Led by: Padmadharani, Amaragita and Nagalila
Location: Bowerwood, East Devon
Deposit amount: £85
Experience level: See below for retreat suitability
Age group: Adults
Total suggested cost (excluding deposit): standard: £300, supported:£200, donation tier (helping others to come on retreat):£580
Vehicle Pass: Car:£15, Live-in- 6m and under: £30, Live-in- over 6m: £30
Open to all experience levels, whether you're new to Buddhism and meditation or a seasoned practitioner, this retreat is designed for those seeking to replenish their inner resources. Whether you're feeling drained by external pressures or looking to sustain your work with greater balance, this is an opportunity to renew your energy. Rediscover the power of presence—where resilience is not just about endurance but about fully embodying the change you wish to see in the world.
This retreat offers a program of meditation, deep inquiry, experiential practices, group discussions, solo reflection, rituals, and simple land-based connection. Using practical tools, like a Resilience Mandala, participants will assess their personal resilience by identifying areas that need renewal, restoring balance in - Head (clarity and wisdom), Heart (connection and compassion), and Feet (grounding and action). We will use the landscape, nature-based practice, and periods of silence to reveal and strengthen our sense of ourselves within a wider web.
Our focus for 2025 is cultivating both inner and outer harmony through insight-driven practices, to centre experience directly in the body's energy and support an ability to navigate disharmony and conflict as it arises.
This retreat follows a curriculum developed by Padmadharini, made possible by a generous grant from the Hemera Foundation. It is inspired by the recognition that we are navigating a transformative era marked by sociopolitical, cultural, and spiritual challenges. Strengthening our relationships and fostering collaboration are essential for the present and the future. By embracing practices that expand our awareness, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves as interconnected, ecological beings and act with greater clarity and purpose.
At its core, the Buddha's teachings emphasise clear seeing—grasping reality fully and with clarity. Yet our default is to return to the security of our fabricated, predictive story of the world we are encountering. Drawing on insights from neuropsychology, the course aligns with the Buddha's wisdom, promoting a paradigm shift that prioritises embracing feelings over cognitive processes in conflict resolution.
Excellent meditation and dharma input. I came away with a feeling of relaxed concentration, which has given my practice a real boost.
- 2023 Routes to Resilience participant
Retreat content will include:
Grounding in the Body – The Root of Resilience
Feeling vs. Thinking – Cultivating Inner Stability
The Trauma-Sensitive Path to Harmony
The Power of Presence – Resilient Mind, Open Heart
This camping retreat is designed to nurture resilience for those whose work or passions demand continuous mental or physical energy. We recognise that being "active" takes many forms, shaped by each person’s unique capacity and abilities. Whether your impact is large or small, we welcome anyone motivated by their values—whether in relationships, community engagement, organisational efforts, caregiving, or advocacy for social and environmental causes. By bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, we seek to cultivate a rich dialogue on what it truly means to "be active" and to explore the heart of collective resilience. If you’re unsure whether this retreat is the right fit for you, feel free to reach out at Nagalila@buddhafield.com.
The Routes to Resilience retreats run every two years, with a different configuration or content each time. It draws on the themes of the Green Earth Awakening; Buddhafield’s 500-person gathering, and is an opportunity to go deeper, in the context of an intimate camping retreat on a beautiful and wild piece of land in East Devon.
The land is rugged and will require a level of ability to manoeuvre up and down steep slopes. Some chairs will be provided if sitting on the ground is not possible. However, we encourage people to bring their own if travelling by car. You can find out more about accessibility on our retreats here. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Amaragita
My background is in community development and working with young people at risk and the professionals that support them. I worked for various social change movements and I have been a trainer, facilitator and coach for 37 years. My passions are meditation and creating spaces for deep inquiry and celebration of the human condition. I have been leading intergenerational retreats and retreats for mothers for many years. Currently, I am chair of Buddhafield and have been a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community for 25 years.
Nagalila
I am a Processwork psychotherapist in training, conflict facilitator, and work with young people in schools with restorative tools for navigating conflict. For the past 18 years, I have been part of Buddhafield and have coordinated the Green Earth Awakening Camp since its inception. My practice is deeply intertwined with a connection to land and nature. Currently, my curiosity lies in exploring relationships through the body—cultivating a deeper awareness of somatic cues while engaging with the world around us.
Padmadharani
I’ve been an educator in diverse social and community contexts, focusing on high-risk and vulnerable adult groups. As well as a wellness coach and Buddhist Chaplain, I am proficient in leading Mindfulness courses tailored to patients, including MBSR, Breathworks Mindfulness for Pain, and Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness. Drawing from my own experiences of childhood trauma and mental health struggles, I have channelled my practice towards somatic exploration of dukkha. I am committed to inclusive, trauma-sensitive and bias-aware teaching.