Deepen your mindfulness practice and discover practical ways to integrate it into your everyday life in this special retreat. Whether it’s finding calm during a busy workday, being present in family moments, staying grounded at social gatherings, or even approaching daily chores with awareness, you’ll discover how mindfulness can transform all aspects of your life.
Join us for a peaceful and enriching experience at Bodhi Bhavan, near the pittoresque town of Monchique, where you’ll leave with tools to carry mindfulness with you, long after the retreat ends.
During this immersive 7-day Vipassana-style mindfulness retreat, you’ll undergo a transformative journey—deeply focused on cultivating mindfulness and integrating it into your everyday life. The MRP Mindful Living Retreat offers an opportunity for profound self-discovery, especially if you find yourself at a crossroads, seeking clarity on existential questions, or simply craving renewed energy for your personal or professional path.
Throughout the week, you’ll be introduced to a range of powerful techniques, all designed to leave a lasting impact on your well-being. The intensive mindfulness practices you will explore, will give you the space to retreat into silence and introspection. You will find a unique balance of quiet contemplation and learning to integrate mindfulness into all of your daily activities.
While this investment in yourself requires hard work, there will be time to enjoy a swim in the pool, connect with the other participants, or retreat in one of the silent corners of Bodhi Bhavan’s garden.
Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a seasoned practitioner, this retreat will either serve as a fresh starting point or a deepening of your existing journey.
In recent years, the Inner Mind Institute traveled to northern Thailand to host retreats in a secluded Buddhist temple. Due to a large fire, the temple will be closed for visitors for the following years. That’s why we have decided to host our mindfulness retreat at Bodhi Bhavan in Portugal for the upcoming years.
Replicating the experience of the temple, where monks and nuns practice, and where you can immediately feel the mindfulness energy upon arrival, is not straightforward. While it is indeed a unique experience to witness, it is not essential for the success of this retreat. We can confidently say that Bodhi Bhavan is an excellent alternative which is even more accessible for many people to travel to.
The next edition of the 7-day MRP Intermediate Retreat will occur from Saturday, 25 January until Saturday, 1 February 2025. We will gather in Faro, Portugal on 25 January and travel to the retreat center together. It is not necessary to travel together to Portugal, so feel free to arrive a few days earlier to enjoy the country.
We will travel to the beautifully situated and isolated retreat center Bodhi Bhavan in the Algarve in the south of Portugal, just outside of the idyllic city of Monchique. The retreat center is located little over an hour’s drive from Faro international airport and close to the famous cities of Portimão and Lagos.
Bodhi Bhavan is located on a Picota mountain (774m) and is surrounded by beautiful nature. The isolated character gives you the feeling of really being able to escape from your daily life and focus on the retreat without distraction. The ground has a strong energy supporting any practice of self exploration and peacefulness. It is a great place for deep rest, healing as well as centering yourself in clarity and finding your inner strength. When the weather allows, there is definitely an opportunity to meditate and recreate in nature.
On the grounds of the retreat center, our group has access to accommodation that is equipped with all amenities. During the retreat, participants stay in a shared house with bedrooms spread over three floors. In another higher building we have a studio with a view over a hill at our disposal for our meditations. During rest periods, participants can even use an outdoor swimming pool.
Right in the middle of the terraced land lies the main house. The house offers space to fourteen participants divided over seven fully renovated heated bedrooms, offering two single beds and an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. The interior design is kept uncluttered with elegant simplicity.
All rooms are individual in character and shape but all share the same features. Each bed is fitted with memory foam mattresses for your sleeping comfort. The rooms are located so that they provide privacy for all participants. The rooms are situated on the ground floor, and the first and second floor.
Living room
The living room is very much the center and heart of the house. Everybody can eat together in a cozy atmosphere around the big table. The room has a front opening up to the patio and features a sitting area in front of the window with a fireplace.
Kitchen
The kitchen is designed in the traditional Portuguese style and is conveniently connected to the main living area and the outside patio. Brunch and dinner are served as a buffet in the kitchen, and are consumed at a large table in the (heated) patio. Tea, coffee, and fresh water from the mountain are available at your disposal in the kitchen throughout the day.
Swimming pool
While the lower part of the land is kept for food forests, as well as vegetable gardens and wild nature, the upper half of the land opens up the pool area. The 15-meter long pool will allow to have a real swim. Around the pool is a chill-out area with sun beds.
By walking a small path uphill you will arrive at a yoga shala or practice studio for our meditation. It is 50 sqm building with a breathtaking view over the hills and you can see to Portugal’s wild West coast in the distance. In front of the shala stretches an even bigger wooden platform, which can be used for all outdoor activities.
The approximately six-acre ground impresses with its natural stone terraces dating back to the traditional agricultural use of the property.
The garden has many fruit trees like fig, apple, orange & apricot, as well as palms, cork oaks, and medronheiro (strawberry) trees. Trees and terraces are interspersed with rock formations shaping and softening the structure of the land.
On the land there are lots of hidden spaces and quiet spots to inquire within, meditate, rest and simply enjoy nature while offering a vastness that permits the soul to expand. Buddha statues and a water Devi are placed around the land to protect and support us.
Natural spring water comes directly out of the mountain and is drinkable straight from the source.
The food during the retreat is prepared daily by a chef. To get the most out of your mindfulness practice, we recommend not eating more than twice a day. We therefore offer you two delicious vegetarian meals: brunch at 10 am and dinner at 6 pm. You can experience the effect of only having two meals during the retreat. During breaks there will be tea, coffee, nuts, and fruits at your disposal.
During our stay at Bodhi Bhavan we adhere to a number of rules in respect of the guesthouse and surrounding nature. You can think of water and energy consumption, taking off your shoes in the guesthouse, etc. From our previous retreats in the temple in Thailand, we believe it is important to also observe some of the Buddhist precepts that will keep us focused on our mindfulness practice.
August days in the Algarve are typically hot with balmy evenings. The average daily maximum is 29 °C with a minimum of 21 °C. Rainfall during this period is extremely rare, with an average of 0-5 mm through the month.
It doesn’t matter if you have just started or that you have a lot of experience with mindfulness. The retreat will be tailored to your level. During the retreat period, most people feel as if they are stepping into a warm bath. At the same time, you will also experience that your mindfulness sessions can be challenging. It therefore requires perseverance that will lead to deep insights and relaxation.
Direct flights from most European countries go to Faro International Airport in Portugal. If you fly from outside Europe, you will most likely have to make a connection at another airport, such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, or Lisbon International Airport Humberto Delgado.
Our accommodation at Bodhi Bhavan offers space to 18 practitioners divided over 8 shared bedrooms with single beds in the main guest house and two single beds in a shared bell tent.
Availability
16/16 – Single bed in a shared bedroom
0/2 – Single bed in a shared bell tent **SOLD OUT**
Shared bedrooms
Men and women typically sleep separately during this retreat. Although the thought of sharing a room with a stranger may initially put you off, we have experienced that it actually enhances your overall experience of the retreat and contributes to the cohesion of the group. That’s why most participants express positive opinions on sharing a room afterwards.
Couples
We understand that it’s your preference to share a room with your partner when you decide to join this retreat as a couple. Although we can’t make any guarantees, we always try to provide couples with a shared bedroom.
Our donation-based structure allows you to attend for a minimal fee to cover the organizational costs, with the opportunity to contribute further at the end based on the value of your experience.
While most retreats are available for a fixed price, we offer the MRP Mindful Living Retreat on a donation basis. So how does this work?
When signing up for the retreat, you will pay a minimal fee. With the costs of your participation, we fund the organizational costs. At the end of the retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to make an additional contribution that resonates with the value of what experience was truly worth for you. By offering this retreat on a donation basis, we follow the principle of dāna.
The price includes accommodation, food, guidance, organization, and VAT.
* Your donation at the end of the retreat is not included.
* Flight tickets are booked by the participants themselves. Cost of the airline tickets depends on the time of booking.
* The Inner Mind Institute will arrange a group transport to and from our accommodation from Faro. Make sure you arrive in Faro on time to use this service. You may also travel to Bodhi Bhavan on your own. Reception is at 4:30 pm CET on Saturday, August 2. As the guest house will be prepared for our stay, it is not possible to arrive earlier.
* By submitting your registration, you confirm your participation in the retreat and agree to the obligation to pay for your participation. Your payment is the confirmation or your participation in the retreat.
Travel and cancellation insurance
We advise everyone who wants to participate in this retreat to take out good travel and cancellation insurance.
Paying with your card
As a resident of the European Union, you can simply pay or withdraw money with your debit card in most European countries. If in doubt, make sure you check with your bank before you travel to Portugal whether you can use your debit card and whether there are additional costs involved. If you live outside Europe, we recommend that you find out in advance whether you can use your debit card in Portugal. Please note that a daily limit may apply to your debit card.