Wisdoms of Love 2027

Wisdoms of Love 2027 is a nine-night intensive meditation retreat at Taraloka Retreat Centre in Bettisfield, Wales, exploring the five Prajnas, a set of five archetypal Buddhas in female form, and how their wisdom can deepen the practice of loving-kindness (metta). It is designed for women who are Going for Refuge Mitras or Triratna Order members within the Triratna Buddhist Community, and it draws on the Vajrayana Buddhist imagery of the mandala.

The retreat is led by Maitridevi, Maitrivajri, Pasannacitta and Tejasvati.

What to Expect

The female Buddhas of the mandala each offer a different wisdom, from the mirror-like wisdom of Locana Buddha to the all-accomplishing wisdom of Tara. The retreat looks at how each of these perspectives can colour and enrich metta bhavana, so that the heart becomes open and radiant.

Teaching comes through talks, imagery and meditation instruction, held alongside ritual and silence. There are substantial periods of meditation and silence, so this is a retreat for settling in and going deep rather than for sampling. Some bodywork is included, and there is an opportunity for meditation reviews, individual conversations about how your practice is going.

The Setting

Taraloka is a retreat centre for women at Bettisfield, in the Welsh borders. Meals are vegan, and the kitchen can cater for wheat-free, gluten-free, nut-free and no-chilli diets.

Accommodation is a bed in a shared room for two to four women, a mattress in a shared room, or camping for those who prefer to sleep outdoors. Shared rooms are centrally heated, close to toilets and showers, and not en-suite. Single rooms are very limited and are arranged by email with the centre rather than online, and there is a waiting list for them.

Before You Go

This is intensive training in meditation for women preparing for, or already part of, the Triratna Order. You are asked to confirm that the level is right for you before booking. The retreat is taught in English.

Included are the teaching sessions on the five Prajnas and their bearing on loving-kindness, meditation instruction and individual reviews, ritual and silence, some bodywork, vegan meals and your chosen accommodation. Travel to and from the centre is not included.

Taraloka runs on generosity. A booking fee is the only charge for coming, and at the end of the retreat you have the chance to give what you can. Suggested donations reflect the basic income needed to make a retreat viable, but they are only suggestions, and giving more, less or nothing is genuinely fine. Anything given helps another woman come on retreat who otherwise could not afford to.