Embracing Spring with Metta on the Sacred Mountain
Guided by the wisdom of the Dharma and the teachings of Buddhist and Western psychology, the retreat focuses on cultivating mindfulness and compassion practices. These practices are designed to calm the nervous system and support the integration of body, heart, and mind. Participants will explore how to listen deeply and courageously with kindness and self-compassion, finding solace and connection within the shared silence of a like-minded sangha—a powerful experience of being "alone together."
This week-long Spring retreat with Sue Cooper at Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat Centre offers participants a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the nourishing embrace of Noble Silence at the foot of the serene Mvuleni Bamboo Mountain in the Southern Drakensberg. Sue Cooper is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, working in private practice in Cape Town since the early 1990s.
The retreat also invites participants to embrace the season of new beginnings by delving into the Brahma Viharas (the four divine abodes: loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity). These immeasurable qualities of heart and mind nurture an embodied, heartfelt presence and strengthen inner wisdom. Through this process, participants will build confidence and clarity, allowing their authentic selves to emerge with greater ease and joy.
By letting go of perfectionism, participants will discover a deeper capacity for open-hearted relationships, guided by healthier and more compassionate boundaries. This retreat provides a sacred space for renewal, self-discovery, and connection to the essence of Spring.
CPD accreditation for psychologists and other HPCSA registered professionals: number of General CEUs to be confirmed.
Please Note: To receive CPD points, there is an annual admin fee of R375.
Retreat Highlights:
Integration of the dharma & psychological wisdom
Daily Qigong
Individual session with Sue to deepen our insight
Guided sitting, walking and standing meditation
Optional extras: relaxing massages and mindful movement offered to support our embodied experience
Time to walk, rest and replenish
Noble silence
Three vegetarian meals per day
Pre-Retreat Requirements
A 30-40 minute pre-retreat individual session via Zoom/Whatsapp is recommended for newcomers or if you have not attended one of Sue’s residential retreats before. The fee for this will be the 30-40 minute medical aid rate and will be reduced if you are not on medical aid. Please contact Sue on sue.stillmind@gmail.com to arrange a time.
About the Teacher
Sue Cooper is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, working in private practice in Cape Town since the early 1990s. She has a long-standing interest in the interface between psychological and spiritual approaches to self-discovery and inner healing, and has attended Buddhist meditation retreats, mainly in the Theravada tradition, for over 40 years, both in South Africa and at Gaia House in the UK. Sue has been inspired by the teachings of Ajahn Chah of the Thai Forest Tradition, and is deeply grateful to her primary teachers: Godwin Samararatne, Kittisaro and Thanissara, Ajahn Sucitto, Stephen and Martine Batchelor and Guy Armstrong.
In 2010, Sue created and launched her “Open the Heart and Still the Mind” courses and retreats, which integrate Buddhist meditation and psychotherapy. She has a particular interest in exploring how our practice enables us to embrace our humanness, integrating love and loss in our lives, so that we can live and die with compassionate awareness.
Bookings
Please check out Sue Coopers website and email admin@stillmindretreats.com for information on this retreat and booking options.