The White Radiance of Eternity: Non-Duality through Poetry

This seven-day non-duality retreat with Rupert Spira takes place at Mandali Retreat Center in Piedmont, Italy. It is a residential spiritual retreat for people who want to go deeply into the non-dual understanding, through guided meditation, dialogue and the company of others who share the interest. It is the second of two back-to-back week-long retreats at Mandali, and guests are welcome to attend both. The theme is non-duality through poetry, and evenings may include poetry and music.

What to Expect

The days follow a steady rhythm built around two things: guided meditation, in which participants rest in being, as being, and dialogue, in which the non-dual understanding is discussed openly. The retreat begins on a Sunday with check-in in the afternoon, dinner, and a first guided meditation in the evening.

From Monday through Saturday, the day opens with a guided meditation from 7:30 to 8:30 am, followed by breakfast. A second guided meditation runs from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, with lunch at 1:00 pm. Dialogue takes place from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, and dinner follows at 6:30 pm. On the final Sunday there is breakfast, a closing meditation and dialogue from 10:00 am to noon, and lunch, with departure by 2:00 pm.

The unhurried time between sessions is part of the design. Days are spent in self-abidance, friendship and creativity, and meals are shared occasions. In the evenings people might relax with friends, watch a film together, or celebrate through poetry and music. Many who come say the people they meet quickly become a kind of non-dual family.

About Rupert Spira

Rupert Spira is a meditation teacher whose work centers on Advaita Vedanta, the nondual philosophy rooted in Indian classical thought, together with the heart-centered devotional practice of Sufism. Born in London, he encountered the poetry of Rumi at the age of fifteen, which opened the door to the mystical and 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, and he went on to study under Dr. Francis Roles, a student of Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the North of India. His teaching draws on both the direct-path inquiry of Advaita and the Mevlevi lineage that follows Rumi.

The Setting

Mandali Retreat Center sits in the Piedmont region of Italy, in a quiet natural landscape. The grounds include permaculture gardens, scenic hiking trails, contemplative outdoor corners and peaceful practice rooms, with yoga and meditation props on hand.

Residential guests choose between lake-view or garden-view single rooms, lake-view or garden-view twin or double rooms, and shared rooms for three to four people with bunk beds or single beds on a mezzanine. Those with physical limitations that might make a bed type unsuitable should tell the organiser when booking. A non-residential commuter option is also offered; commuters arrange their own accommodation and attend during the day, and as local choices are limited it helps to sort lodging and transport first.

Three vegetarian buffet meals are served each day, with vegan and gluten-free dishes at most meals. Fruit, tea and filtered water are available throughout the day.

Before You Go

No particular level of experience is required. The retreat suits long-term practitioners of non-duality as well as those newer to the teaching.

The price includes five nights of accommodation for residential guests, full board, all sessions in the program, and free use of the Body Care Center, with its sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and indoor heated swimming pool. Flights to and from Malpensa International Airport, transfers to and from Mandali, and massages or therapies at the Body Care Center are not included. Anyone with dietary needs beyond vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free should check with the organiser first, as not every special diet can be guaranteed.

For those who cannot travel, the retreat is also offered by livestream. It carries all the main guided meditations and dialogues live, with two dialogues connected by Zoom so online participants can put questions to Rupert Spira, and recordings are available for replay.