Nowhere to Go, Nothing to Do: A Buddhist Silent Retreat

A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear” ~ Rumi

Imagine the peace that comes with a weekend of silence. No insistent beeps and buzzes demanding immediate attention. No distracting debates about the state of the world. No pressure to be witty or wise. Only the opportunity to be present with yourself, and the opening  to mindfully observe and release the thoughts and emotions that arise. On this final weekend of summer, silence serves as a way to ground yourself—setting a solid foundation for the busy-ness of fall.

“Gary was wonderful and provided me with many skills for finding inner peace. I am so happy to have arrived at this comforting and supportive place.”

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 other discounts.  

SCHOLARSHIPS: Partial scholarships may be available for this program. Please write [email protected] for more information.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

As the languid days of summer draw to a close, you may be experiencing a small panic. The concentrated togetherness of summer family time may not have provided bandwidth for actual rest and rejuvenation—and now when will it happen?

Seize a moment for yourself, before the onslaught of September. No devices. No conversations. No scattered inputs demanding your attention. Create space for your mind to calm, space to harness the power of meditation, protected from the distractions and stressors of daily life. By centering yourself, you will replenish your inner strength.

After dinner Friday night, you will be asked to relinquish your cell phone*, and the silence begins. Between group meditation sessions—both sitting and walking—you will take contemplative walks around the property, meditate on your own, or use a journal to explore your inner landscape. Group walks on our woods trails will help you experience the natural environment through all your senses; a session of gentle yoga will help incorporate mindful movement into your practice. There will be an opportunity each day for group or one-on-one conversations with the teacher to discuss goals and uncover roadblocks.

Group silence creates an atmosphere of deep tranquility, and with it the ability to rest in the present moment. Together, you collectively deepen your meditation practices, and enjoy a rare chance for self-inquiry, insight, and the possibility of inner transformation.

*Please give loved ones the Dharmakaya Center main number as an emergency contact.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
• Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
• Personal and guided meditation sessions, sitting and walking meditation
• Gentle yoga
• 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 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 learning more about themselves.

SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

Friday, August 22

Saturday, August 23

Sunday, August 24