Retreats
All Retreats are included within membership.
RETREATS
Whether you attend for the whole of a retreat or just a couple of sessions on a given day, retreat is a rare opportunity in our modern busy lives to take time out to let go of our normal physical, verbal and mental activities, in order to focus on spiritual practice and find true inner peace and happiness.
Open to All
Everyone is welcome and if this is your first time attending a retreat, there will be plenty of experienced meditators present who will be only too pleased to help and advise you.
Guided Meditation Sessions
In these guided sessions the Teacher will give a short talk and advice on the meditations we will be doing. These sessions are very similar to the general meditation class except that there is more time spent in meditation. So, this is a great opportunity to further develop our practice in the peace and tranquillity of KMC Plymouth.
You may attend as many or as few of the sessions as you choose. The more sessions you can attend the more benefit you will gain so you could try attending a full day if you are new to retreats. Our coffee shop will be open between sessions for light refreshments and there are plenty of cafes on Mutley Plain if you would like to go out for lunch.
Please note: not all retreats or sessions are guided but these will be labelled as “unguided”. Please see individual event details below for further information.
Fees
£3 per session unless otherwise stated
Members: Free (all sessions)
No need to book
Schedule
Please see the details below.
Deep Relaxation for Body and Mind
Urban Half-Day Retreat
Saturday 27th September 2025, 10am-1.30pm
Enjoy time out from the pressures of daily life to relax both body and mind in our half day urban retreat of three meditation sessions.
Gen Kelsang Dragden, Resident Teacher at KMC Plymouth, will provide us with clear instructions and guide these meditations sessions with practices to truly relax both our body and mind. Letting go of our normal appearances and concerns through meditation, we can dissolve into the peace and tranquillity of more subtle levels of mind. In doing so we can experience and hold a deep sense of physical relaxation and mental freedom.
Having experienced these very practical meditations, we can take them with us to use at any time in our everyday life. All these meditations can be practised by anyone, and no previous knowledge or experience is required.
Schedule
Session 1: 10am short teaching with guided meditation
Session 2: 11:30am short teaching with guided meditation
Session 3:12:45pm short teaching with guided meditation
Each session is forty-five minutes long and during the break our World Peace Café will be open serving light-refreshments.
Fees
Drop in or you can book in advance: £15
This event is free to members – become a member HERE
Urban Half Day Retreat Format
These events are suitable for everyone, no previous experience needed. Everyone is welcome. Enjoy the benefits of more time than in our evening classes, the opportunity to meet and talk with fellow attendees and the chance to take some time out in the peaceful atmosphere of KMC Plymouth.
Each of the three sessions will include:
- a short guided relaxation (breathing) meditation
- a short practical teaching
- a second meditation with guidance based on the teaching
Between sessions there is a break for light refreshments in our World Peace Café and the chance to socialise and discuss the session and teachings with others.
After the third session, there is also the opportunity to ask the Teacher questions and discuss our learning and experiences.
Special Awayday Retreat: Saturday 25th October 2025
Trust in The Path
A Day of Teachings and Meditations In The Peace of a South Dartmoor Venue
Please note this event must be booked in advance.
Awayday Retreat
Saturday 25th October 2025, 10:30am- 4:30pm
Meavy Village Hall, Nr. Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6PJ
The Benefits of an Away Day Retreat?
On this special awayday with Resident Teacher and Kadampa Buddhist Monk, Gen Kelsang Dragden, we will have a wonderful opportunity to receive teachings and spend plenty of time meditating. No previous experience is needed and the meditations and short teachings during the sessions will be suitable for everyone to enjoy and gain great benefit from. Everyone is welcome and no previous experience is required.
This will be a perfect opportunity to take time out and away from the city to enjoy a peaceful and inspiring day retreat within the southern boundary of Dartmoor National Park, in the small village of Meavy – only a short journey north of Plymouth.
Please note that all attendees will need to book in advance for this event.
The Retreat
25th October is a special day in the Kadampa calendar. Therefore, this day retreat will focus on profound teachings of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment; and how we can have faith in Je Tsongkhapa, his teachings and the path to a lasting happiness. If we follow the path purely and sincerely, we are guaranteed to fulfil our potential for a pure mind and to attain the great bliss and happiness of enlightenment.
Whether we are new to these teachings or not, this very special day will be accessible and give us the faith and encouragement to follow the path to a better future for ourselves and all living beings.
The day will finish with us following the meditative prayers of Heart Jewel – a special way to gain faith and trust in Je Tsongkhapa and the path to enlightenment.
Schedule
– 10:30-11:15 Introduction, Teaching & Meditation
– 11:15-11:45 Tea Break (45 minutes)
– 11:45:12:30 Teaching & Meditation
– 12:30-14:15 Lunch Break (1¾ hours)
– 14:15-15:00 Teaching & Meditation
– 15:00-15:30 Tea Break (30 minutes)
– 15:30-16:30 Heart Jewel Prayers with meditation
Fees
– Non-members £25
– Standard and Premium Members £20
– To include basic tea, coffee and biscuits during the morning and afternoon breaks
Booking
Please book in advance online using the button below which will take you to the TicketTailor website where you can book and pay online.
Lunchtime Break
Attendees are welcome to remain in the hall during the lunchbreak and we suggest you bring a packed lunch. Hot water can be made available via one of our volunteers but we cannot provide food-heating or cooking access.
There is a pub opposite the village hall, The Royal Oak, which serves meals and hot drinks. A short drive away there are a variety food and drink outlets in Yelverton and the Burrator Inn at Dousland.
Optional Lunchtime Group Walk
Depending on the weather, there will be the option to go for a group walk during the lunchtime break. If you would prefer not to go for a walk you can use the hall space during the break.
Parking, Care Sharing, Lifts & Public Transport
There is ample but limited parking available at the hall, and we kindly ask that you try to avoid parking in the village which has narrow streets and very limited parking.
If you are able to offer lifts to people or to carshare with people you know are attending, we would suggest it is helpful to do so. Should you be able to offer lifts or are someone who would like one, please do let us know by emailing us at: epc@meditationinplymouth.org and we will do our best to people in touch with each other – so please let us have a phone number if you are able to and confirm you are happy for us to share it with other attendees.
Buses regularly travel from Plymouth to Yelverton and Meavy is about a 1.5mile walk from Yelverton village centre following the main road. Bus information can be found HERE, as well as other sites.
The Venue
We will be holding this wonderful day, in the quiet village setting of Meavy, about 11miles to the north of Plymouth at:
- Meavy Parish Hall, The Green, Meavy, Devon PL20 6PJ
- View on a map HERE
A short distance from Burrator Reservoir and only a couple of minutes’ drive from Yelverton, Meavy is an ideal location to experience the beauty and quiet of the countryside within easy reach of Plymouth by car and by public transport.
Refreshments on The Day & Local Facilities
During the two tea breaks of the day, we will be offering basic* tea, coffee, and biscuits included in the fee for this awayday.
For your lunch, we suggest either a packed lunch, or you can access a number of local venues which serve a wide range of food choices, including the village pub across the road from the hall – more details below.
During the lunch break, and depending on the weather, there will be the option to take a group walk in the local vicinity if you would like to join us. Sheepstor and Burrator Reservoir are close by and are wonderful spots to share to fellow retreaters!
* We regret that we are unable to offer a variety of milk types and decaffeinated and herbal alternatives. If you wish to bring your own supplies of such items we can provide supported access to make such drinks.
Purification Retreat
Sunday 7th December 2025
This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to learn to rely on Vajrasattva, the Buddha of purification, and practice a special meditation to free ourselves from all of our negative karma.
We spend all our time and energy trying to avoid problems by making changes to our external world. However, our unhappiness and difficulties are not caused by the external world but are the result of the negative karma we have created in the past through our own harmful actions.
By relying on Vajrasattva, all our experiences will be positive, we will have a peaceful, pure mind and will easily remove obstacles to our spiritual development.
Attend all, or as few or many of the sessions as you wish.
Schedule
Sunday 7th December
Session 1: 10am Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with offerings^
Session 2: 12noon with guided meditation*
Session 3: 2.30pm with guided meditation*
Fees
*Advanced Booking or Purchase On the Door: £3 per session
Day Ticket: £4 (all 3 sessions – includes free prayers session at 10am)
KMC Plymouth Members: Free (all 7 sessions). To become a member, CLICK HERE
^ Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers on Sunday: Attendance is free to all
Please note that should you book for a single session but decide to stay longer for more sessions, you’ll be very welcome to do so. Just see a member of the team in our Coffee Bar.
New Year Retreat
This is a FREE event.
Wednesday 31st December 2025 and Thursday 1st January 2026
Start the new year inspired! Everyone is welcome to join us for this 24-hour retreat receiving the blessings of Tara, which are especially powerful for helping those in difficulty. Each session is about an hour long and you can come at any time and to as many or few sessions as you choose.
No previous experience required, there will be plenty of people to help and advise you if this is a new event for you, and as always, everyone is welcome.
Schedule
Wednesday 31st December: 7pm (Introduction) & 11pm
Thursday 1st January: 3am, 7am, 11am & 3pm
Fees
This is a free event – everyone is welcome! No need to book, just come along.