Experiential retreat to cultivate the wisdom and courage of compassion in everyday life

Date and Timing

This is a 3 day personal practice awareness retreat Face to Face in Buxton with Prof Paul Gilbert OBE.

12th, 13th & 14th May 2027

Day 1 & 2: 09.30 to 17.00 GMT

Day 3: 09:30 to 16.00 GMT

Location

Buxton Crescent Hotel

The Crescent, Buxton SK17 6BH

Prices:

Student rate: £399.00

Early Bird: £459.00 (ends 31st January 2027)

Standard: £499.00

To pay in instalments or for those in difficult financial circumstances, who may struggle to afford this price, please contact finance@compassionatemind.co.uk

About the Retreat

In this unique personal experiential retreat, Prof Paul Gilbert OBE will draw on over 40 years experiences of bringing together psychological science and contemplative wisdom to help individuals develop a compassionate mind. This retreat will offer an opportunity for personal reflection, exploration and sharing experiences into the nature of our minds and how we can cultivate the wisdom and courage of compassion to address some of its difficulties. Participants will share in guided ways of exploring the evolved nature of mind with a variety of practices for stimulating and cultivating compassionate brain states. These can have far reaching impacts on our well-being and personal relationships. Many of these practices are based on the development of compassion focused therapy for which now has very good evidence for its effectiveness and abilities to change brain states.

‍

The retreat will facilitate reflection on some of the contemplative traditions and new scientific findings We will visit how we can train our brains to become more mindful and also develop and cultivate them in ways that are conducive to our well-being and flourishing. particular attention will be given to areas that can be difficult for us such as forms of shame and harsh self-criticism and how to bring compassion heeding to these different dispositions. We will recognise that the mind is actually a multi mind because it has so many different potentials within it laid down by evolution and are life experiences some of which we like but some of which we don't. Also the mind often creates many conflicts for us - all these can be explored from a compassion point of view

‍

This retreat will give you the chance to ground your mind and body, slow down the flow of thoughts and shift mind states, with a range of meditation practices that enable deeper insight into the nature of the mind, increased self-awareness, self-reflection and self-transformation. There will be a strong focus on how to deepen compassionate empathy for the nature of suffering which stimulates bodhicitta, the compassionate motivation that all living beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.

We will explore:

how to harness this compassion motivation and experience it in the body

how to understand compassion as an integrating process by working with the principle of mandala

how to stimulate physiological systems conducive to compassion

facilitating the three flows of compassion self-compassion, compassion to others, and being open and responsive to the compassion from others

Feedback from previous retreats:

"Exceptional and nourishing time”

“Please book me a slot for next year! I had an amazing time, such a rich experience, so blessed I was there”

"The experiential nature of the retreat was fantastic, just what I had hoped for. A refresher and deepening of compassion practice. It was wonderful to connect with a compassionate community in a beautiful and relaxed setting"

We look forward to you joining us in this unique personal practice retreat to develop compassion for both yourself and others.

Accommodation and Evening Meal

The above price includes 3 days workshops, 2 coffee breaks (AM and PM) and Hot and Cold Lunch each day.

Dinner and accommodation are not included.

Rooms available at the venue. Please contact the venue to check availability and prices.

Buxton Crescent Hotel

The Crescent, Buxton SK17 6BH

https://www.champneys.com/hotels/buxton-crescent.html (https://www.champneys.com/hotels/buxton-crescent.html)

Facilitator

Paul Gilbert OBE is Professor of Clinical Psychology who developed Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training integrating evolutionary and biopsychosocial science with contemplative ideas and insights on the nature of compassion. He has many years of experience in helping people with mental health problems and those seeking to develop compassionate ways of living by utilising specific practises to stimulate physiological systems that support compassion. He has published over 350 academic papers and book chapters and 22 books. Paul and Choden published the book Mindful Compassion in 2013.

Description supplied by the event organiser.