Breakthrough to Zen Retreat

The three-day (64hr) retreat is based on the “group sanzen” format developed by our teacher Zen master Shinzan, together with the dyad work of American teacher, Charles Berner and current neuroscientific research around what has come to be called “the breakthrough experience”. This creates a uniquely powerful combination. Thousands of students have reported life-changing shifts in awareness. The work is stabilised and grounded through the “naikan” Zen practices taught by Zen master Hakuin and detailed in “Practical Zen”. This retreat format requires no particulaar worldview and has been transformative for people from many spiritual traditions and none. If you are willing to simply face the reality of who and what you are, you give yourself the best chance of benefiting. This retreat is suitable for those with no prior meditation experience, but can also be very powerful for those who have an on-going or developing practice.

For more information about these retreats click here.

We do not charge a fixed amount for these retreats, and instead would suggest a donation of between £100 and £250, depending on your means.

About the venue

We’ll be at Hurtwood Hideout, a Youth Hostel set in the heart of the Surrey Hills near Dorking in over 4,000 acres of breathtaking woodland. The retreat will take place outside under this stretch tent, and accommodation will be in bunk rooms of 2-4 people. The setting provides amazing opportunity for walking meditation in the surrounding forest.

Meals will be fairly basic. Breakfast and dinner will be served in the cafe (outside of public opening times), and lunch will be served outside (there is an indoor lounge that will be available if necessary).