The Heart of Mindfulness: A Silent Meditation Retreat
Jon Aaron & Upayadhi

As the year and all its intensity come to a close, we invite you to join us for a contemplative and spacious meditation retreat on the beautiful campus of the Dharmakaya Retreat Center for Wellbeing. Creating a nourishing pause before the demands of the holiday season and the start of a new year, we aim to rest and restore our nervous systems, enliven and deepen our meditation practice, and give ourselves the gift of a winter solstice reset.

Program Details

The Heart of Mindfulness is a 7-day silent meditation retreat that emphasizes an embodied and integrated understanding of mindfulness. We share the practices on the premise that anyone in a human form can access them, with simultaneous deep respect and acknowledgment of the Buddhist roots and Asian lineages that have stewarded this wisdom for countless generations.

The daily schedule will integrate sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement and periods of informal practice, all held within the container of noble silence. The retreat leaders will offer meditation instruction and talks aimed at illuminating the foundational principles of mindfulness, drawing significantly from Buddhism’s early canon, such as the Ānāpānasati Sutta and Satipaṭṭhāna Suttas. Participants will have an opportunity to meet with the retreat leaders in a small group setting to discuss their experience and ask questions. 

Who is the retreat for?

The retreat is open to meditators who yearn for the nourishment of deep silence. It assumes prior meditation experience and some degree of regular practice. It can be suitable as a first silent meditation retreat who are ready for an immersive experience, as well as for those with extensive “time on the cushion” and knowledge of the teachings. Furthermore, we will explore the themes in ways that are meaningful for all, whether anchored in the Buddhist tradition, in other traditions, or no tradition at all. 

This retreat can be a qualifying retreat for participants planning to pursue MBSR teacher training and most other teacher training pathways.