Retreat Finder Tour Blog

Eudlo, QLD about 2 hours North of Brisbane, Australia

Set in the wooded hills this wonderful Mahayana Buddhist Centre (FPMT) offers a range of retreat options.

You can drop by for a daily teaching, lunch in their wonderful cafe, ask a monk a question, circumambulate the stupa to help spread prayers of peace, or just come to soak up the mindfulness in this peaceful environment.

You can join in on one of their programmed retreats or take a personal retreat. Personal retreats can be as basic as just taking time for yourself to relax and possibly attend one of the daily (Wed-Sun) teachings or meditations, or you can have a more formalized retreat in a private hut in a silent area of the grounds with or without retreat guidance.

For general retreats accommodations include bed and breakfast style in the Sangha House or motel style, most have shared facilities. All are simple but clean and comfortable.

The cafe offers excellent simple vegetarian food at very reasonable rates; and if you need a pick me up for the next mediation session, the chocolate bars are inexpensive.

There is plenty of land to wander on and a magnificent Garden of Enlightenment. But be prepared for the walk up and down the hill, a great practice in slowing down, mindfulness and gratitude.

If you mind needs some more action, there is a wonderful and broad library with fantastic librarian assistance to find just what you are looking for.

And if you need a real change of pace, you can pop into their small shop for practice supplies, books and trinkets.

Chenrezig Institute is a rare chance to study and retreat in a monastic setting where everyone is welcome.

Groups of a like mind ranging from arts to healing can apply to hire the facility. There is a wonderful Community Room at the bottom of the main complex hill with wonderful wood floors and plenty of privacy.  Note that the cafe and lodging are all up the hill and past the stupa, again, offering a great opportunity to practice.