Training the Mind in Compassion
Weekend Retreat for Women+
Friday 13th – Sunday 15th November 2026
Led by Atulyamitra and Sadayasihi
Lojong or ‘mind training’ is a Buddhist practice which helps cultivate compassion and transform self-centeredness into altruism. In the 12th century Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje compiled a list of 59 short aphorisms or slogans to provide a basis for doing this.
On this weekend retreat for women Atulyamitra and Sadayasihi will delve into some of these slogans – such as “drive all blames into one”, “always maintain only a joyful mind” and “don’t expect applause” – to learn how we can train our minds in compassion both in our daily lives and in our meditation practice, and will give us tools to act more fearlessly in our daily lives.
When
Friday 13th – Sunday 15th November 2026
Where
This retreat will take place in our very own retreat centre Shubha Vihara, in Ballycorrigan, Ballina, Co. Tipperary. It’s approximately 2 hour’s drive from Dublin City. See below for a Google Map.
This retreat is for women who have an established practice of the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana meditations.
Atulyamitra learned to meditate over 30 years ago and has had a meditation practice most of her adult life. She became a committed Buddhist in 2012 and was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2018. She is now the Women’s Mitra Convenor, meaning that she takes particular responsibility for looking after the needs of women who have made a definite commitment to the Buddhist Path.
Sadayasihi learned to meditate in 2007 in the Dublin Buddhist Centre while she was training to be a solicitor, having had an interest in Buddhism since she was a teenager. She was ordained in 2016 and is current chair of the charity that runs the DBC, as well as leading a study group and teaching classes.
We asked previous retreat participants what the highlights were for them. They answered:
All dishes are vegan, but don’t let that put you off. We’ve astounded by many omnivores on our retreats who admitted they had no idea vegan food could be so tasty and filling!
Every meal is cooked from scratch, and there is always enough for second helpings. No one ever goes hungry on our retreats.
Shubha Vihara is an approximately 2 hour and 15 minute drive from Dublin City Centre.
For most retreats, we organise a car-sharing list so that people travelling from the same area can connect. If you need a lift or can offer one, simply let us know when you book. While we can’t guarantee a lift, car sharing is often possible and is a lovely way to begin your retreat in the spirit of friendship and community.
Shubha Vihara is also accessible by public transport. The simplest route is to take a coach to Limerick and from there take Bus Éireann Route 323 to Ballina. By prior arrangement, we can usually organise collection from Ballina, making the final part of your journey to the retreat centre straightforward.
Cost
We do tiered pricing, depending on the circumstances.
- €280 waged
- €240 low-waged
- €200 unwaged or student
What to Expect
All bedrooms are shared with fellow participants, typically with three to five retreatants per room. There are no single rooms at this venue.
Sharing a room is a meaningful aspect of the retreat. Many find it enriching to live simply alongside others, fostering a quiet sense of connection, mutual support, and community. This spirit of shared living reflects some key elements of Buddhist practice — simplicity, awareness of others, and compassion.