Like a Cloudless Sky: Silent Retreat on Equanimity

This silent meditation retreat on equanimity runs for six days at Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (KMC Australia) in Monbulk, in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria. It is open to anyone drawn to Buddhist meditation who wants an extended stretch of quiet practice, and it is led by Gen Kelsang Rabten, Resident Teacher of KMC Australia.

The theme is the ability to feel equally comfortable in all situations and equally at ease with everyone we meet. Je Tsongkhapa described this experience as the ground in which the exalted insights of the spiritual path can grow. Over the six days the retreat explores the many facets of this practice and aims to build deep experience in meditation.

What to Expect

The retreat opens on the first evening with registration from 5:30pm, dinner at 6pm and an introduction at 7:30pm. The full days that follow share a steady rhythm of four to five teaching and meditation sessions, with optional evening practices.

A typical day looks like this:

- Session one, 9:00 to 10:15am
- Session two, 11:30am to 12:45pm
- Lunch at 1pm
- An optional WFJ session in the early afternoon, 2:00 to 3:15pm on most days
- Session three, 4:30 to 5:45pm
- Dinner at 6pm
- Session four, 7:30 to 8:45pm on some evenings

On one evening the optional practice includes a tsog, and on another there is an optional OSG session from 7:00 to 9:00pm. The final day is a closing morning with two sessions and lunch at 1pm.

About Gen Kelsang Rabten

Gen Kelsang Rabten is the Resident Teacher of KMC Australia in the Dandenong Ranges and of KMC Melbourne in the city centre. He was ordained in 1994 and has studied for 30 years under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. He has taught at centres across Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia. He is described as exemplifying the modern Kadampa way of life, sharing Buddha's teachings and the practice of meditation with a warm heart and a joyful attitude.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at KMC Australia, 25 McCarthy Road, Monbulk. Lunch and dinner are included, and breakfast is added if you book accommodation. All meals are vegan, with some non-vegan extras such as yoghurt available on the side. Ingredients are mainly wheat free or gluten free, though some meals may contain traces of wheat or gluten, or may have a side such as bread.

Accommodation is optional and booked separately. Those who prefer to stay elsewhere can arrange their own lodging and attend the sessions. The options at the centre include:

- Single ensuite, single, and twin or double rooms, with all linen and towels provided
- Pre-erected tents, with a single bed and linen
- Female and male dorm rooms, with a sheet and pillow provided
- Camping and campervan sites

A shuttle from Belgrave station is available for pick-up or drop-off, charged per person per trip.

Before You Go

Bring a sleeping bag and towel if you are staying in a dorm. Campers and campervan guests need to bring all their own equipment, and campervan sites come with no bedding. The centre cannot guarantee allergen-free meals or cater to individual dietary requirements, so plan accordingly if you have specific needs. Bookings close 24 hours before the retreat begins, and a waiting list is available if accommodation sells out.