A retreat with Tejal Shah, this gathering offers a gentle invitation to rest and return to loving, wakeful presence. Through a rich mix of creative practices — including ikebana, painting, movement, singing, and writing — alongside art therapy and relational healing exercises, participants will be supported in recognizing awareness and deepening their understanding of the four seals of Buddha’s teachings.
Weather permitting, at least half of the retreat will unfold outdoors, with time spent contemplating and meditating in nature. The experience is designed to be embodied, experiential, joyful, and participant-led, with generous space for silence, reflection, and intimate group sharing.
13 September, Sunday (first day)
PM 6:00 – 7:00: Dinner
7:00 – 9:00: Introduction
14 – 18 September
AM 06:30 – 07:30: Somatic Practice / Chanting / Meditation
07:30 – 09:00: Breakfast, Personal Time
09:00 – 10:15: Session 1
10:15 – 10:45: Refreshment/bio break
10:45 – 12:00: Session 2
PM 12:00 – 02:00: Lunch, Personal Time
02:00 – 03:30: Session 3
03:30 – 04:00: Refreshment/bio break
04:00 – 05:30: Session 4
05:30 – 06:00: Personal Time
06:30 – 07:30: Dinner, Personal Time
07:30 – 08:30: [Optional] Group Practice / Participant-led Sharing / Film Screenings
19 September, Saturday (last day)
AM 06:30 – 07:30: Somatic Practice / Chanting / Meditation
07:30 – 09:00: Breakfast, Personal Time
09:00 – 10:15: Session 1
10:15 – 10:45: Refreshment/bio break
10:45 – 12:00: Closing Session
12:00 – 01:00: Lunch
Tejal is a facilitator, contemporary visual artist, and cultural organiser who enjoys curating and guiding meaningful journeys of self-inquiry. As she has sought to understand the world in all its joys and sorrows, she has found refuge in Buddha’s teachings. Her offerings weave together the nondual view of Buddhist philosophy and practice with psychotherapeutic and expressive arts modalities, queer-feminist perspectives, and eco-poetics.
She finds deep joy in co-creating a better world by sharing the light of wisdom and compassion generously offered to her by her teachers. In service of healthier relationships rooted in love, care, trust, and understanding, she founded the project AS IT IS in 2020.
13–19 September 2026
Open to all
Maximum number of participants: 16
Retreat is donation-based.
Material contribution: Rs. 1000 per person (includes all materials for painting, ikebana & other exercises)
Buddha Pada Center
12th mile, Buddha Pada centre, Relli river road, Panchayat, Deolo, Sindibong Khasmahal, Kalimpong, West Bengal 734301, India
Kalimpong
Price
On request
Please contact the organizer directly for pricing information
Sun, Sep 13 – Sat, Sep 19