Seven-Day Retreat at Mandali – 'The Ashtavakra Gita: The Essence of Non-Duality' – Rupert Spira

This seven day non-duality retreat with Rupert Spira is built around the Ashtavakra Gita, a classic text that conveys the core teachings of Advaita Vedanta with beauty and simplicity. It is for people who want to go deeply into the non-dual understanding, whether they are drawn by peace, truth, love or freedom, or simply want to spend a week with friends. It takes place at the Mandali Retreat Centre in Italy, and a livestream option is available for those who cannot travel.

What to Expect

Rupert offers guided meditations inspired by the Ashtavakra Gita's direct and uncompromising teaching on the nature of the Self, along with insights into the heart of non-dual understanding. Each day includes guided meditation, in which participants rest in being, as being, and a dialogue where the non-dual understanding is discussed. The days are spent in self-abidance, friendship and creativity.

The daily rhythm is steady. On arrival day, check-in runs from 2 to 6 pm, dinner follows at 6, and a guided meditation closes the evening at 7:45. From the second day through the sixth, guided meditation begins at 7:30 am, followed by breakfast. A second guided meditation runs from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, lunch is at 1 pm, dialogue takes place from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, and dinner is at 6:30. On the final morning there is breakfast, then meditation and dialogue from 10 am to noon, lunch, and departure by 2 pm.

Evenings are unhurried. Guests might relax with friends, watch a film together, or mark the evening with poetry and music. The organisers say that the people you meet here quickly become a 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 integration of Sufi devotional practice. Born in London, he encountered the poetry of Rumi in 1975, at the age of fifteen, and it opened the door to the mystical and contemplative traditions he has explored for five decades. His approach brings together two lineages: the direct-path inquiry of Advaita and the embodied, heart-centered practice of Sufism, particularly the Mevlevi order founded by followers of Rumi.

Soon after discovering Rumi, 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.

The Setting

Mandali Retreat Centre is described as a beautiful place in nature, with peaceful practice rooms, contemplative outdoor nooks, permaculture gardens and scenic hiking trails. The retreat is the first of two back-to-back week long retreats there, with one day between them for changeover, and guests may attend both.

Accommodation includes lake view and garden view single rooms, lake view and garden view twin or double rooms, and shared rooms for up to four, with bunk beds or single beds on a mezzanine floor. Guests with physical limitations should tell the organiser when reserving. Non-residential commuter places are also offered, though local lodging is limited, so those guests are advised to arrange accommodation and transport first.

All meals are vegetarian and served buffet style, with vegan and gluten-free dishes at most meals. Fruit, teas and filtered water are available throughout the day. Anyone following an exclusively vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free diet should say so when booking. Other needs should be raised with the organiser beforehand, as not every special diet can be guaranteed.

Before You Go

The retreat is held in English. The ticket includes five nights of accommodation for residential guests, full board, fruit, teas and water, all sessions in the programme, and free use of the Body Care Centre: sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and indoor heated swimming pool. Massage and therapies there cost extra. Flights to Malpensa International Airport and transfers to and from the centre are not included.

Those who cannot attend in person can follow the main guided meditations and dialogues by livestream. Two dialogue sessions include live questions to Rupert by Zoom, and all sessions are recorded for replay during and after the retreat.