Living with Ease:
A Midsummer Retreat on the Four Noble Truths
Venue - The Guesthouse, Southern Sweden
“Suffering is part of how it is on earth; it is an inherent part of the fabric of existence. And if we are lucky, it will break our heart open. That is the crack that lets the light pour through. That is the way the world cleanses itself.”
Midsummer is a special time of year here in the South of Sweden. The landscape is filled with wildflowers, the garden is at its peak and the long light evenings make the days seem endless. We'll come together in the midst of all this beauty to reflect on the Buddha’s first teaching — The Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths were the Buddha’s first teaching, yet they never grow old. Each time we return to them with fresh eyes, they meet us exactly where we are. Just as in the Buddha’s time, there is suffering in our lives—stress, fear, confusion —that we can do something about.
First Noble Truth — There is dukkha, suffering
Second Noble Truth — Dukkha has a cause: craving rooted in ignorance
Third Noble Truth — The cessation of dukkha is possible: awakening
Fourth Noble Truth — There is a path that leads to the end of dukkha
This retreat explores how this ancient insight can illuminate modern life. We’ll look at how we create unnecessary dukkha, and how we can lessen it—making space for ease, clarity, and kindness.
First Noble Truth — There is dukkha
What did the Buddha really mean when he said we can “end suffering”? After all, pain is an unavoidable part of being human. In this retreat, we’ll learn to recognise the difference between the inevitable pains of life and the extra layers of dukkha we add through resistance, habit, and misunderstanding.
Second Noble Truth — Dukkha has a cause
We’ll explore the roots of suffering in our own experience—those aspects that are within our sphere of influence. Rather than feeling like passive victims of circumstances, we’ll learn how to take responsibility for the ways we contribute to our own difficulty. And seeing that dukkha has a cause, we can be confident that it's possible to lessen it.
Third Noble Truth — The Cessation of Dukkha
Nirodha, the ending of dukkha, is often mistaken for emptiness or blankness. But in the Buddha’s teaching it is described as freedom, relief, and release—like putting down a burden you didn’t know you were carrying, or stepping out of a prison whose door was never locked. We’ll explore how this “stopping” is deeply positive, a genuine awakening of the heart.
Fourth Noble Truth — The Path: Living the Eightfold Way in Everyday Life
The Eightfold Path is not a monastic checklist, but a practical way of living that can be woven into the fabric of ordinary life. We’ll turn the Eightfold Path into a set of tools and practices that help us generate less dukkha, respond to challenges with wisdom, and meet the unavoidable pains of life with equanimity and compassion.
We’ll have a programme of meditation, guided qigong, reflection, Dharma talks, and open discussion — with plenty of time to simply rest and unwind. After a day or two to settle in we'll go into silence, you can expect at least 6 days of silence. During this time there will be an opportunity for one to one practice reviews.
If the weather’s kind, we’ll spend most of our time outdoors, enjoying meals together in the garden. And if it rains, that’s fine too — we’ll just turn up the heat in the sauna and soak in the hot tub instead.
June 18th - 27th (9 days)
Cost £640
Just 9 places
Bookings open January 10th 2026
Mental health - Meditation and retreat settings can be deeply beneficial, but also emotionally intense. To ensure safety and support for all participants: If you have concerns about whether a retreat setting is right for you at this time, please get in touch — we’re happy to discuss it.
By booking on this retreat you confirm that you are not currently experiencing significant mental health challenges (such as severe anxiety, depression, or psychosis) that could be aggravated by meditation or silence.
Non-refundable deposit for 2026 retreat
Cancellations
You’ll pay a non-refundable £80 deposit to secure your booking. The full retreat fee will be due six weeks before your retreat begins.
Cancelling more than 6 weeks before a retreat:
full refund minus the deposit.
Cancelling 4 to 6 weeks before the retreat:
If we can fill your place, full refund minus the deposit,
If we can't fill your place, half refund minus the deposit.
Cancelling less than 4 weeks before the retreat:
If we can fill your place, full refund minus the deposit,
If we can't fill your place, any refunds will be at our discretion depending on circumstances