Venerable Robina Courtin
Returns to Bali, Indonesia
by popular request after last year’s powerful retreat.
• Four-day In-Person Retreat •
October 31 – November 4, 2026
Join one of today’s most dynamic Buddhist teachers for powerful teachings, practical meditation, and real-world wisdom focused on understanding and transforming the mind.
Last year’s retreat filled in 4 weeks — Early Registration is highly recommended.
Sharing AUD $ 1000
Single AUD $ 1210
per person for the entire retreat
A Bird Needs Two Wings: Wisdom and Compassion Retreat with Ven. Robina
"The power of daily/immersive practice and the in person teachings was amazing."
Adam, 2025 Retreat Participant
We are absolutely delighted to welcome Buddhist nun Ven. Robina back to Bali for her second consecutive year of in-person teachings at the Ramayana Candidasa Beach Resort. Following last year’s powerful and heart-opening retreat, she returns by popular request to guide students through another transformative retreat, exploring how wisdom and compassion become a living experience—not just ideas—through study, reflection, and meditation in community. With her practical, no-nonsense approach to Buddhist wisdom, grounded in deep compassion and sharp insight, Ven. Robina offers teachings that are both profoundly authentic and immediately applicable to everyday life. 🙏✨
What You Will Explore....
• 🧠 How the mind creates suffering—and how to transform it
• 🧘 Practical meditation methods for cultivating clarity and compassion
• 📿 How Buddhist psychology applies to everyday challenges
• 🌿 Methods for developing resilience and inner stability
• ✨ Tools for integrating Buddhist practice into daily life
" My greatest takeaway from the retreat is a clearer understanding that karma is about our actions influencing our own individual happiness /suffering." Oliver, 2025 Retreat Participant
Daily Practice & Retreat Experience...
• 🧘 Daily morning yoga and guided meditation to cultivate clarity, presence, and inner balance
• 🔔 Restorative sound healing sessions combined with meditation to support deep relaxation and integration
• 🍽 Shared group breakfast, lunch and dinners for connection, reflection, and community
• 🌴 Access to resort facilities, with time to relax, rest, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings between sessions
Teachings will be supported by guided meditation, reflection, and opportunities for questions.
"Everything about this experience was superb. You managed everything so thoughtfully and professionally. Bravo!" 2025 Retreat Participant
Why This Retreat?
“Venerable Robina is a supreme teacher; Bali is very lush! Studying with Ven. Robina in person was truly unforgettable.” Julia, 2025 Retreat Participant
Modern life constantly pulls our attention outward. We search for happiness in circumstances, achievements, and relationships, yet the deeper causes of both suffering and happiness lie within our own mind.
Buddhist teachings offer practical methods for understanding how the mind works and how we can transform the habits that keep us stuck in dissatisfaction and confusion.
This retreat offers a rare opportunity to learn these methods directly from Ven. Robina — a teacher known around the world for her clarity, humor, and deeply practical approach to Buddhist wisdom.
Through teachings, meditation, and reflection, you will explore how these timeless methods can be applied directly to everyday life.
Whether you are new to the Dharma or have been practicing for years, attended last year or are joining for the first time, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to receive teachings, deepen your understanding and practice in an intimate, in-person setting with Ven. Robina at the Ramayana Candidasa Resort in beautiful Bali, Indonesia.
Ven. Robina shares, “Compassion is ultimately the point of Buddhist practice. But our actions—whether helping our next-door neighbor or working to stop the destruction of the planet—need to be grounded in wisdom. As the Dalai Lama says, ‘Compassion is not enough; we need wisdom.’”
"Receiving the dharma in plain everyday language has enriched my traditional Tibetan practice" Sandra, 2025 Retreat Participant
Join us for this special return visit and deepen your understanding of how wisdom and compassion truly become “two wings” of the path.
Meet the Teacher
A Buddhist nun since the late 1970s, Ven. Robina has worked since then with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a worldwide network of Tibetan Buddhist activities of her teachers, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinopche. She has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala magazine, executive director of Liberation Prison Project, and as a touring teacher of Buddhism.
She was born in Melbourne, Australia, and educated by the Catholic nuns. She studied classical singing until the mid-1960s when, ripe and ready for revolution, she became involved in the radical left in London and eventually feminism.
Ven. Robina’s life, as well as her work with prisoners, have been featured in the documentary film Chasing Buddha. A CD of her singing prayers and mantras, Devotion, in collaboration with Yantra de Vilder, was produced in 2018. Chasing Buddha and Devotion, as well as Ven. Robina’s teachings schedule, are available on robinacourtin.com
What You’ll Walk Away With...
-
Practical tools to work skillfully with your mind
-
A deeper understanding of compassion and wisdom — beyond theory
-
Greater confidence working with difficult emotions and challenges
-
Renewed purpose and inner confidence
-
A supportive spiritual community
-
Inspiration to continue exploring the path of Buddhist practice
Who is this Retreat for...
-
Newcomers curious about Buddhist philosophy
-
Long-time practitioners wanting deeper insight
-
Practitioners wanting to deepen their practice
-
Anyone seeking clarity, resilience, and a Buddhist perspective on life
-
Anyone wanting to experience Dharma in a beautiful, focused setting
Our Retreat
Retreat participants will arrive at the resort in the afternoon of Saturday October 31. Check-in will be 2 - 4pm.
We will have a group dinner with Ven. Robina at Al Dente Italian Restaurant at 4:30pm in Candidasa followed by an evening introductory session with Ven. Robina.
For each of the following retreat days, Ven. Robina will give several teachings throughout the day and guide meditations. Manuela and Iffeisha will also lead some meditations as well as facilitate gentle movement/yoga sessions.
We will finish the retreat on the morning of Wednesday November 4 with a meditation session and breakfast.
BEAUTIFUL ROOMS
Our Retreat Paradise
Our retreat takes place at Ramayana Candidasa Beach Resort and Spa, located on the serene and peaceful east coast of Bali, set within a coconut grove garden that gently rolls down to a beautiful white sandy beach. It is approximately a 90-minute drive from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) and a leisurely 5-minute drive to Candidasa town. Flights from major international cities regularly fly in and out of the Ngurah Rai Airport.
AMAZING GROUNDS
OCEAN FRONT DINING
WELLNESS ACTIVITIES
SPA SERVICES
What You Get
ACCOMMODATION
_____
Choose your preferred room with everything you need for a comfortable retreat experience.
RESORT FACILITIES
_____
Full access to all resort facilities: pool, spa, beach.
TEACHINGS
with VEN. ROBINA
_____
Full access to all our teachings and meditations with
Ven. Robina.
ROOMS
_____
start at
AUD $1000
per
person
for the entire retreat
OFFERING
(optional)
_____
Opportunity to make an offering
to teacher at the end of retreat.
HEALTHY MEALS
_____
Delicious healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner (vegan & non-vegetarian options) will fuel and nourish you through your retreat.
MEDITATIONS & YOGA
_____
yoga and gentle movement
sound healing
What’s Included:
-
Your choice of lux accommodation at Ramayana Beach Resort, on Bali’s tranquil east coast.
-
Welcome drink upon arrival (non-alcoholic).
-
Healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinners each day, including tea & coffee.
-
Teachings and meditations with Ven. Robina and meditations and gentle movement/yoga with Manuela and Iffeisha.
-
Use of pool, beach and other hotel facilities.
-
Option to participate in resort guest activities when not in teaching sessions.
What’s Not Included:
-
Your flights to and from Indonesia (I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport- Bali) and transport to and from resort.
-
Indonesia visa - You can apply online or pay on arrival (approximately AUD $50) at the airport. For more information about travel documents, see Frequently Asked Questions below.
-
Any accommodation outside of the four nights.
-
Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance.
-
Alcoholic beverages
-
The Spa services
Reflections from Previous Retreat Participants
“Ven. Robina’s teachings are razor-sharp and deeply compassionate. I left Bali with tools I use every single day.”
— Retreat Participant, 2025
“Ven. Robina has a rare ability to make profound teachings completely practical. I left with clarity, confidence, and tools I continue to use every day.”
— 2025 Participant
“This retreat changed how I understand my own mind. The teachings were direct, practical, and transformative. Bali was the perfect setting for such deep inner work.”
— 2025 Attendee
“It wasn’t just the teachings — it was the community. The honesty, laughter, and depth of discussion created something truly special.”
— Bali Retreat Participant
“The balance of sharp wisdom and genuine warmth created a space where real inner work could happen.”
— Bali Retreat Attendee
Proposed Retreat
Schedule
Please note.... Ven. Robina may change session times at her discretion during the retreat.
Our Team
Nim Dissanayake and Iffeisha Gordon-Toppin have been dedicated Dharma practitioners for over 20 years. Their spiritual journey has taken them through various traditions and lineages, ultimately guiding them to their root guru, Ven. Robina Courtin, and the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) family.
Recently they have made the decision to step back from worldly responsibilities in order to focus more deeply on their spiritual development and individual practice. This commitment has led them to relocate from Perth, Western Australia to Bali, where they completed a 6 month self-retreat.
Throughout their years of practice, Nim and Iffeisha have both hosted retreats with Ven. Robina and have participated in numerous teachings and retreats.
Inspired by Ven. Robina's and their guru Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s emphasis on the practice of generosity — especially the supreme form of offering Dharma to others — they have chosen to integrate the hosting and support of retreats as part of their own spiritual path.
Following several invitations, Ven. Robina has kindly agreed to teach in Bali. This second retreat is the joyful continuation of Nim and Iffeisha's heartfelt aspiration.
We welcome Manuela again to Bali this year, certified yoga teacher/ trainer and currenly leading online meditation sessions with Tushita Center, Deli.
Nim, Iffeisha, and Manuela have participated in many teachings/retreats. Also jointly hosted Ven. Robina’s Retreat in Bali last year.
Nim and Iffeisha with Ven. Robina in Perth at FPMT's Hayagriva Buddhist Centre
Nim, Iffeisha and Manuela - Ven. Robina Bali Retreat 2025- Ramayana Resort, Candidasa
Who receives the funds?
Please note that the fee you pay for this retreat covers your accommodation including food, teacher's accommodation travel expenses, teacher offering, event space usage at the resort and our administrative expenses.
Our aspiration in offering this retreat is to create a precious opportunity to receive and explore the Buddha’s teachings directly with Ven. Robina, in person and within a peaceful, supportive environment.
In the Buddhist tradition, the Dharma is offered freely by the teacher out of compassion for the benefit of others. It is therefore our privilege to offer our service in organizing and supporting the conditions that allow these teachings to be shared on a Not-for-Profit basis.
A collective offering to Ven. Robina has been included and will be made on behalf of all retreat participants. In keeping with traditional practice, at the conclusion of the retreat there will also be an opportunity for participants to offer a khata (ceremonial scarf) and make an optional personal offering to Ven. Robina, should you wish to do so.
We look forward to seeing and connecting with you in Bali.
With Love,
Nim & Iffeisha
Reserve Your Room Now
We offer two types of accommodation: single and double.
Please click room link below to register as soon as possible to secure your spot and room preference.
Wonderful Memories from last year
Join Us in Bali —
October 31–November 4, 2026
Take this opportunity to study directly with one of today’s most dynamic Buddhist teachers and deepen your understanding of the mind.
Spaces are limited to maintain an intimate retreat experience.
Last year’s retreat filled quickly — secure your place today.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09