Dates: from 5 to 6 April, at Lerab Ling and online
Can we contribute to our own healing with our mind? Can practices such as meditation, compassion and visualisation help to unlock the transformative potential of illness?
During this weekend, we will explore the path of healing through different practices that contribute to the healing of the being, based on Alain's experience of healing from terminal cancer. We'll be offering practical tools and fresh perspectives by tackling the practices of unconditional acceptance and loving-kindness, so as to develop a healthy relationship with oneself: essential aspects of the path to healing.
8 days in silence, for a profound experience of meditation
Dates :from 12 to 20 April
Awakening our mind: a transformative meditation retreat
Whatever our level of meditation, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to explore the depth of meditation in the serene and sacred atmosphere of Lerab Ling. We will then be able to get in touch with the qualities of peace and clarity in our mind.
By deepening the practice of Calm Abiding (Shamatha), we cultivate stillness, relaxation and concentration. Our natural state and the profound vision of Vipashana then gradually rises up, enabling us to discover who we really are, beyond the noise of everyday life and our usual patterns.
Guided by experienced Rigpa instructors, the retreat will begin with a day of introduction, recalling the key principles of the practice. On the second day, we will move into an immersive practice of sitting and walking meditation.
Silence, introduced on the second day, will be observed until the seventh day of the retreat, creating a space of calm and introspection.
During this time, optional personal interviews with the instructors can provide support, clarity and guidance (in English, French and Spanish).
Each day we will experience seven hours of sitting and walking meditation (we may choose to sit on a cushion or chair). Gentle physical exercises will help to balance the practice and there will be free time to relax and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of Lerab Ling.
Organised in English and French with Spanish translation, this retreat is open to all. However, as we will quickly enter into silence after little instruction, we recommend this retreat to people who have already received instruction on meditation and have begun to practise it, even if only occasionally.
Please note: Although the proposed practices are intended for everyone, they are contraindicated in certain cases, particularly for people suffering from mental health problems. In case of doubt, a discussion with your doctor or therapist or an exchange with one of the retreat instructors will be needed to validate your participation in this retreat. Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For this event, you can stay for up to 3 extra days. To take your time, contemplate and enjoy the Lerab Ling environment. This option is included in the registration process.
> REGISTRATION
Please register 36 hours before the event at the latest
> PRACTICAL INFO
STARTSaturday 12 April – 10am END Sunday 20 April – 1.30pm
CHECK-IN AND PICK-UP BADGES Friday 11 April: 2pm to 6pm Saturday 12 April: 9am to 9.45am
CONTRIBUTION to the event - € 272 (Does not include accommodation and meals)
LANGUAGES Teachings: English, French Translation: English, French, Spanish
TRANSPORT Friday 11 April From Lodève to Lerab Ling - Free bus service - Travel time 30mn Departure at 5.30pm from the bus stop in front of Lodève Tourist Office
Alain Beauregard is a physicist by training and a high-tech entrepreneur. He has been studying and practising Buddhism since 1995. Alain has been an instructor in Montreal since 2002 and has been teaching healing internationally since 2011, based on his own healing story. He is a Rigpa senior teacher and teaches primarily on healing and meditation, with a particular interest in applying the millennia-old teachings of Buddhism to modern life.
Frédéric Chastelas has been studying and practising Buddhism since 1997. Since 2009 Frédéric has been teaching meditation as part of events organised by Rigpa and helped to develop a programme of personal retreat in Lerab Ling – offering the opportunity to discover or deepen the practice of meditation to anyone who is interested. He is part of a team of instructors who hold regular courses and weekend events on meditation, compassion and other practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Yara Vrolijks grown up in a Buddhist family, Yara devoted her time, from an early age, to Buddhist study and practice. She holds a Master's degree in Philosophy from King's College London and spent a number of years on the Milinda programme, supervised by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Yara is becoming a regular in the team of instructors holding public events in Lerab Ling and is professionally trained as a Tipi emotional regulation therapist.
Vinciane Rycroft is an educator interested in ways in which the modern world can benefit from the peace, compassion and wisdom of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. She initiated several projects, including a programme bringing mindfulness and awareness into schools, and conferences on compassion in society.
Our commitment is for everyone who wishes to come to Lerab Ling, to have access to our programmes, whatever their financial circumstances. We offer different options for those who are unable to pay the standard contribution.
You can book your meals and/or onsite accommodation when registering for the retreat/event. For more information on our accommodation and meals click here
The end of the year is a particularly conducive timeto pause, turn inward and take care of ourselves.
Using Buddhist teachings and practices, we will put our life experiences - the highs and lows - into perspective, and explore together how to move through them with clarity and love.
To all our cycling friends: feel free to comeand visit the temple or its esplanade. You can also simply come and have a coffee or a cool drink on our shady terrace, with a view of the valley in which the temple is located. We are located on the beautiful N.13 loop, on the edge of the Regional Natural Park of the Haut Languedoc.
As the temple is a lively place with many activities, please check our opening days and times on this page before coming.
We have been awarded the "Accueil Vélo" label and offer a personalised welcome to people on two wheels. We have a level parking area for bikes.
OUR EQUIPMENT
parking for bicycles
possibility to recharge your battery
repair kit and pump
BICYCLE LOOP N°13: COL DU PERTHUS AND CIRQUE DE LABEIL FROM LODÈVE
We all need to recapture an inner strength, a sense of meaning in our lives, a profound direction that makes every moment of our lives worth living. Instead of seeking constant distraction, overeating or being consumed by anxiety, let's change the way we live to nourish ourselves differently, more healthily and more deeply.
The Buddha taught about the four types of food, and how each nourishes a different aspect of our being...
Meditate, practice and recharge your batteries in the middle of nature
If you feel the need to take a break from your daily life and stresses, it may be time to reconnect with nature and recharge your batteries in a peaceful atmosphere.
In the unique spiritual environment of Lerab Ling, we offer you the opportunity to experience:
You can join us for:
a meditation break (open to all) to learn to meditate or deepen your practice.
a sangha practice retreat (for Rigpa students only) to advance your practice and personal study.
In both cases, you will have the support of experienced instructors to guide you, and have access to a library and video teachings to further your study.
You can learn more about each of these options by clicking on one of the pictures below.
Taking time out to recharge your batteries at your own pace
Meditation breaks are moments for yourself, to take a break and find your inner peace.
Meditation is at the heart of meditation breaks. Open to all, they give you the chance to learn or deepen your understanding of this practice in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. We offer two group sessions a day, guided by experienced instructors, and have a temple room, including a library and media centre, at your disposal.
On a 140-hectare site in the heart of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, Lerab Ling’s environment offers us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in unspoilt nature and to enjoy a spiritual place of calm and serenity.
The site inspires rest, discovery and renewal, and is conducive to outdoor meditation and nature walks, with many hiking trails.
You will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the benefits of meditation, as it is transmitted at its source in Tibetan Buddhism. It can unleash our natural confidence, compassion and creativity.
This day, open to all, is an introduction to meditation and is held in the magnificent setting of Lerab Ling. The basics and fundamentals of meditation will be presented in a comprehensive and accessible way.
Led by experienced instructors, a variety of courses are given at Lerab Ling throughout the year. Whether you're looking to learn meditation for the first time, deepen your meditation practice, learn more about compassion and Buddhism, or better support a loved one going through difficult times, you will find what you need.
The serenity getaway weekend at Lerab Ling is a rejuvenating break, with no constraints, in a unique spiritual environment. You'll be immersed in unspoilt nature, surrounded by forests, meadows and hills. Naomi, your hostess, will tell you the amazing story of Lerab Ling, show you around the temple - one of the most beautiful in Europe, an authentic masterpiece of Tibetan sacred art - guide you in meditation and take you for walks in the surrounding area.
THE PLACE
Lerab Ling is one of Europe's leading centres for the study and practice of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lerab Ling is a living monastery, home to a community of monastic and lay members. The temple is also home to unique Tibetan art, including a 7-metre-high statue of the Buddha.
Lerab Ling is ideally situated in the heart of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park, close to the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park. Since its creation in 1991, the Lerab Ling community has been taking care of the flora and fauna, making Lerab Ling a unique place where nature is preserved over 140 hectares.
MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION
On the evening of your arrival, you will share a meal with Naomi. Other meals are taken in the dining room, which is shared with the community. The cuisine is simple, mainly vegetarian, with a vegan and gluten-free option. Whenever possible, produce is sourced from Lerab Ling's own vegetable garden or from local producers. Most are organic and in season.
As far as accommodation is concerned, we offer two types of accommodation close to the temple. The choice is yours. Bed linen and towels are provided.
The studios, with their spacious rooms and views of the temple, lake and valley, include a private bathroom, and a kitchenette.
The forest roomsare located in three small 3-storey wooden towers. The rooms are comfortable, and a bathroom may be shared with another room.
> REGISTRATION
Dates Serenity weekends gateway back in 2025.
NAOMI, YOUR HOSTESS
Naomi will be your hostess throughout the weekend and will be happy to make your stay at Lerab Ling as enjoyable as possible. She will adapt to your needs and answer any questions you may have.
Naomi is a writer, long-time meditator and Rigpa teacher. She trained extensively with Sogyal Rinpoche, author of the spiritual classic 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying'. Naomi grew up in Innsbruck, Austria. She studied physics and mathematics and obtained her doctorate from Northeastern University in Boston, USA. In 1997, she moved to Lerab Ling and has been working ever since, translating and relaying ancient Buddhist wisdom to the Western world. She is passionate about transmitting the teachings on incorporating the activities of daily life onto one's own spiritual path, called 'Practical Wisdom’.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Friday
14:00 - 19:00 - Arrival, pick-up of keys, settling into your accommodation
20:00 - Dinner with your hostess, in a small group
Saturday
07:30 - 09:00 Breakfast
10:00 - 11:30 Visiting the temple and learning about meditation
11:30 - 13:00 Lunch
Afternoon at leisure
From 17:30 - Dinner
Sunday
07:30 - 09:00 Breakfast
10:00 - 11:30 Walk in the forest, accompanied by your hostess
11:30 - 13:00 - Lunch
Afternoon at leisure
Departure at your convenience
4 GOOD REASONS TO SPEND A SERENE GETAWAY AT LERAB LING
Simplifying in order to be happy. Enjoying the little things that life offers every day. Transforming our mind. Simply being. These aren’t clichés; for some people, they are a way of life!
Everything in our life seems complicated. Through the teachings of the Buddha and putting them into practice, we can come to a simpler way to live, relax, be happy with ourselves and cultivate goodness. All with a lot of humour, authenticity and acceptance.
Exploding concepts and connecting with your creativity
Dates: from 26 to 27 April
For this weekend, we're leaving our habits at home to take a different, creative look at ourselves and the world around us. No preconceived ideas or limiting concepts. Do we want to be authentic? Satisfied and full of meaning? Although external circumstances may contribute to this, it is ultimately our state of mind that will make our lives full or empty, interesting or banal, beneficial or harmful. A creative mind is free of judgement and fear, and radiant in its natural expression.
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Lerab Ling, under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is one of the main centres preserving the authentic study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Founded in 1991...
For this event, you can stay for up to 3 extra days. To take your time, contemplate and enjoy the Lerab Ling environment. This option is included in the registration process.
Naomi will be your hostess throughout the weekend and will be happy to make your stay at Lerab Ling as enjoyable as possible. She will adapt to your needs and answer any questions you may have.
