Winter Pause: A Silent Retreat for Body, Mind, and Spirit

A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT

What happens when you enter a sanctuary of quiet? Your mind settles. Your awareness deepens. And as the days pass, you open to unexpected personal insights, the release of unwanted emotional attachments, and true inner transformation. In the deep quiet of winter days, join us for four days of quiet and profound peace. You’ll return to your life more grounded, more centered, more wise—filled with an inner ease that is unshaken by outer circumstances.

“I had never done a silent retreat and only dabbled in meditation. This experience reinforced my belief that meditation can open me to so much more. It will undoubtedly become a more constant part of my wellbeing.”

“Wonderful, good, wise teachings, and a well-developed program. It’s hard to limit to just one thing I am grateful for the entire experience”

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. 

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.

OPTION TO EXTEND ON PERSONAL RETREAT: Want to sink into silence for a full week or ten days? Come early or linger longer. Simply extend your stay at step 2 of the registration.We will continue to respect your silence, and John Henderson will still be available to guide you.

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. 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, and early winter can be the best time to find it here. 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.

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.

BONUS: We will also explore the Three-Moment Method™, designed by Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche, a practical tool that can be deployed in real time—at the Third Moment™—to recognize harmful emotions and let them go.

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
• Daily gentle yoga sessions
• 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

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)

Friday, February 12

Saturday, February 13 – Sunday, February 14

Monday, February 15