The Power of Silence: A Silent Retreat for Body, Mind, and Spirit
With John Henderson
October 7 - 11, 2024
A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
What happens when you enter a sanctuary of quiet? Your awareness deepens. Your mind opens. And as the days pass, you uncover profound personal insights, significant emotional cleansing, and true inner transformation. You’ll return to your life more grounded, more centered, more wise—filled with an inner ease that is unshaken by outer circumstances.
“The balance of teaching/questions, contemplation and meditation practice was optimal. I have a much better understanding of the practice and its relevance in my life.”
BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would like this program, but hasn’t been to the Center? Bring them, and you both get a 10% discount on your entire program package. For the discount to apply, there must be two reservations, at least one of whom has not taken a Dharmakaya Center class previously. At checkout, apply the Discount Code: BringAFriend. May not be combined with an Early Bird Discount.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
You are besieged by noise. The outside world is filled with the clatter of phones, television, news, conversations, traffic, machines. And sometimes your internal world is even louder, as you ruminate about an email you sent ten minutes ago, an argument you had ten days ago, a bad financial decision you made ten years ago. Yet, quieting your mind is a challenge.
Let us provide the container—the ideal conditions—for you to sink deep within and break free from your mental chatter. With guided meditations and teachings, group practice, yoga, journaling, time in nature, and plenty of “down time,” we provide a relaxing, supportive, distraction-free atmosphere for your inner journey—which will foster a more present, calm, and balanced approach to life.
These days of silence offer many benefits, including:
Deepening your meditation practice: Whether you are just beginning your meditation journey or hoping to go deeper, these few days can help. Scheduled meditation sessions—with instruction—explore a range of practices, while the pervasive silence encourages a continuous mindful awareness that can lead to lasting changes in the way you relate to your thoughts.
Taking a digital detox: This is a rare and valuable opportunity to set aside your smartphone, computer, and other electronic devices, break free from the incessant pull of notifications, social media, and email, and refocus on your own thoughts, feelings, and the beauty of your surroundings. As your appreciation for direct, unmediated experiences grows you may also gain healthier digital habits.
Connecting with nature: Our 90-acre campus naturally fosters tranquility. As you walk our woods trails—or stop to meditate in nature—you become more grounded, soaking in the resilience, interconnection, and inherent beauty of the natural world. This retreat should coincide with the height of fall foliage, adding to the glory of time spent outdoors.
Fostering self-reflection and releasing negative emotions: Stripped of your usual distractions, you have the bandwidth to look inward, confronting thoughts, emotions, and patterns that you may overlook or ignore in the hustle of daily life. This can be a rare chance to process and release long-held negative emotions—and a precious opportunity for healing.
Being supported by community and a structured schedule: The shared journey of silence and reflection create a unique connection among participants, an unspoken bond that can be quite profound and deeply supportive. That is bolstered by the carefully crafted schedule, balancing meditation, movement, meals, and free time that enables you to immerse yourself without the distractions of planning or decision-making.
As you deepen your meditation practice and calm your mind, you will rediscover the gifts of the present moment, creating lasting changes in how you relate to your thoughts and emotions. When the retreat ends, you will feel recharged and refreshed, ready to take on all your responsibilities with greater focus and joy.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
- Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
- Shamatha and guided meditations
- Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
- Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
- Extensive library of dharma books
- Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna
OPTIONAL MASSAGE
Please email [email protected] if you would like to book a massage during your free time.
OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for meditators at all levels and those simply interested in exploring the teachings.
SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
Monday, October 7
3:00 PM | Check in begins |
6:00-7:00 PM | Dinner |
7:15-9:00 PM | Welcome and Introduction |
Discussion on Retreat Mind | |
Opening Meditation | |
10:00 PM | Lights Out |
Tuesday, October 8 – Thursday, October 10
7:00-7:45 AM | Walking Meditation |
8:00-9:00 AM | Breakfast |
9:30-10:30 AM | Morning Teaching, Q&A, and Guided Meditation |
10:30 AM-11:30 PM | Contemplative Woods Walk (Tuesday, Thursday) |
Gentle Yoga Practice (Wednesday) | |
12:00-1:00 PM | Lunch |
1:00-2:30 PM | Personal Time, Reflection, Journaling |
2:30-3:30 PM | Gentle Yoga Practice (Tuesday, Thursday) |
Contemplative Woods Walk (Wednesday) | |
3:30-4:30 PM | Group Meditation |
4:30-6:00 PM | Personal Time, Reflection, Journaling |
Open Time with Teacher for Questions | |
6:00-7:00 PM | Dinner |
7:00-9:00 PM | Evening Meditation, optional |
Fire Pit, optional (weather permitting) | |
10:00 PM | Lights out |
Friday, October 11
7:00-7:45 AM | Walking Meditation |
8:00-9:00 AM | Breakfast |
9:30-10:30 AM | Morning Teaching and Guided Meditation |
10:30-11:30 AM | Q&A |
Group Discussion | |
Closing Ceremony | |
12:00-1:00 PM | Lunch |
1:00 PM | Checkout and Departure |
Teacher
John Henderson has studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced meditation for nearly 30 years. Since 2003 he has been a senior student of the Dharmakaya Center’s founder, Rimay master Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche. John has applied the teachings in his professional life as a serial entrepreneur, leading both healthcare and real estate businesses, and as a board member of numerous not-for-profit organizations in the Northeast. He has been teaching at the Center since it opened in 2017, offering dozens of programs in person and online, as well as providing individual meditation guidance to our retreatants. COMMENTS FROM FORMER STUDENTS “John models…
Learn more about John Henderson