VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
My name is Colette Power and I'll be leading a retreat at The Barn in 2026, in January, on the Seven Factors of Awakening.
The BojjhÄngas as they're also known, are the seven beautiful qualities naturally present in an awakened heart and mind.
When cultivated and developed, these healing and uplifting mental capacities lead to insight and liberation from suffering.
Just as the hindrances are qualities that make calm and clarity difficult, there are positive qualities that support concentration, balance and insight.
Gardening, after all, isn't just about pulling weeds, it's about tending flowers and fruits and nurturing blooms that bring joy to ourselves and others.
On this retreat, we'll explore the hindrances, what they are, how they show up in our lives, and how they undermine our motivation and aspiration to change.
We'll work with each of the Seven Factors of Awakening, exploring how we can skillfully employ these capacities as antidote to the hindrances.
We'll explore how to cultivate, appreciate and strengthen the factors of awakening through meditation, reflection and experiential inquiry.
The Seven Factors of Awakening provide a map that guides us on and off the cushion towards less suffering, more peace and towards a more compassionate and ethical way of life.
Winter is an ideal time to gather in community and to rest and reflect in the silence and stillness and beauty of the winter days.
We don't have to wait for some final epiphany. We can start to taste the flavour of awakening as we walk along the path together.
The retreat is suitable for anyone who has meditation experience.
I hope you'll join me and The Barn coordinators in January 2026 for the Seven Factors of Awakening retreat, and I look forward to seeing you there.
See the retreat here
