Our retreat has three inter-woven themes: Vipassana Meditation, practice with the non-duality of relative and ultimate experience, and living from the open heart.

Vipassana or “Insight Meditation” is a practical method of self-awareness that makes it possible to encounter the tensions of daily life in a calm and balanced way. Vipassana trains us to be awake, noticing the moments of life with a compassionate heart. We deepen in the wisdom that the emotions and body sensations with which we have become so self-identified, are really just arising out of myriad conditions and passing away.

Awareness notes from a spacious perspective that fear, pain, sadness, or whatever, has arisen. That which is aware of fear is not afraid. That which is aware of anger is not angry.  And yet, there is sometimes pain, fear, anger and sadness. We deepen in compassion for all humans who do experience such challenging expressions of our humanity and at the same time know that they are non dual with what the Buddha referred to as the unborn, uncreated, undying, deathless reality, which is our ultimate experience. Please join us for an in depth dharma retreat and a celebratory welcoming of the New Year!

The retreat will include Vipassana instruction, heart-centered meditations, dharma talks, chanting from various traditions, optional yoga, and individual meetings when requested.

Prior attendance at one or more silent Buddhist/Spiritual residential retreats of at least 5 nights in length is required to attend this retreat. No one can leave the retreat early without prior permission from the teacher, which needs to be granted before the person arrives. If you have any questions about the suitability of this retreat please contact John at [email protected].