Deepen

In retreat, we create a refuge from the habits and demands of daily life. For those of us caring for families and for work, the structure of stillness provided, along with good food for the body and good food for the mind, makes it easy to dedicate space and time to study. When our intention is shared with others, we grow quickly in our practice, and feel happy in good company.

This is a caring and nourishing thing to do. As we deepen our understanding and our skillfulness, it is as though we have picked the flower of peace and given it to ourselves as a gift. Everyone around us benefits.

There are a number of forms to our retreats, from shorter Evenings of Mindfulness that are simpler to add to our calendar, to local Days of Mindfulness that invite greater stillness into our lives. We may enjoy the presence and teaching of monastics in these regular events. You can find them listed on our Activities Page.

Longer weekend retreats include one or two nights’ stay, and offer the gifts of early morning practice and Presence of Earth hikes in rural areas or parkland. Group trips to Plum Village or to other root Sanghas may be organized by members, and open to the greater community.

We have chosen the Householder’s cluttered yard to study and apply Buddhist insight. With our strength and diligence, we carry water from the deep well of retreat to irrigate this noisy, fertile earth.