Seven-Day Retreat at Mandali – 'Transparent Body, Luminous World: The Tantric Path of Non-Duality' – Rupert Spira

This spiritual retreat is a week with Rupert Spira at Mandali Retreat Center in Piedmont, Italy, given to the Tantric yoga of sensation and perception. It is a non-duality retreat for people who want to go deeply into the non-dual understanding, in guided meditation and in conversation, among others who share the interest. Prior familiarity with Rupert Spira's teaching is helpful, though no specific level is asked for.

What to Expect

The theme of the week is the moment after Awareness has recognised its own being and turns again towards the objects of experience. Through guided meditations, Rupert shows how the peace and happiness inherent in being's knowing of itself gradually infiltrate the body, the senses and the world, until experience is felt to be made only of pure being.

This is the second of two back-to-back week-long retreats at Mandali. One day separates them to allow for a changeover, and guests are welcome to attend both.

The days keep a steady rhythm. Arrival is on the first afternoon, with check-in from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, dinner, and a first guided meditation from 7:45 to 9:00 pm. On the full days that follow:

- 7:30 to 8:30 am: guided meditation
- 8:30 to 9:30 am: breakfast
- 11:30 am to 12:30 pm: guided meditation
- 1:00 to 2:00 pm: lunch
- 4:30 to 6:30 pm: dialogue
- 6:30 to 7:30 pm: dinner

The final morning has breakfast, a meditation and dialogue from 10:00 am to noon, and lunch, with departure by 2:00 pm. In the guided meditations, we rest in being, as being. In the dialogues, we discuss the non-dual understanding, with room for questions. Evenings are unscheduled, and might be spent with friends, watching a film, or enjoying poetry and music.

A livestream is also available for those who cannot attend in person. It includes the main meditations and dialogues, and two of the dialogues are connected by Zoom so remote participants can ask Rupert a question. Sessions are recorded for replay.

About Rupert Spira

Rupert Spira is a meditation teacher whose work centers on Advaita Vedanta, the nondual philosophy rooted in Indian classical thought, together with the devotional practice of Sufism. Born in London, he encountered the poetry of Rumi in 1975 at the age of fifteen, which opened the way to the contemplative traditions he has explored for five decades. Soon afterwards he learned the Mevlevi Turning at Colet House in London, a Sufi practice combining movement, prayer and meditation. He then met Dr. Francis Roles, a student of Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the North of India. His approach brings together the direct-path inquiry of Advaita and the embodied, heart-centered practice of the Mevlevi order.

The Setting

Mandali Retreat Center sits in Piedmont, in northern Italy, and the nearest international airport is Malpensa. The centre has peaceful practice rooms, contemplative outdoor nooks, scenic hiking trails and permaculture gardens.

Rooms come in several kinds: lake view or garden view singles, lake view or garden view twins and doubles, and shared rooms for three or four guests with bunk beds or single beds on a mezzanine floor. A Hermitage is also listed among the residential options. Non-residential commuter places are available too, though local accommodation is limited, so guests who choose one should arrange where to stay first.

Meals are vegetarian and served buffet style, with some vegan and gluten-free dishes at most meals. Fruit, teas and filtered water are available through the day.

Before You Go

The stay includes five nights of accommodation in the room category chosen, full board, and all sessions in the program. Guests may also use the Body Care Center's sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and indoor heated swimming pool.

Flights, transfers to and from the centre, and massages or therapies at the Body Care Center are not included. Anyone following a vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free diet should say so when booking. Guests with physical limitations that might affect the choice of bed in a shared room should speak to the organiser in advance.