Flavours of Emptiness
6 DayNon-Dual Meditation Retreat
6th - 11th April 2027
Monchique, Portugal
Join us for a 6-day non-dual meditation retreat in the south of Portugal, at Karuna Retreat Center in the mountains of Monchique, where we'll explore emptiness in its many forms.
Throughout the retreat, we'll reflect on the Buddha's discourse on emptiness and work with liberating ways of seeing. We'll read and chant the Heart Sutra, which famously declares, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form," and study the five khandhas and the links of dependent origination — holding these teachings up against our own lived experience, so that emptiness becomes something tasted and known, not just understood conceptually.
Emptiness isn't nihilism, and it isn't a sense of nothingness. Rightly seen, it's deeply liberating — offering a sense of freedom both internally and externally. This is also one of the facets of non-duality: in the emptiness of self, we discover there was only ever oneness, and never any real separation.
Each day will include group and solo sits, morning yoga and qi gong ("yoqi"), pranayama, community meals, Dharma talks, and time for rest, reflection, and walks in nature.
The retreat offers space to cultivate insight, stillness, and embodiment within a supportive, contemplative environment — at whatever pace suits you. For those who want to sit deeply, there will be ample time. For those who prefer a gentler rhythm, there's room to move more slowly, rest, and simply be.
Karuna Retreat Center
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What meditation will be taught?
Samatha — Calm-abiding technique where we build the concentration faculty that leads to insight and awakening.
Vipassana (Insight) — Insight meditation from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, where we investigate the three characteristics, cultivating the ground for insight.
Metta — Loving-kindness meditation that opens the qualities of the heart.
Shikantaza — Also known as silent illumination or choiceless awareness, from the Zen tradition, where we marinate in the void of awareness. Guided meditations will be provided to flavour this method, moving from metta to stillness, and using vipassana insight to investigate the three characteristics — not-self (anatta), impermanence (anicca), and suffering (dukkha) — within and from stillness.
Trekchö — An awareness-based practice to settle into non-dual awareness, from the Dzogchen tradition.
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The retreat will include yoga and pranayama each morning that’s suitable for all levels of experience.
Vinyasa Hatha and YoQi, which is a combination of Yoga and Qi Gong. There will be Pranayama (breath control techniques), and Kriya Yoga, to stimulate the internal energy system and help to produce non-dual states.
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The chants and mantras are not obligatory. This is also not a religious retreat in any way. We chant Pali suttas, some Tibetan and Zen mantras, to connect with these lineages. It can also be a rather fun way to engage with these traditions. Occasionally we chant specific mantras that may help with purification and awakening.
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There will be noble silence in the morning until 12pm. Conversation will be allowed thereafter during meal times in the dining hall – get to know your fellow meditators, share stories and form bonds. We allow conversation for the context of non-dual awareness and integration while on retreat.
Outside of meal times, we remain in silence.
For those who wish to remain in silence for some / all of the retreat, including meal times, silent badges can be provided to inform other guests.
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Karuna Retreat Center
The accommodation is the same across the retreat venue, with multiple twin or triple rooms + single beds in each room. You will share with someone of the same gender. Bedding and sheets are provided, but please bring towels for the shower. If you have mobility issues, we can arrange for you to stay in the lower bedrooms. Photographs of the accommodation can be viewed below. -
There will be 3 freshly prepared vegetarian meals each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The retreat centre can also prepare vegan meals for those who request it in advance. The retreat centre only use local products, and where possible, they use fresh produce from the vegetable garden.
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We offer two pricing structures for our retreats– standard, which is the going price. Concession, for those who need some extra bandwidth.
Standard: €585 per person
Concession: €450 per person
Deposit: €200 per person, deducted from the final payment
The deposit secures your place on the retreat, with the remaining balance due 30 days before. The deposit is non-refundable.
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If you wish to cancel your retreat, please email us as soon as possible. We do ask that you give us as much notice as is possible.
If you cancel your retreat outside of 4 weeks of the published start date, we will refund you the total amount of your retreat minus the non-refundable deposit.
If you cancel less than 30 days before the retreat start date, payments are non-refundable and you are eligible to pay for the whole cost of the retreat, i.e. 100% cancellation. The balance may be transferred to a future retreat, subject to availability.
In the unlikely event that the retreat is cancelled by the organiser, all payments will be fully refunded.
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All ages, all backgrounds, and all levels of experience are welcome. For those who want to sit deeply, there will be ample time. For those who prefer a gentler rhythm, there's room to move at your own pace.
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Included: Meditation, yoga, teachings, accommodation, food
Excluded: Travel insurance, travel to/from the venue (flights, train, car), personal expenses. Occasionally we go for a group dinner and/or sauna after the retreat on the last day, which is not included.
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If you have further questions, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with Jason, or email questions to: jason@pathofinsight.com
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The retreat will be held in English
Some prior meditation experience is recommended
Daily Schedule
The finalised schedule is subject to change, however below offers an example
Karuna Retreat Center
Accommodation
