Compassion Practice Retreat with Prof Paul Gilbert OBE and Choden

Date and Timing

This is a 3 day personal practice awareness retreat Face to Face in Yorkshire with Prof Paul Gilbert OBE and Choden

04th, 05th & 06th February 2026

Day 1 & 2: 09.30 to 17.00 GMT

Day 3: 09:30 to 16.00 GMT

Location

Sandburn Hall, Scotchman Lane, Flaxton, York YO60 7RB

Prices:

Student rate: £349.00

Early Bird:£399.00 (ends 30th November 2025)

Standard: £419.00

For those in difficult financial circumstances, who may struggle to afford this price, please contact hello@compassionatemind.co.uk‍

About the Retreat

This personal practice retreat will provide opportunities to reflect on the nature of our mind and how to cultivate processes that orient us to being helpful rather than harmful.

In both the contemplative traditions and western science there is clear understanding that we have the potential not only for care, compassion and altruism but also fear, anger, callousness and cruelty. Ways to counteract these harmful processes and cultivate brain states, which are conducive to personal and social well-being lie at the very heart of compassion. They can be found in the ancient contemplative traditions like Buddhism as well as modern science-based approaches such as CFT.

With Choden’s extensive experience in the Buddhist contemplative tradition and Pauls’ scientific study of compassion and its application to mental health, this retreat is unique in being able to bring together these different approaches in ways that mutually support each other.

Participants will be guided through ways of understanding the nature of mind, both in terms of how our brains have evolved and function but also in terms of the nature of consciousness itself as the ground of all being, which is increasingly in line with modern scientific views.

This retreat will give you the chance to ground your mind and body, slow down the flow of thoughts and shift mind states, with a range of meditation practices that enable deeper insight into the nature of the mind, increased self-awareness, self-reflection and self-transformation.

There will be a strong focus on how to deepen compassionate empathy for the nature of suffering which stimulates bodhicitta, the compassionate motivation that all living beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.

We will explore:

• how to harness this compassion motivation and experience it in the body
• how to understand compassion as an integrating process by working with the principle of mandala
• how to stimulate physiological systems conducive to compassion
• how to facilitate the flow of compassion in three directions: self-compassion, compassion to others, and being open and responsive to the compassion from others.

Choden will introduce practices such as Tonglen (taking and sending), Feeding your Demons and the practice of the 4 Immeasurable Qualities (loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity). He will also introduce deity practices from Tibetan Buddhism, such as Chenrezi and Tara. Paul will guide practices into the nature of compassionate brain states and how to generate them.

Feedback from previous retreats:

"The experiential nature of the retreat was fantastic, just what I had hoped for. A refresher and deepening of compassion practice. It was wonderful to connect with a compassionate community in a beautiful and relaxed setting"

"My thanks for such an inspiring, interesting and welcoming three days. Wonderful venue, teachings and sense of warm community."

"Very innovative, expansive, well informed and inspirational."

"Having the space to engage in a variety of practices, self-soothe, and compassionate energy for myself was invaluable. The way that Paul and Choden demonstrated the complimentary interlink between psychology, CFT, Buddhism and courageous wisdom was beautiful."

We look forward to you joining us in this unique West meets East personal practice retreat to develop compassion for both yourself and others.

Accommodation and Evening Meal

The above price includes 3 days workshops, 2 coffee breaks (AM and PM) and Hot and Cold Lunch each day.

Dinner and accommodation are not included.

Rooms available at the venue. Please contact Sandburn Hall to check availability and prices:

Sandburn Hall

Scotchman Lane, Flaxton, York YO60 7RB

https://www.sandburnhall.co.uk/

Facilitators

Paul Gilbert is Professor of Clinical Psychology who developed Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training integrating evolutionary and biopsychosocial science with contemplative ideas and insights on the nature of compassion. He has many years of experience in helping people with mental health problems and those seeking to develop compassionate ways of living by utilising specific practises to stimulate physiological systems that support compassion. He has published over 350 academic papers and book chapters and 22 books. Paul and Choden published the book Mindful Compassion in 2013.

Choden is a Buddhist monk who has undergone long term study and meditation practice in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition. He specialises in bringing the deep wisdom of the Eastern Wisdom traditions to a modern, secular audience, and is co-founder and co-director of the Mindfulness Association. He has worked with Paul Gilbert over many years in identifying the connections between Buddhist wisdom and modern psychological and scientific discoveries.