In the Footsteps of the Great Masters
A Seven-Month Online Retreat starting in April exploring the lives of seven meditation masters from Ancient India and Tibet. By exploring the life stories and meditation practices of these great masters that guided them to enlightenment, you’ll gain powerful tools for transforming daily life into the path to liberation. Through these teachings and meditations, you’ll cultivate the qualities they embodied and open the path to awakening, swiftly progressing toward the state of enlightenment.
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About
In the Footsteps of the Great Masters
A Seven-Month Retreat
This seven-session, monthly, online retreat, taking place online on the second Sunday of the month, starting from April 2026, explores the lives of seven meditation masters from Ancient India and Tibet.
By exploring the life stories and meditation practices of these great masters that guided them to enlightenment, you’ll gain powerful tools for transforming daily life into the path to liberation. Through these teachings and meditations, you’ll cultivate the qualities they embodied and open the path to awakening, swiftly progressing toward the state of enlightenment.
This monthly online retreat is suitable for all levels and will provide those with an interest in this subject the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and experience. The online retreat environment provides a special shared space for discussion and connection with like-minded meditators.
In the Footsteps of the Great Masters – Monthly Retreat Sessions Via Zoom
10am-10.50am: Session 1 | Teabreak | 11.10am-12pm: Session 2
Let’s take a look at what we will explore in each session.
Sunday 12th April
The Life of the Blessed One, Buddha Shakyamuni (c. 563 BCE – c. 483 BCE)
Cultivating Boundless Love – Meditation on Love with Visualisation
This inspirational series starts with the life story of Buddha, where we’ll learn the essential meditations that helped Buddha attain enlightenment. Including the special meditation Buddha engaged in to clear away the final obstacles on his path to enlightenement and also a visualisation to help empower our practices.
…
Sunday 10th May
The Life of the Most Glorious Nagarjuna and his student Chandrakirti (c. 150 CE – c. 250 CE)
Realising Emptiness – Meditations on the Ultimate Nature of Reality
Learn about this great meditation master and disciple who appeared four hundred years after Buddha. Nagarjuna was primarily responsible for clarifying the meditations on the ultimate nature of reality; these are the practices we need to engage in to liberate our minds from the cycle of uncontrolled suffering and confusion.
…
Sunday 14th June
The Life of Arya Asanga and Maitreya (c. 310 CE – c. 390 CE)
The Bodhisattvas Heart – Awakening Loving-Kindness
Explore the life of Asanga, the great Indian meditation master, and his profound connection with Maitreya, the Buddha of loving-kindness. In a visionary experience, Asanga received teachings that transformed his life, revealing the path of the Bodhisattva and the importance of compassion and wisdom. This class will guide you through the methods for cultivating the good heart of a Bodhisattva and integrating this good heart into your daily life.
…
Sunday 12th July
The Life of Venerable Atisha and Dromtonpa (c. 982 CE – c. 1054 CE and c. 1012 CE – c. 1064 CE)
The Path to Liberation – How to Integrate Meditation into Daily Life
Explore the life of Atisha, who brought the Lamrim teachings to Tibet, and his disciple Dromtonpa, who spread and organised these teachings, founding the Kadampa tradition. This class offers a practical guide to meditation, ethics, and wisdom, helping you progress on the path to enlightenment.
Atisha was deeply connected to Tara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and incorporated her practice throughout his life. You’ll also learn how to integrate Tara’s meditation into your own practice for greater wisdom and compassion.
…
Sunday 9th August
The Life of Master Tilopa and Naropa (c. 988 CE – c. 1100 CE)
The Six Nails – How to Deeply Rest the Mind in Meditation Beyond Intellectual Thought
Discover the intertwined lives of the great Mahasiddha Tilopa, and his disciple, the great meditation master Naropa, one of the most renowned Meditative yogis. Through their stories, we explore the profound teacher-student relationship and the path of Mahamudra (The Great Seal), a practice that leads to direct realisation of ultimate reality. Learn how their trials and teachings inspire us to overcome obstacles and deepen our practice.
…
Sunday 13th September
The Life of The Great Yogi Milarepa and Marpa (c. 1052 CE – c. 1135 CE)
Devotion and Wisdom – The Transformative Power of the Teacher/Student Relationship
This class explores the transformative relationship between Milarepa, the great yogi of Tibet, and his teacher Marpa, the translator. Milarepa’s intense devotion and perseverance, despite great hardship, led to his eventual spiritual awakening. Marpa’s tough teaching methods, though harsh, were key to Milarepa’s transformation. Their story shows the power of devotion, endurance, and the teacher-student bond in the path to enlightenment.
…
Sunday 4th October
The Life of the Wisdom Buddha, Je Tsongkhapa and Manjushri (1357 CE – 1419 CE)
The Union of Wisdom with Compassion – Je Tsongkhapa Quick Path to Enlightenment.
Explore the life of Je Tsongkhapa (Venerable Losang Dragpa), the great Tibetan scholar and yogi, and his deep connection to Manjushri, the wisdom Buddha. Je Tsongkhapa synthesised diverse Buddhist teachings into a unified system, deeply influenced by his devotion to Manjushri. This class will guide you through his teachings on show how wisdom, when combined with compassion, can lead to the realisation of enlightenment. You will also learn how visualising Manjushri can deepen your meditation practice and bring clarity to your path.
Meet Your Teacher
Adam Dacey
Meditation Teacher
Has over 30 years experience of teaching Meditation and Buddhism. Find out more here.
In the Footsteps of the Great Masters – A Seven-Month Retreat
£70.00
Join anytime and catch up with the recordings. By exploring the life stories and meditation practices of these great masters that guided them to enlightenment, you’ll gain powerful tools for transforming daily life into the path to liberation. Early-bird booking available until two weeks before the retreat starts.
Description
Sunday 12th April
Life Story: The Life of the Blessed One, Buddha Shakyamuni
Transformative Practice: Cultivating Boundless Love – Meditation on Love with Visualisation (c. 563 BCE – c. 483 BCE)
This inspirational series starts with the life story of Buddha, where we’ll learn the essential meditations that helped Buddha attain enlightenment. Including the special meditation Buddha engaged in to clear away the final obstacles on his path to enlightenement and also a visualisation to help empower our practices.
…
Sunday 10th May
Life Stories: The Life of the Most Glorious Nagarjuna and his student Chandrakirti (c. 150 CE – c. 250 CE)
Transformative Practice: Realising Emptiness – Meditations on the Ultimate Nature of Reality
Learn about this great meditation master and disciple who appeared four hundred years after Buddha. Nagarjuna was primarily responsible for clarifying the meditations on the ultimate nature of reality; these are the practices we need to engage in to liberate our minds from the cycle of uncontrolled suffering and confusion.
…
Sunday 14th June
Life Story: The Life of Arya Asanga and Maitreya (c. 310 CE – c. 390 CE)
Transformative Practice: The Bodhisattvas Heart – Awakening Loving-Kindness
Explore the life of Asanga, the great Indian meditation master, and his profound connection with Maitreya, the Buddha of loving-kindness. In a visionary experience, Asanga received teachings that transformed his life, revealing the path of the Bodhisattva and the importance of compassion and wisdom. This class will guide you through the methods for cultivating the good heart of a Bodhisattva and integrating this good heart into your daily life.
…
Sunday 12th July
Life Stories: The Life of Venerable Atisha and Dromtonpa (c. 982 CE – c. 1054 CE and c. 1012 CE – c. 1064 CE)
Transformative Practice: The Path to Liberation – How to Integrate Meditation into Daily Life
Explore the life of Atisha, who brought the Lamrim teachings to Tibet, and his disciple Dromtonpa, who spread and organised these teachings, founding the Kadampa tradition. This class offers a practical guide to meditation, ethics, and wisdom, helping you progress on the path to enlightenment.
Atisha was deeply connected to Tara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and incorporated her practice throughout his life. You’ll also learn how to integrate Tara’s meditation into your own practice for greater wisdom and compassion.
…
Sunday 9th August
Life Stories: The Life of Master Tilopa and Naropa (c. 988 CE – c. 1100 CE)
Transformative Practice: The Six Nails – How to Deeply Rest the Mind in Meditation Beyond Intellectual Thought
Discover the intertwined lives of the great Mahasiddha Tilopa, and his disciple, the great meditation master Naropa, one of the most renowned Meditative yogis in. Through their stories, we explore the profound teacher-student relationship and the path of Mah?mudr? (The Great Seal), a practice that leads to direct realisation of ultimate reality. Learn how their trials and teachings inspire us to overcome obstacles and deepen our practice.
…
Sunday 13th September
Life Stories: The Life of The Great Yogi Milarepa and Marpa (c. 1052 CE – c. 1135 CE)
Transformative Practice: Devotion and Wisdom – The Transformative Power of the Teacher/Student Relationship
This class explores the transformative relationship between Milarepa, the great yogi of Tibet, and his teacher Marpa, the translator. Milarepa’s intense devotion and perseverance, despite great hardship, led to his eventual spiritual awakening. Marpa’s tough teaching methods, though harsh, were key to Milarepa’s transformation. Their story shows the power of devotion, endurance, and the teacher-student bond in the path to enlightenment.
…
Sunday 4th October
Life Story: The Life of the Wisdom Buddha, Je Tsongkhapa and Manjushri (1357 CE – 1419 CE)
Transformative Practice: The Union of Wisdom with Compassion – Je Tsongkhapa Quick Path to Enlightenment.
Explore the life of Je Tsongkhapa (Venerable Losang Dragpa), the great Tibetan scholar and yogi, and his deep connection to Manjushri, the wisdom Buddha. Je Tsongkhapa synthesised diverse Buddhist teachings into a unified system, deeply influenced by his devotion to Manjushri. This class will guide you through his teachings on show how wisdom, when combined with compassion, can lead to the realisation of enlightenment. You will also learn how visualising Manjushri can deepen your meditation practice and bring clarity to your path.