Where exactly is the retreat held, and what is the setting like?

It is held at EarthSpirit Centre in Compton Dundon, Somerset. The organizer describes the area as the heart of the ancient Somerset Levels. The centre has separate pages for its facilities, accommodation, surroundings and catering.

Can I stay on site, and where do I find access and travel information?

EarthSpirit Centre has accommodation and catering pages, and its Little Earth space has its own. Which rooms or spaces this retreat uses isn't stated in the organizer's text. The centre also has dedicated Accessibility and Getting Here pages, so check these or contact the centre directly before booking if you have specific needs.

Who is this retreat likely to suit, and who might find it a poor fit?

It suits people interested in Buddhist teachings and practice within a community setting, particularly those drawn to Lama Rod's emotionally honest, justice-minded approach. It may not suit anyone wanting a purely quiet, no-discussion silent retreat, since his retreats are described as community gatherings with teachings. If you're unsure, review the programme details on the listing first.

Meditation Retreat

Dharma of Spring Awakening with Lama Rod Owens

Name: Dharma of Spring Awakening with Lama Rod Owens
Start: 2027-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2027-05-16T00:00:00.000Z
Location: EarthSpirit Centre - Whole Centre

Date

May 11 – May 16, 2027

Tap for start & end times

Location

EarthSpirit Centre - Whole Centre

Somerton, Somerset, United Kingdom

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At a Glance

Duration

6 days

Description

Dharma of Spring Awakening is a community spiritual retreat with Lama Rod Owens at EarthSpirit Centre in Compton Dundon, Somerset. It is a gathering for people who want to practise and study together with a Buddhist teacher, in a rural setting in the heart of the ancient Somerset Levels.

What to Expect

Lama Rod Owens leads the retreat together with friends who join him in teaching and guiding. The programme is built around practices and teachings offered to the whole group, with time to harvest what has been seeded in your own practice. It is a community retreat, so the shared experience of sitting, learning and resting alongside others is central to it.

The retreat takes over the whole of the centre rather than sharing it with another group, which gives the gathering the feel of a single, undivided community for the length of the stay.

About Lama Rod Owens

Lama Rod Owens is a teacher in the Buddhist tradition, known for leading community retreats that combine practice, teaching and reflection. He hosts this gathering with friends who support the teaching and the life of the group.

The Setting

EarthSpirit Centre sits in Compton Dundon, near Glastonbury, in Somerset. The centre is made up of the Main Centre and Little Earth, and this retreat uses the whole centre. The surrounding landscape is the Somerset Levels, a low, open and quiet countryside that suits a retreat of reflection and rest. The nearest train station is Castle Cary.

Before You Go

This is a residential retreat in the English countryside, so plan for a stay at the centre and for time outdoors in Somerset weather. Bring comfortable clothes for sitting and walking, and layers. If you have dietary needs or accessibility questions, it is worth asking the centre directly before you travel, as the centre has its own accessibility and catering information.

Those drawn to this retreat tend to be practitioners and curious newcomers alike who value teaching in a group setting, a quiet place to practise, and the company of others doing the same.

Venue

EarthSpirit Centre - Whole Centre

Somerton, Somerset, United Kingdom

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Common Questions

FAQs

Lama Rod Owens is a Buddhist teacher and author in the Tibetan tradition, known for bringing dharma into conversation with social justice, emotion and embodiment. His teaching is often associated with his books Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and Radical Dharma, the latter co-authored with angel Kyodo williams and Jasmine Syedullah. More about his work is at lamarod.com.

Love and Rage is the most direct introduction to how he works with difficult emotions, especially anger, as part of practice. Radical Dharma gives context for his focus on liberation and community. Neither is required, but either will help you recognise the themes in his teaching.

The organizer describes his previous EarthSpirit gathering, Autumn Moon: Gathering Freedom, as a community retreat led by Lama Rod and friends, with practices and teachings. It focused on balance, surrender and stillness. The spring event's own programme isn't detailed in the organizer's text, so check the event listing for the schedule and format.

No. Autumn Moon: Gathering Freedom is a separate retreat, described as a time to harvest what has been seeded in personal practice and rest as winter approaches. The spring dharma event is its own gathering, so don't assume the same structure or length. Check this listing for its details.

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