I Am: The Divine Name with Rupert Spira

I Am: The Divine Name is a seven-day non-dual meditation retreat with Rupert Spira at the Mandali Retreat Centre in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola area of Italy. It is for people who want to explore the non-dual understanding in depth, through guided meditation and dialogue, in a quiet setting in nature. It is the first of two back-to-back week-long retreats at Mandali, and guests may book into both.

What to Expect

The week is built around two kinds of session: guided meditation, in which participants rest in being, as being, and dialogue, in which Rupert Spira and the group discuss the non-dual understanding. The days are given over to self-abidance, friendship and creativity. In the evenings there may be time with friends, a film, or an evening of poetry and music.

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

- 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 pm to 2 pm: lunch
- 4:30 to 6:30 pm: dialogue
- 6:30 to 7:30 pm: dinner

On the final morning there is breakfast, then meditation and dialogue from 10 am to 12 pm, lunch, and departure by 2 pm. The schedule is a sample and the organizer describes it as such.

The retreat can also be followed by livestream. It includes all the main guided meditations and dialogues, broadcast live from the venue and recorded for replay. Two of the dialogue sessions are connected by Zoom so that remote participants can put a question to Rupert.

About Rupert Spira

Rupert Spira is a meditation teacher whose work centres 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 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 that combines 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 heart-centred practice of the Mevlevi order.

The Setting

Mandali Retreat Centre sits in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province of northern Italy. The centre has peaceful practice rooms, contemplative outdoor nooks, scenic hiking trails and permaculture gardens, along with a Body Care Centre. Residential guests stay five nights in a lake view or garden view single, a twin or double, or a shared room for four, which has bunk beds or single beds on a mezzanine floor. Commuter places are available for those who arrange their own lodging nearby.

All meals are vegetarian and served buffet style. Most meals include vegan and gluten-free dishes, and guests following a strictly vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free diet should say so when booking. Fruit, tea and filtered water are available through the day.

Before You Go

No prior experience is specified, but the retreat is aimed at people who want to go deeply into non-dual understanding. Included are accommodation, full board, fruit, teas, filtered water, all sessions in the programme, and free use of the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and indoor heated swimming pool. Flights to Malpensa International Airport, transfers to and from Mandali, and massage or therapies at the Body Care Centre are not included. Anyone with a physical limitation that might affect the choice of bed in a shared room should tell the organiser when booking.