Weekend retreat in Edinburgh with Vin Harris and Kristine Mackenzie-Janson, 1-2 March 2025

In our being there is a primordial yes that is not our own; it is not at our own disposal; it is not accessible to our inspection and understanding….. Basically, however, my being is not an affirmation of a limited self, but the “yes” of Being itself, irrespective of my own choices (Thomas Merton)

How did your Mindfulness Journey begin? The motivation may have been to find a way of dealing with the inevitable challenges of life. Or perhaps, even when things were going well, did you have a feeling that there must be more to life than this? Albert Einstein observed that “the problems that exist in this world cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them.” Most people who start to practice mindfulness find relief from immediate difficulties they face through a fresh and kinder way of looking. Although this may be an end in itself, it can also be the beginning of a journey with deeper meaning and purpose.

We have inherited meditation practices from wisdom traditions of the past, but the spiritual aspect of mindfulness in modern times is sometimes treated as an elephant in the room. During a weekend workshop in February 2024, when we enquired into the spiritual aspect of mindfulness, it was a bit of a relief when we discovered that we were not the only ones who regarded “Mindfulness as a Spiritual Practice”, and that many others were experiencing their practice in this way. Based on what we learnt then and having reflected on what we might do next, we are now ready to invite you to participate in a weekend dedicated to “Mindfulness Based Spiritual Practice”.

This weekend will support you through a series of deep reflections on your own path, however you understand and experience this. Through guided meditations, journaling, dialogue and sharing with friends, you may be able to recognise more clearly where you stand on your spiritual journey, your heart-felt aspirations and the next steps you feel ready to take to bring lasting benefit to yourself and others. The weekend is structured around eight distinct but related themes that we feel are essential aspects of all spiritual paths. We will explore this common ground as well as our individual experiences of these themes together, always trusting that our own inner compass will serve to guide us home.

Time shared with a community of fellow pilgrims is a wonderful opportunity to discover what happens when we open our hearts and minds to the spiritual dimension of our being and practice mindfulness within a limitless perspective. This weekend is suitable for anyone who already has some experience of mindfulness: especially if you feel that mindfulness is an integral part of your Spiritual Practice or if you are curious about the possibility that it might be.

When: 1^st & 2^nd March, 10am-5pm on both days
Where: in the Studio of the Salisbury Centre in Edinburgh (now fully accessible with a chair lift), 2 Salisbury Road, EH16 5AB
How much: low income £100, standard £125, pay it forward £150 – to be transferred by BACS online, through PayPal or in cash on the day. Please don’t let the costs get in the way of coming, if they’re a problem just get in touch!

Please bring on the day: some vegetarian food or drink for lunch to share, your favourite cushion/stool if you like and pen and paper.

To book: please get in touch here.