About the retreat

We live in our concepts - our thoughts, feelings and perceptions about what is happening to us - rather than in the felt sense of our actual experience. We live second-hand rather than first-hand. The Buddha's way of insight helps bring our centre of gravity to the first-hand world of direct experience, to what is already here but usually overlooked. Practising this way allows us to find balance in the midst of chaos, a resting place in the centre of information overload.

An online retreat is a domestic retreat, one carried out in our own unique circumstances in the midst of the everyday. We come together at certain times of day for instruction, discussion and group practice, then separate to apply our practice to our individual lives. In this way we bridge the gap between the dharmic and the domestic. We discover that the way of everyday life is also the way of awakening.

About Louise

Louise Taylor has practised meditation for over 20 years and has been teaching since 2018. Louise is a founding member of Radiant Mind Insight Meditation and leads single and multi-day meditation retreats. Her teaching is grounded in the clear practice methodology of the Mahāsi Sayādaw lineage. She encourages practitioners to find a refuge in nature, enquiring deeply and compassionately into our shared experience of being human.

About Patrick

Patrick has been practising Buddhist meditation since the 1970s and teaching full-time since 2000. He teaches satipaṭṭhāna vipassanā (insight through the establishment of mindfulness) in the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. His principal teachers have been Panditarama Sayadaw and John Hale. He has also practised Zen, in the Diamond Sangha lineage. His principal teachers have been Robert Aitken Roshi and Paul Maloney Roshi.

Patrick’s approach to meditation is enlivened by his focus on the original teachings of the Buddha – Buddhism before the divisions between Theravada and Mahayana were ever thought of. He applies these teachings directly to life in our contemporary world in an accessible, clear and joyful way.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations are accepted up until two weeks prior to the retreat, and a refund of 90% will be given without question. The additional 10% is kept to cover fees. Cancellations will also be accepted after this date if you have unexpected circumstances, but you will need to contact the retreat manager by email at retreats@mindthegap.events

Fees and dāna

Please note that the fees here are just to cover expenses and build a fund for future retreats. The money does not pay for Patrick and Louise's teaching. In the Buddhist tradition, the dharma is felt to be of such great value that it cannot be bought or sold: it can be transmitted and received only as gift. This is dāna, which means “giving” or “gift.” In this spirit, Louise and Patrick offers their teaching on this retreat as a gift. The students return this gift in the form of financial support. Patrick lives on these gifts. Details for giving dāna to the teachers will be provided at the conclusion of the retreat, or can be found on Patrick's website https://patrickkearney.net/dana/

Schedules

You can see schedules for several time zones on the schedules page. If you are in a timezone other than those, please email Alex with the desired timezone and he'll generate a new schedule.

Zoom Online Video Platform

The retreat is hosted online using Zoom video meeting software. More details, including the links for the Zoom rooms, will be provided to registered participants close to the retreat.