Friends on the Path: The seven factors of awakening

with Jill Shepherd

August 1 - 15, 2026

Date and Time Details: Starting time: Saturday 1 August after 4pm for a 7pm start Finishing time: Saturday 15 August with lunch

Location: Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre

Address: 25 Rutland Rd, Mellow Bath 2780

Contact: office@bmimc.org.au
(02) 4788 1024

Course code: JS1-26

  • Female Single Room – AUD $1,255.00
  • Male Single Room – AUD $1,255.00
  • Single Room (Any Gender) – AUD $1,255.00

Concession discount available upon registration for people who are unable to afford the full price due to financial hardship.

Program is fully booked
Program is fully booked

This retreat is open to people who have done at least three previous silent insight meditation retreats of one week or longer.

This two-week residential retreat for experienced meditators will focus on cultivating the Seven Factors of Awakening, those seven highly skilful qualities of mind that when balanced, support the development of transformative insight.

The Seven Factors are: Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Joy, Tranquility, Absorption and Equanimity. These seven are sometimes referred to as our friends on the path, because they help overcome the hindrances, harmful states of mind that keep us stuck in delusion.

As the Seven Factors come into balance with each other, we experience the release of all afflictive states and the heart and mind naturally settle into a state of profound peace.

Each day will include a mix of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, optional mindful movement, occasional small group discussion and individual meetings with the teacher.

About the Teacher

Jill Shepherd

Jill Shepherd began practicing insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centres and monasteries in the US, Australia, England, and Thailand. She spent seven years on staff at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, where she participated in several long retreats and Buddhist […]

Learn more about Jill Shepherd

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