Grief, Presence, and Fierce Love

A Weekend Retreat on Living With Loss

A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT

Grief is not a problem to be solved.
It is not a pathology, a failure of resilience, or a detour from “the work.”
It is the natural consequence of loving fully in a world where nothing stays.

This retreat is for people living with loss of any kind: the death of someone beloved, the end of a relationship, a change in health, the loss of work, identity, direction, or a version of the future that no longer exists. It is not trauma therapy or psychological treatment. Instead, we offer a steady, humane, spiritually grounded space to tell the truth about grief and learn how to carry it without being crushed by it. 

“John was fantastic. His teaching has changed my life for the better.”

“Ben provided the opportunity to learn and connect in a gentle and healing environment—an invitation into ritual and meaning that I will carry forward into my daily life.” 

BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would benefit from 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 other discounts.  

SCHOLARSHIPS: Partial scholarships may be available for this program. Please write retreats@dharmakayacenter.org for more information.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Loved ones die. Relationships end. Health falters. Dreams and goals become permanently unattainable. Loss is central to the human experience—and its natural result is grief, anger and even despair. It can feel overwhelming; breaking free and moving forward may feel impossible. Yet, sometimes, the ache we feel in our hearts holds a sacred wisdom, patiently waiting for us to listen. And sometimes, the easing of the heart comes from simply naming and accepting your losses.

Join us for a weekend retreat in which we explore how to hold painful experiences with acceptance, mindfulness, and self-compassion; release painful thoughts and feelings; and find a tender kindness for yourself amidst all that hurts.

Drawing on Buddhist and Jewish wisdom, poetry, silence, and shared reflection, this weekend explores grief as a teacher rather than an enemy. We’ll look closely at the difference between fierce love and clinging, between grief and trauma, between honoring what was and demanding that it return. We will not be focused on “letting go” in the abstract, but on learning how to stay present with what remains.

There will be guided meditation, poetry, journaling, gentle teaching, time in the woods, and structured group conversation. There will also be space. Real space. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced.

What This Retreat Is — and What It Is Not

• Is: contemplative, spiritual, grounded, honest, human
• Is: interfaith and accessible, rooted in lived experience
• Is not: group therapy, trauma processing, or self-help cheerleading
• Is not: about fixing you, curing grief, or rushing you toward closure

Grief doesn’t disappear. But it can be carried with dignity, honesty, and even tenderness. This retreat is an invitation to practice that together.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Intimate setting with personal access to the teachers
• Interactive sessions with question and answer periods and small group discussion (opt-in)
• Personal and guided meditation sessions, sitting and walking meditation
• Poetry and brief teachings from Jewish and Buddhist traditions
• Gentle yoga
• Journaling and personal reflection
• Time in nature; expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna
• Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
• Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
• Extensive library of dharma books

OPEN TO ALL

Open to practitioners of any spiritual background (or none at all), this retreat is for:

• People actively grieving
• People whose grief is old, but still present
• People who want spiritual language that doesn’t bypass reality
• People who don’t want platitudes, timelines, or fixes

If grief has made you quieter, sharper, slower, or more tender — you belong here.

SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

Friday, November 6

Saturday, November 7

Sunday, November 8