A Walking and Compassion Retreat
“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” bell hooks
Name of Retreat: A Walking & Compassion Retreat
Date: Autumn: 10 - 13 October 2024
Location: Kathmandu Valley
Number of Participants: 6 - 12
Duration: 4 days
Leaders: Abiding Heart's team
Fee: *US$600
*Fee includes room, breakfast, lunch and transport.
Description:
Walking, Meditating, and Understanding Buddhist Heritage
We offer this unique and transformative experience for those interested in much more than hiking around the Kathmandu Valley. We bring into this walking retreat depth through weaving in philosophical understanding of the sites we visit and awareness and mindfulness meditation practices. As we hike we have time for contemplation and just being in the present moment.
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The first walk is from Panauti to Namo Buddha and includes a pilgrimage to sacred sites in the area.
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The second walk is in Pharping with a focus on local sacred Buddhist sites.
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The third hike is from Pharping to Champadevi hills.
Compassion
Offering our presence and joy to others. We will celebrate our common humanity and togetherness whilst contemplative all encompassing compassion and cultivation harmony in our relationships with others.
Itinerary:
Day 1:
We drive to Panauti where the walk will begin. We spend time exploring this ancient Vedic city. Starting in Panauti we hike to Namo Buddha where we stay overnight. Length of walk is 6 hours reaching altitude of 2551m.
Day 2:
We spend the morning at Namo Buddha stupa pausing to contemplate this sacred site through historical and mythological
storytelling, as well as understand their philosophical meaning.
We meditate and contemplate Bodhichitta (all encompassing compassion) and offer butter lamps. In the afternoon we drive to Banepa and visit the blue Tara temple, experiential explore wisdom and compassion. We conclude this day by making butter lamps offerings and return to Kathmandu for the night.
Day 3:
We travel to Pharping, walking to the different sacred Buddhist sites in the area while listening to stories about Guru Rinpoche, Vajrayogini, Tara and the
Golden Temple. We take time to practice awareness and mindfulness meditation before offering butter lamps. Sharing afternoon tea, we celebrate togetherness and enjoy delicious cakes as we soak in the spiritual nature of Pharping's special community.
Day 4:
On our final day we hike from Hattiban to Champadevi hills passing through stupas and taking our time to admire the breathtaking view of the Kathmandu Valley, Pharping and the mountains. We have a picnic together before walking down the hill down to our vehicle which will take us back to Kathmandu where we will conclude our walking retreat with a traditional Nepali meal. The Length of the walk is 5 hours reaching a high point of 2249m.
