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A contemplative day of meditation and photographic practice
This day retreat is built around a single image: the mind as a mirror. Across many Buddhist schools — from Zen to Dzogchen — this image recurs again and again.
A mirror reflects everything placed before it, from a pile of rubbish to a beautiful flower, without accepting or rejecting either. It simply reflects what is there. And crucially, the mirror is never touched by what it reflects: the rubbish is not a problem, and the flower’s beauty is not something to grasp or hold onto.
The mirror is a perfect image for equanimity — that quality of being calm and undisturbed by whatever arises. In Buddhist thought, this is known as mirror-like wisdom, and it’s a quality we can cultivate.
In the longer morning session, we’ll explore what different schools have to say about developing this mirror-like wisdom, and look for it in our own experience.
After lunch, we’ll head out onto the streets of Brighton to explore the mirror-like world directly. Mirrors turn out to be everywhere — in windows, in shining metal, in puddles, even in the eyes of a friend. It’s not essential but you might like to bring a camera as an aid to looking. What is this world of mirrors trying to show us? Ultimately, the truth of form and emptiness.
A sky appears in a puddle. And yet the puddle is empty of sky — there is no sky actually inside the puddle. Still, we see a beautiful blue sky there, clear as day. Form and emptiness, together.
No photography experience needed — just a camera or phone, and a willingness to look closely at what looking actually is.
Led by Vajradarshini
Vajradarshini is known for her down-to-earth yet insightful approach to Dharma practice. With her real love of people, she creates retreat environments where participants feel at ease and able to fully be themselves—conditions that allow for a natural and deep encounter with the Dharma.
She is currently writing a book on wabi-sabi in relation to the teachings of the lakshanas and vimokshas. For nearly 30 years, she has been exploring and teaching this wabi-sabi approach to Dharma, drawing not only on the Buddhist tradition but also on contemporary art and culture. Weaving these influences together, she creates retreats that are both engaging and transformative—serious in their depth yet spacious, creative, and enjoyable.
She is based in the countryside of southern Sweden and will share something of her life there during the retreat. From her home setting, she’ll bring a flavour of wabi-sabi beauty and it’s connection with nature, offering a personal backdrop to our reflections together.
