Introduction to meditation – a short retreat with mindfulness of breathing

A short, two-day retreat at Oddechowo devoted to simple mindfulness – mainly of the breath and the body, with some loving-kindness meditation to develop goodwill towards yourself and others. There will be a few shared sessions, but most of the time everyone practises on their own, though not alone. No phone, no books, no music – just sitting, walking, breathing and resting.

There will also be some mindful movement (yoga, stretching or a quiet walk), at least one session outdoors whatever the weather, and food – vegan – will be part of the practice: we eat mindfully. For the retreat participants take on seven of the eight traditional ethical precepts (sīla), treated not as religious commands but as an experiment: refraining from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from sexual activity, from wrong speech (in practice – noble silence), from alcohol and other intoxicants (coffee is fine), from music, dancing and entertainment, and from adorning the body, perfumes and cosmetics. The precept on not eating at the wrong time is not observed.

Who it is for

No meditation skills or previous experience are needed – everything will be explained on site. The retreat is for anyone who is thinking about a longer retreat but feels a bit wary of it, who already meditates but has no space for something bigger, or who simply needs a breather and a moment of silence. You can come with a partner or friend, but during the retreat everyone practises individually, without talking. Lying down is not allowed in the meditation hall; chairs are available.

Programme

Provisional schedule:

• Sunday 22 November: 16:00–17:30 arrival and check-in; shared vegan dinner, a short introductory talk, a guided meditation, sleep.

• Monday 23 November: wake-up at 5:00 and a whole day in noble silence – alternating sitting and walking meditation, no phone or internet; an evening talk and meditation; 20:30–22:00 integration, grounding practice, sharing and questions, evening in silence.

• Tuesday 24 November: wake-up at 5:00, meditation, breakfast, end of silence and a talk about the experience; ends with a shared lunch at 12:00.

Facilitators

Ryszard Szopa – a manager in the technology sector, previously a software engineer, including at Google; he studied philosophy (mainly logic and analytic philosophy) and came to meditation as a sceptic. He has meditated since 2012 and has attended many retreats in Poland and Sri Lanka; one of his main teachers is Piotr Jagodziński. He leads meditations in a Warsaw Theravāda group. He is interested in combining solid practice with secular life – family, work and everyday duties. He leads the event pro bono.

Practical information

• Dates22–24 November 2026; arrival and registration on 22 November between 16:00 and 17:00, ends on 24 November with a shared lunch at 12:00.

• VenueOddechowo centre, al. prof. Jana Nielubowicza 6, 05-281 Borzymy (near Warsaw).

• Includedaccommodation in double or triple rooms (allocated in order of sign-up) and full vegan board; a gluten-free diet is possible if you e-mail in advance. The fee covers 50% of the cost of the stay – the rest is covered by the BorzyMy Foundation as part of its statutory activity.

• What to bringcomfortable, loose clothes, something warm (e.g. woollen socks), slippers for the house, a water bottle; optionally your own cushion, blanket or mat (also available on site). Do not bring books, a laptop, a notebook, perfume, strongly scented cosmetics or jewellery.

• Sign-upvia the booking button and payment on the event page; contact: [email protected]. Dogs and cats may be present at the centre – people with allergies are asked to say so in advance.