“Soul of the Buddha”

“This retreat for me, is the perfect balance of putting time into the practices that are most effective in reconnecting us to our inner world of harmony. Also taking a beautiful holiday on a Greek island which works perfectly together.

We can have a balance of transforming practices that are changing our mental and emotional state to increase our ability to enjoy the simple things that Corfu is all about, the sun, the beach, good company and delicious food.

Arillas has become a mecca for devotional music over the years and it has a vibe of its own that draws people to it. Its become a regular stop for us every year and it’s our pleasure to share the experience with our lovely worldwide family. The Buddha hall is stunning.

While we do our practices, we can enjoy a healthy organic vegan breakfast and lunch and then to take the afternoon on the beach is really special. The warm, tender afternoon sun and water so perfect, just the right temperature to have an afternoon nap. And then of course to enjoy the amazing Greek food in the evening and go on chant again in this beautiful Hall for sunset with has a 360ﾟ view to the coast and the mountains.

I also love this retreat because of the quality of people it gathers, all bringing their own unique gifts. I remember last year looking around the circle and felt so rich to be able to hang out, chant and talk to such amazing people. 1 week, gives us that chance.”

Kevin James

WHAT THIS RETREAT IS ABOUT

We will begin our day with Kevin sharing what he simply calls his “Morning practice” which involves a deep journey into the Aum & toning sacred sounds as he shares his profound insight into the nature of sound and the connections it has to every part of our lives.
You will be supported to open up to an effortless way of singing in your natural voice with emotion and feeling. (The essence of Bhakti) and Kevin will explain how this has a direct connection to your true authentic self.

We will chant daily and explore some of the blissful trance states that come from certain mantras with the possibility to learn some of the more difficult mantras he doesn’t normally share in the circles. Also there will be the element of co-creation where Kevin will do his best to accommodate the desires of the group including some one on one help if needed.

“The benefits from chanting are clearly evident in just one 2 hour session. What I love about these retreats is that I get a chance to share the experience of what it’s like to be chanting every day and how this can have a profound effect on your state of being and health but even much more than that, it can change your reality, where it’s almost like we enter another dimension of harmony and grace. This is really the essence of what I intend to share at these retreats.” Kevin

THE LOCATION

Our group will be hosted at the Corfu Buddha Hall, a place for meditative arts in the town of Arillas. A beautiful venue set in an environment that supports and promotes conscious living.

Situated on the Greek island of Corfu in the Mediterranean, Corfu Buddha Hall is located on top of a hill just outside the tiny village of Magoulades, on the northwestern coast of the island.

The closest beach villages of Arillas and Agios Stefanos are about 3km away.

The Buddha Hall was built by Vasanti and Michel as a center for Gurdjieff Sacred Dance. It is inspired by the vision of Osho.

THE FACILITATORS

Kevin James Carroll

Kevin James is an experienced Chant leader who travels continuously sharing his presence and heartfelt voice with people from many different cultures and religions throughout the world. Weaving ancient Mantra’s with his own prayers and hearts song, he draws upon influences from traditional Indian Kirtan, Bhajans, Celtic and Sufi chants mixed with western folk sounds and world instruments..

Since 2003, he has been leading chanting circles in and around Byron Bay, Australia as well as many other parts of the world as he travels the globe sharing his vision of heart centered connection and oneness.

Practicing Bhakti Yoga (The yoga of devotion) since his first visit to India in 1990, Kevin James now leads chanting circles and workshops in yoga festivals and studios all over the world.

In 2012 he started to organized and hold retreats in different parts of the world. Since then, every year has choose carefully different locations, guided by his passion for adventure, different cultures and nature.Nowadays, with his partner Susana, they continue to offer retreats, with the intention for people to reconnect to their heart.

Auður Bjarnadottir

Auður Bjarnadóttir has taught yoga since 2000. She runs a yoga studio, Jogasetrid in Reykjavik, Iceland since 2002. She teaches Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Prenatal, Moms and babies and seniors. She also runs Teacher trainings in Kundalini yoga, Yoga Nidra, Childplay as well as diverse workshops and events.

Audur is a yoga therapist and in all her work focuses on the magic of coming home into the body, home to the Self, and with compassion finding the oneness within so we can unfold to who we really are and unite with all.

Auður was a professional dancer, choreographer and theater director for years, dancing in Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. She also lived and studied yoga and theater in Wales and in the US.

Auður loves to teach yoga but also to be an eternal student in yoga and life. She enjoys combining traveling and exploring the world as teaching yoga, like Spain, Crete and Corfu.

Auður has been holding the yoga classes in our retreats since 2018, and we are very proud to say that in all the retreats, participants were enjoying Auður’s guidance and presence.

Kevin’s partner, Musician and co-facilitator.

Susana will hold space with the music on Harmonium and be there as a support for any help you need or questions you may have before and during the retreat.

Also, if the conditions allow it, she will be offering Aguahara sessions at the pool of the retreat center (what is Aguahara? check the video to get a taste > click here)

Our Booking Manager

Ale has been managing this retreat since the first edition. She will be happy to attend you in the process of registration and helping in whatever you need.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

6 Days – From the 1st till 6th August 2021

Price

Super Early bird price (until 31st of January 2021):

>636 € per person

What is included?

> Daily Morning Practice workshop

> Afternoon/evening chanting circles with Kevin James

> Delicious daily breakfast and vegetarian lunch (buffet)

> Yoga classes, dance classes and Yoga Nidra.

> Daily shuttle service between Corfu Buddha Hall and Arillas (beach and hotels)

> Access to the swimming pool of the retreat center

What is not?

> Your round-trip airfare from home to Corfu.

> Accommodation & dinner in Arillas (please read below the different ways you can find accommodation).

> Transfer service between Corfu airport and Arillas.

How to participate at the retreat “Soul of the Buddha”?

For simple steps:

1) Fill out this form or send an email to office@dhara-music.at incl. your name, contact details, and number of participants for registration.

2) In return we will send you further infos to be able to do the payment of the deposit via online banking. (360,- / 420,- for Early Birds or 480,- € for full fee). Having received your payment we will send you a confirmation of your participation.

3) arrange your accommodation and your flight to Corfu and back home, as well as the transfer from the Airport to Arillas.

4) Make the last payment on arrival at Corfu Buddha Hall on the 1st August (276,- € paid in cash).

Schedule

Start: Sunday, August 1st 2021, with breakfast at 9.00 am

End: Friday, August 6th 2021 after our last evening circle (so please make sure not to leave Corfu earlier than Saturday morning)

Daily schedule (subject to changes)

8.00 am – 9.00 am: Yoga

9 am: Breakfast

10.30 am – 1.00 pm: Group activities (Aum Meditation, Chakra toning, Chanting, Dance or Yoga nidra)

1:30 – 3.00 pm: Lunch

3.00 – 7.30 pm: Outdoor Group activities, beach time, swim, walk. Dinner

7.30 – 9.30 pm: Chanting Circle

Language

The retreat is held in English.

Things to bring

Loose and light clothing, torch (if you have), mosquito repellent, driving license (just in case if you rent local transportation), sun cream.

Booking your accommodation

If you would like to receive help with finding the right accommodation you can write an email to accommodation@corfubuddhahall.com, check out www.arillas.com or Green Corfu at www.greencorfu.com. You can send an email to Alex and Christina at Green Corfu to get their free-of-charge accommodation help service.

Getting to Corfu & Arillas

Because it is Holiday season we recommend to book your flight to Corfu International airport (CFU, near Corfu Town) as early as possible.
Once you arrive to the island, there are several ways to get to Arillas or Corfu Buddha Hall, either by taxi or car.

By taxi

They are the easiest and most common way to get here.
If you take a taxi at the airport, the cost varies between 65-85 € each way. 
However, we highly recommend you book your taxi in advance, as in high season you might have to wait a few hours before you can actually get one. Also, not all the taxi drivers will know where to go.

Corfu Buddha Hall works with a reliable taxi service which is Mycorfudriver at http://www.mycorfudriver.gr 
The best would be to send an email to MyCorfuDriver ( info@mycorfudriver.gr ) as soon as you get your flight tickets.

By car

You can also rent a car (about 250 € a week) and have it delivered to you at the airport. The drive from the Airport to Buddha Hall takes about an hour.

Cancellation fees

Sometimes plans change – in such circumstances, the following charges apply to cover costs already incurred with the processing of your booking:
a 50% charge of the first payment to Dhara Music applies if a booking is cancelled before June 1st, 2021. After this date no refund is possible, but you may transfer your booking to another person.

If you wish to make a booking, and then need to cancel due to Covid 19, our flexible policy allows you to cancel your booking free of charge, as long as the cancellation is made at least 14 days prior to the start of the retreat. This applies both if you or someone you’ve been in contact with has a positive result after a test, and if travel restrictions change in a way that will prevent you from traveling to Greece. If you cancel less than 14 days in advance for corona reasons, we will refund 50% back.

Final recommendations

As Arillas is a small touristic town and this retreat is taking place during the high season, in order to find easily accommodation, we recommend you to book the retreat and your accommodation very much well in advance.

What previous participants say about this retreat

Memories from previous editions

Soul of the Budha 2018

Soul of the Budha 2016