ethos of the community will provide a simple but appropriate environment conducive to discussion on how we can apply the inner journey to our everyday life. This will include owner builder architectural tours, ethical/sustainable living workshops (how big is your ecological footprint?), talks on voluntary simplicity and intentional community.

Our aim is that this experience will help direct your inner journey and enliven your vision of life’s possibilities.

THE RETREAT

The retreat is of medium intensity and suitable for beginners and more advanced meditators. It is intended for people who are basically well in body and mind. There will be approximately 4-5 hours of formal sitting meditation, and some walking meditation sessions. There will be presentations on meditation, led by Dr Ian Gawler, and on sustainable living, led by Dr Jamie Duff. There will also be that all-important time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Mornings will be silent until lunchtime. Participants are advised to attend all sessions.

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The leaders

Dr Ian Gawler was involved in the pioneering days when techniques of meditation and imagery were developed and first applied to healing in the Western world. He has learnt from many recognised masters, both from traditional backgrounds and in the rapidly developing field of mind-body medicine. Author of four bestsellers, for many years Ian has been teaching meditation and leading groups focused upon health and wellbeing.
Ian will give daily discourses on meditation, offering a variety of techniques and personally leading many practice sessions. Through Ian’s deep personal experience of meditation, inspiration and enthusiasm come through.

Dr Jamie Duff has spent over 30 years travelling, working and climbing in the Himalayas and has a special interest in Buddhist philosophy and walking meditation. Jamie has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism for 18 years and divides his time between work and activism in Nepal and medical practice.
Jamie will present ideas on voluntary simplicity, non-harming and sustainability and how we might integrate these principles into our own lives.

Dr Ruth Gawler works at The Gawler Foundation as a group leader and therapist. She has worked with many people as a yoga instructor, meditation teacher and medical doctor over 25 years. Ruth is interested in helping people to integrate their minds and lives more completely in order to bring about inner peace and good health. Ruth is also a student of Tibetan Buddhism and will be leading simple yoga classes.

Daily routine       

5.30 AM (optional) beach for swim/ meditation/stretch

7 AM sitting meditation

7.45 AM beginners Hatha Yoga

8.15 AM breakfast

9.30 AM teaching and meditation

10.45 AM tea break

11.00 AM sitting meditation

11.40 AM walking meditation

11.50 AM sitting meditation

12.30 PM lunch, followed by a siesta

3 PM presentations, discussion, visits to various locations on the community

4.30 PM tea break

5.30 PM walking meditation

6 PM dinner

7 PM teaching

8 PM sitting meditation

8.40 PM rest and stretch

8.50 PM sitting meditation until 9.30 PM

(the daily schedule is subject to change)

Meals

Three vegan meals will be served daily consisting of mostly organic and community grown food. Snacks and drinks will be available at tea breaks. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know well in advance.

Other activities

After lunch, it will be possible to book sessions with the community’s masseurs, shiatsu practitioner, etc. (These sessions are by private arrangement and are not included in the retreat cost).

Swimming

Bundagen beach is a magnificent white sand beach with a rocky headland. It is relatively safe for swimming but care must be taken as there are some rocks, and rips occasionally develop. There is no lifeguard (but plenty of surfers if conditions are good!). On the beach, nudity is optional.

Walking

Bundagen’s land comprises of 800 acres, mostly forested, completely surrounded by a large national park. This means there are ample opportunities for getting lost on walks around the community. To aid navigation you will receive a sketch map, and signs will guide you to and from the beach.

THE VENUE

Bundagen community occupies the last undeveloped private headland in northern New South Wales. It was founded 25 years ago as a conservation purchase and, due to this foresight, the surrounding Bongil-Bongil National Park was eventually declared in 2002.

Bundagen has slowly evolved as an intentional non-secular community where the land is owned as a co-operative with no internal subdivisions (but, as incomes are not shared, it is not a ‘commune’). The three guiding principles of the community are environmental responsibility, social harmony and economic independence.

Presently there are about 120 adults and 60 children living on the land, along with a substantial number of visitors. There are 10 settlement areas or villages, each with its own unique flavour. As a general rule cars are parked at the edge of the villages, which remain park-like with footpaths connecting them together.

Climate and wildlife

Early November is usually reasonable weather. It can be cool at night, and hot during the day. A sea breeze gets up during the day, and of course it can rain. In 2006 the temperature variation for the corresponding week to the retreat was 14 to 30° C and there were three days of rain.

   
Bundagen community is very much ‘in the bush’ and has an abundant wildlife including wallabies, koalas, goannas and one of the richest bird populations in Australia. This also means that there are the occasional ticks, snakes, leeches, mosquitoes and spiders, all easily avoided with simple precautions.

Facilities

Bundagen community believes in a minimal impact on the environment. It isn’t connected to the mains electricity, but uses solar systems for electrical power. There is no mains water, instead drinkable water is collected from the roof and stored in tanks. Dams and a soak provide irrigation water.

   
The community successfully resisted installing septic tanks that pollute fragile environments and lead to effluent discharge from sewage treatment plants. Instead Bundagen lobbied for many years to change the NSW laws around composting toilets, which are now used everywhere on the community and promoted by the local council.

Medical facilities

First aid will be provided, but for medical matters participants will need to see a GP in Coffs Harbour or Bellingen, both approximately 25 minutes drive away.

Communications

There is variable mobile phone reception on Bundagen, a public phone is situated near the main community house and most houses have a private landline. However, during the retreat, we expect calls to be kept to emergencies and mobile phones to be switched off.

Bundagen etiquette

Bundagen is the home of its members. Please respect their privacy by keeping to the main paths between and through the villages rather than wandering through peoples homes and gardens. Within the community please drive slowly.

   
Most people here love the sound of nature, so there is a general noise curfew after 10 PM, and all day on Sundays. Bundagen is a wildlife sanctuary, and dogs and cats are forbidden on the land.

BOOKING

Cost

Retreat only (includes all meals, excludes accommodation and transport): $1,385.00.

A deposit of $300 is required to confirm your booking. Balance payable by 1st September 2007

Cost of accommodation will vary from $35 per week (own tent or campervan) to $250 per week for own room while billetting with a community member. More information on accommodation on the registration form.

How to book

Details and conditions of booking are on the registration form. Please print and complete it, and return it with your deposit of $300 per person (fully refundable until 1st September 2007) to:

Meditation by the beach
c/o Rosa Maura
PO Box 8
Repton
NSW 2454

PRACTICALITIES

Arrival and departure

The retreat will start on Friday 2nd November at 2PM (lunch will be served at 1PM). It will end with lunch on Friday 9th November. Participants are expected to attend the whole retreat.

Travelling to and from Bundagen

By road

If driving, consider sharing the ride with another participant. Please let us know if you can offer a ride, or if you would like one, and we will connect you up.

From the south

Follow the Pacific Highway and turn off to Repton, just after Urunga. Bundagen is about 5 km north and east of Repton. A map with directions will be sent to you.

Once through the Bundagen entrance gate, take the first left turn. This will take you to the main house. Please park where indicated and go to registration.

From the north

Follow the Pacific Highway. About 3 km past Bonville, there is a rest area on your right. Take the turn off to the left 1.5 km after the rest area. Follow it for about 1 km until you get to a T-junction. Turn left on ‘Overhead Bridge Road’ and follow it, then McCabes Road. This will take you to the entrance gate.

Once through the Bundagen entrance gate, take the first left turn. This will take you to the main house. Please park where indicated and go to registration.

By train or bus

The nearest bus and train stations are in Urunga. All trains and buses also stop in Coffs Harbour. Please let us know where/what time you need to be picked up.

By plane

There is an airport at Coffs Harbour with frequent flights. Please let us know at what time you need to be picked up.

NOTE: there is no bus service from Urunga, Coffs Harbour or the airport to Bundagen community. Lifts or taxis will need to be booked in advance through us (see the registration form).

Essentials to take with you

• Sleeping bag, pillow and mattress (except in billeted accommodation)
• Meditation cushion or chair (chairs can be booked – see registration form)
• Yoga mat or blanket (for yoga)
• Personal medication, bandaids, antiseptic
• Footwear: sandals, trainers, wellingtons
• Rainproof jacket, umbrella
• Sunhat/sunglasses/sunscreen
• Mossie repellent
• Torch (absolutely essential)
• Water bottle
• Warm clothes
• Comfortable clothes
• Towel
• Swimsuit (optional)

Recommended reading

We recommend the following books by Ian Gawler:

• Meditation Pure & Simple
• Peace of Mind
• The Creative Power of Imagery.

These are available from the Gawler Foundation Resource Centre, ph (03) 5967 1730, www.gawler.org. Also available from Ian Gawler: CDs and tapes for meditation and imagery.

Other recommended reading:

• The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery
• The Long Emergency by James Howard Kunstler

For more information

Contact Rejane Belanger: info@treksafe.com.au

Ring Rosa Maura: ph 0266 534 098

Meditation by the beach

c/o Rosa Maura
PO Box 8
Repton
NSW 2454

The Retreat | The Venue | Booking | Practicalities

PO Box 53 Repton, NSW 2452 Australia Fax/Phone +61 2 6653 4130
email: info@treksafe.com.au

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Last updated: July 2007