Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity: A Weeklong Retreat on Cultivating an Open Heart

The Four Immeasurables
May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes.
May they be free from suffering and its causes.
May they never be parted from sublime bliss, free from suffering.
May they dwell in great equanimity, free from attachment and aversion to those near and far.

Do you sometimes have difficulty finding the warmth and connection you would like to feel toward yourself and others?

In this retreat, we will explore the Four Immeasurables, which are immeasurable loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.  Cultivating these qualities helps us to see the basic goodness in ourselves and all beings. By relating to others open-heartedly, we discover a sense of confidence and purpose that allows us to be of genuine help.

This seven-day residential meditation retreat will include video teachings by Mingyur Rinpoche, teaching and facilitation with the Tergar Guides Antonia Sumbundu and Jess McNally, group meditation sessions, awareness yoga, and the opportunity for private interviews with the guides. 

During the retreat, silence will be held from Monday evening (starting at 19:30) until lunchtime on Friday.

This is a rare opportunity to explore these practices in a retreat environment.

This retreat is offered in-person and online.

Please note this program has been changed from the original plan to offer Joy of Living 2.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this retreat. It is open to everyone.

Language & Translation

This retreat will be offered in English, with translation into both Portuguese. Translation will be provided by offsite translators using the LiveVoice app (internet based).

For the teaching sessions those needing translation will need to bring a smart phone and headphones.

For private interviews translation will be provided via Zoom.

The Meditation sessions will only have minimal simple instructions and be mainly silent so there will be no translation.

A minimum of three participants requiring Portuguese translation will be required to offer translation into that language. If we do not receive enough participants to offer translation in the language you require, you will be offered a full refund.

Arrival and Departure Times

Arrival and registration will be held from 14:00 – 17:00 on Sunday, May 12, with dinner at 18:30, and the first session at 19:30. Please plan to arrive by 17:00 if possible so there is time to help you register and find your room before dinner. 

Departure will be after lunch on Saturday, May 18, from 13:00-15:00. 

Retreat Cost

The retreat cost consists of two parts:

1) Room & Board Fee

This fee covers your lodging and food at Karuna Retreat Center. Based on your room selection, the room and board fee ranges from €240 – €480 for the retreat period.

2) Program Fee

The program fee covers all the costs to run the event, in addition to your room and board. This includes operating costs as well as stipends for the guides, translators and retreat managers. There will be no expectation or request for donations at the end of the event.

The program fee is on a sliding scale. Our costs to run this event, in addition to your room and board, are about €500 per person. For some people that’s an easy amount to pay. For others it’s impossible. If you are one of the lucky few who can afford to pay more, please do so. You make it financially possible for us to make these retreats available to everyone regardless of income.

All funds for these retreats are being managed by Tergar Institute, which is a 501c(3) non-profit in the USA. There is no tax charged. Any profits from the retreat, if there are any, will go towards future Tergar Retreats activities and also be partially shared with Tergar International.

Cancellation Policy

If you should need to cancel your registration, the cancellation policy is as follows: If you cancel more than 30 days prior to the first day of the program start date, you will receive a refund less a €50 cancellation fee. If you cancel between 15 and 29 days prior to the program start date, you will receive a refund less a €100 cancellation fee.

No refunds will be given two weeks before the retreat begins.

Staying Over In Between Retreats

For those who plan to stay on for the Joy of Living Practice Week, there is an option at checkout to add an extra night based on the same room rate of €40 – €80. The overnight stay will include 3 meals at Karuna Retreat Center (dinner, breakfast and lunch). 

During the time off between retreats there will be no scheduled activities other than meals (which will be optional), and are welcome to go into town or do some local sightseeing. 

That said, you may want to consider not planning too many activities in between retreats to give yourself time to rest, and also to maintain the continuity of practice between retreats. 

Retreat Schedule

Please note this schedule is subject to change.

Sunday, May 12

14:00 – 17:00 Arrival and Registration
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner
19:30 – 21:00 Introductions and Orientation

Monday to Friday, May 13-17

Silence begins Monday at 19:30 and ends Friday at 12:30
All meditation practice sessions will include periods of sitting and walking. 

7:00 – 7:15 Awareness Yoga
7:15 – 8:00 Meditation Practice
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Break
9:00 – 10:00 Meditation Practice
10:00 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:30 Teaching Session
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Break
14:00 – 16:00 Teaching Session
16:00 – 16:30 Break
16:30 – 17:30 Meditation Practice
17:30 – 18:30 Break
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00- 19:30 Break
19:30 – 20:30 Meditation Practice

Saturday, May 18

7:00 – 7:15 Awareness Yoga
7:15 – 8:00 Meditation Practice
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Break
9:00 – 10:00 Meditation Practice
10:00 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:30 Concluding Session
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 Departure

About the Karuna Retreat Center / Centro de Retiros Karuna

Karuna Retreat Center is located in the green mountains of Serra de Monchique in the Algarve. Serra the Monchique is known for its healing thermal water, medicinal plants, pure air and lush green landscapes. The Retreat Center offers a stunning view over Portugal’s southern coast and the Atlantic Ocean and is just 20 minutes away from pristine beaches and less than 10 minutes away from the picturesque village of Monchique. Karuna is amongst one of the most secluded and silent places in this area and is home to a variety of local flora and fauna. The Retreat Center’s property is isolated and perfect for those in search of silence, seclusion and peace.

Karuna Retreat Center is beginning a new partnership with Tergar Retreats, with a shared vision that it will become a place for year-round practice managed by Tergar Retreats in the future.

Karuna Retreat Center is beginning a new partnership with Tergar Retreats, with a shared vision that it will become a place for year-round practice managed by Tergar Retreats in the future.

Meals

Karuna Retreat Center prepares 3 vegetarian meals per day.  Vegan meals can be provided when requested in advance.  They only use local products and whenever possible try to use fresh products from their vegetable garden at Karuna.

Travel to and from Karuna Retreat Center

You can view the location of Karuna Retreat Center on Google Maps here. 

The closest airport is  the Faro International Airport, which is approximately 1.5 hours away by car. Uber is available from the Faro International Airport to Karuna, and costs about €50. The Lisbon Airport is approximately 3 hours away by car. (Uber is not available directly from Lisbon.) 

There are also public transportation options available from either the Faro Airport or Lisbon Airport to the town of Monchique. From Monchique it is a 20 minute drive to Karuna Retreat Center. Uber is available from Monchique to Karuna and costs about €6. 

About Tergar Retreats

Tergar Retreats is a non-profit organization specifically focused on supporting in-person meditation retreats in the Tergar lineage as taught by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.