Everyone needs a sense of purpose—a reason to engage with life that goes deeper than simply reacting to whatever comes our way. Often, that sense of purpose becomes tied to career, relationships, achievements, or the pursuit of comfort and success. These things matter, but they are also fragile. When circumstances change or goals slip out of reach, it’s natural for our sense of meaning to feel shaken.

So we are left with a deeper question: what remains when these outer supports no longer hold?

In this weekend residential retreat, we will explore this question together. Through guided meditation and practical Buddhist teachings, we begin to look more closely at the extraordinary potential within the mind itself—the natural capacity for lasting peace, clarity, and freedom from suffering. It is this recognition that opens the door to a more stable and meaningful sense of purpose, one that doesn’t collapse when life changes, but instead grows stronger through it.

We will also examine the “eight worldly concerns”—our habitual pull toward praise, pleasure, gain, and reputation, and aversion to their opposites. When these quietly shape our motivation, even spiritual practice can become mixed, like healthy food laced with poison: it may bring short-term relief, but not lasting transformation. As Geshe Kelsang explains in Joyful Path of Good Fortune:
“If we have been practicing Dharma for some time but cannot feel any of its benefits, the reason is that we are not yet practicing pure Dharma.”

Rather than discouraging us, these reflections point to something very practical: the possibility of aligning our life with a deeper, more authentic motivation—one that brings steadiness, clarity, and meaning to whatever we do, regardless of changing circumstances. 

Guided by KMC Kent’s Principal Teacher, James Baskerville, who brings over 25 years of meditation experience, this retreat takes place at the beautiful Bodhisattva Kadampa Meditation Centre. With its peaceful World Peace café, tranquil gardens, and the sea just a short walk away, it offers a rare opportunity to step back from daily life and reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose, clarity, and direction.