Questions & Answers About Our Retreats

What is a meditation retreat?

A meditation retreat, in general, is an extended period of time during which we leave our worldly matters behind, come back to ourselves, and immerse in a simple environment, nature, nourishing food, community, and true quiet. We let go of all responsibilities and develop a powerful capacity to observe and relax. We develop a radical sense of presence with regard to regular activities such as walking, listening, eating, drinking tea, etc. 

Why go on retreat?

Retreat offers us the chance to know ourselves more deeply and to begin to cultivate deep happiness or peace. Meditating on retreat is an extremely different experience than meditating in the midst of our daily lives. Retreat affords us the opportunity to discover layers of the practice we may not have known about and then integrate the practice more fully into our lives.

What kind of meditation will we practice?

These retreats emphasize the practices of mindfulness, insight meditation, and the heart practices (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity). We will cultivate a strong and radiant balance in the heart-mind over the course of a few days. 

What is the format of retreat?

On check-in day, participants may socialize, hike, meditate, read, journal, and relax into nature (basically whatever you want to do). There is a required evening session after dinner followed by moving into a more traditional insight retreat until Sunday around lunch. This will include alternating periods of sitting meditation, walking meditation, gentle movement, and open time (journal, tea, rest, etc). Participants may rest on their back at any time.

Is there guidance?

Yes, we will be practicing in a meditation hall and outside for walking meditation. There will be plenty of guidance, instructions, and also periods for group reflection.

That sounds like a lot of meditation. Is it challenging?

Our retreats emphasize a gentle approach. And generally any challenges that surface on retreat are signs that the practice is working. When we learn to work with our challenges with care and skill, we gain powerful insights and a strong inner knowing and liberation. Retreat is almost never challenging the whole time. It is often quite a wonderful relief to be quiet, immersed in kindness and a unique and beautiful form of community.

I have body pain and/or an injury. Do I have to sit for long periods of time?

While we do ask that you follow our schedule fully, our retreats are not as demanding as other retreats you may have heard about. Anyone may lie down with a blanket/yoga mat in the meditation hall at any time. Chairs will be available if you do not want to use a cushion. Gentle movement will be offered. There is time to rest and reflect.

Will there be silence?

Although we have plenty of time for group reflection and individual meetings, we do let go of all regular conversations for most of the retreat. During that period we eat in silence and maintain silence during transitions and free time. We move into silence to support you to finally have the chance to truly let go of all doing, all responsibilities, and fully receive the nourishment of your own attention and the gentle practices.

We spend massive quantities of energy and life force speaking and listening to others in our daily lives. We lose huge amounts of energy through our devices. Silence helps us to recenter ourselves and reclaim and regenerate our personal energy. There is a kind of relief in putting it all down and knowing everyone else in the container is doing that too. In other words, we want you to fully receive the gift of retreat!

From the mindfulness perspective, we need occasional retreat. We need periods of true quiet and letting go of the external world so that we can finally begin to see our inner world clearly and see the possibility of peace. We also let go of all physical contact during that time. We refrain from using devices or reading. Journaling is encouraged.

Please note, silence fully applies to those attending with friends or loved ones. Once we end the silence, there is plenty of time to reconnect through conversation (for those who wish).

Silence provides an unparalleled opportunity to develop inner stability, mindfulness, peace and other qualities. It makes it much easier to experience insight and let go of the deeply entrenched struggles in the heart-mind. This letting go is at the heart of spiritual practice.