Working with Prejudice Spring Weekend Retreat, 7th-9th April 2017
A joint event between the Middle Way Society and Hári Sewell
Prejudice is often understood as a barrier to human relationships, but less often as a basic fault of human judgement. Why do we make unexamined assumptions about other people? Why do the categories we put people and things into become so rigidly important for us? From the standpoint of the Middle Way, our prejudices are seen as absolute beliefs, whether positive or negative, and the Middle Way as the practical path between those assumptions that can help loosen their grip.
On this weekend retreat, Hári Sewell will lead a workshop on overcoming prejudice in practice, whilst Robert M Ellis will give a talk on the links between prejudice, cognitive biases and the Middle Way. There will also be meditation, arts activities, and free time to make friends and enjoy the countryside.
Purpose: This retreat offers a chance to look at how prejudice affects our connectedness as human beings, and delves into meditative ways of stripping back layers of prejudice to help with our journeys to maximise our purpose on earth.
Where? The Beamsley Centre, Harrogate Road, Hazelwood, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6JA. Please see the Beamsley Project website for more details of the venue. See Google map below for location.
When? 7th-9th April 2017, starting at 6pm on Friday and finishing at 2pm on Sunday
Leaders: Hári Sewell and Robert M Ellis. Please contact Hari (hari.sewell at hsconsultancy.org.uk) or Robert (at middlewaysociety.org) if you have any questions about the theme or programme of the retreat. The flyer below gives details of Hári’s business HS Consultancy (click to enlarge).
Organiser: Barry Daniel. Please contact Barry if you have any questions about payment or practical arrangements (barry at middlewaysociety.org).
Who is the retreat for? Anyone aged 18 or over interested in examining their prejudices. You do not necessarily have to be a member of the Middle Way Society. Prior experience of meditation is helpful but not essential. The Beamsley Centre has excellent facilities for the disabled.
Cost: Total cost of the weekend is £95, including all accommodation and food. A £25 deposit payable on booking will secure your place on the retreat. The balance will be payable four weeks before the start of the retreat. If you book after 10th March, please pay in full on booking. If you would like to join the retreat but cannot afford this amount, please get in touch with the retreat leaders explaining your circumstances: concessions can be discussed on a case by case basis, but depend on the financing of the retreat costs as well as your ability to pay.
Equipment: Please bring meditation cushions/ stool if you use them. Paper and pen for making notes may be useful; and if you play a portable musical instrument, please consider bringing it along.
Retreat conditions: To help create an atmosphere supporting integrative practice, people attending the retreat will be asked not to use electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, radio or TV during the course of the retreat, except for the purposes of the retreat programme or for urgent personal reasons. To maintain interpersonal boundaries in which everyone can feel secure, we also ask you not to initiate new sexual relationships in the context of the retreat.
Travel: The nearest railway station is Skipton, and we can make arrangements to pick you up there if you arrive by train. There is ample car parking at the centre.
Accommodation: Accommodation is in 2 and 4 bedded rooms, with all bedding provided. Depending on the number of people on the retreat, we are quite likely to be able to meet requests for single occupancy of rooms, especially if you have a particular reason for needing a room to yourself. Otherwise you may be asked to share a room with another retreatant of the same sex.
Food will be vegan, but with cow’s milk provided for those who want it in drinks. Please advise us in advance of any other special diets.
To book please fill in the online form below, then pay your deposit using the Paypal facility that should load up when you submit the form (this also takes cards). Paypal charges us 2% per transaction, so as an alternative you are welcome to pay by bank transfer: Account: Middle Way Society, Co-operative Bank, Sort Code 089299, account number 65711376. Please use your name as a reference.
[si-contact-form form=’4′]
How did the retreat go guys.