Note: Event begins at 5:00pm PT / 8:00pm ET
Online Meditation Retreat
How can we live with an open heart and a clear mind? What is the relationship between wisdom and love?
Though wisdom practices are often distinguished from practices for kindness and compassion, Buddhist psychology suggests a powerful connection between them. In Insight Meditation, we practice resting, looking deeply, and knowing moment-by-moment what it’s like to be human. The more deeply we connect with experience, the more reason we find to love.
This four-day, online retreat will integrate traditional insight and heart practices.
Practicing at home offers an unusual opportunity. Our home can be a place of comfort, and also a place of strong, unconscious habits. At-home retreats allow us to integrate the contemplative path into our living space, creating visual and temporal reminders of the practice in the flow of our day.
We will, of course, be doing this together. Our retreat will provide a structured immersion in meditation practice, guided instructions, small group practice meetings, Qi Gong and Dharma talks while also allowing the flexibility to practice in a rhythm that accommodates your life. All are welcome.
NOTE: Thank you for your interest in this retreat. Registration is now closed.
Retreat Schedule
All of The Following Times Are Pacific Daylight Time
* Sessions marked with an * are required for full-time yogis.
June 16 – Opening Night
5:00 p.m. Orientation *
5:30 p.m. Welcome & Opening Session *
7:00 .pm. Break
7:45 p.m. Lovingkindness Practice
8:15 p.m. End of Day
June 17 – 19
6:30 a.m. Early morning meditation
7:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:25 a.m. Arrive and Settle
8:30 a.m. Morning Instructions and Sitting Meditation *
9:30 a.m. Walking Meditation (OR Practice Meeting if assigned) *
10:00 a.m. Sitting Meditation *
10:45 a.m. Walking Meditation (OR Practice Meeting if assigned) *
11:15 a.m. Sitting Meditation *
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Practice/Take Care of Life as You See Fit
3:25 p.m. Arrive and Settle
3:30 p.m. Qi Gong
4:00 p.m. Stretch Break
4:15 p.m. Dharma Talk *
5:00 p.m. Dinner / Practice as you see fit
7:30 p.m. Lovingkindness Practice *
8:15 p.m. End of Day
June 20
6:30 a.m. Early morning meditation
8:30 a.m. Closing Session *
10:00 a.m. End of Retreat
About the Teachers
Oren Jay Sofer
Oren Jay Sofer teaches workshops and retreats on meditation and communication nationally. A member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council, he holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University, is a Somatic Experiencing for healing of trauma, and is a certified trainer of Nonviolent Communication. Oren is also the author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication.
Matthew Brensilver
Matthew Brensilver, PhD, is a member of the Guiding Teachers Executive Group and Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. For more than a decade, he taught for Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. He lectures at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center about the intersections between mindfulness and mental health. Matthew has a background in research on addiction pharmacotherapy and is interested in the unfolding dialogue between dharma and science. He is the co-author, with Oren, of two forthcoming books on mindfulness for adolescents.
Frequently Asked Questions
I need to do some work during the retreat. Can I still attend?
We ask all participants to disengage from work, social activities and other duties as much as possible during the retreat. At the same time, we understand that it may not be possible to put aside all responsibilities while participating in an at-home retreat. Some participants may need to attend to childcare, professional work, etc. You are still welcome to register and attend the retreat as long as you are able to attend all of the sessions marked with an asterisk.
I need to miss part of the retreat. Can I still attend?
We ask that all participants attend all sessions marked with an asterisk. As long as you are able to attend all of these sessions you are welcome to register. If you cannot attend one or more, please email us to request permission. Please include information about the nature of the scheduling conflict as well as your experience attending silent meditation retreats.
Are there pre-requisites? I’ve never attended a silent meditation. Is this appropriate for me?
There are no pre-requisites to attend this retreat and meditators of all levels/experience are welcome. That said, we generally recommend that you attend at least one or more meditation daylong retreats that emphasize continued sitting and walking meditation. This will give you a sense of both the challenges and rewards of putting aside all other activities and distractions and meditating for many hours a day.
I’ve never done a retreat before practice. Is this retreat appropriate?
Yes. This retreat will introduce you to the basics of both Insight Meditation and Metta or “Lovingkindness’” meditation.
It’s not quiet at my house. Can I still join?
Yes. While it’s ideal to have a quiet environment (and we encourage to find a quiet place to stay for the duration of the retreat if possible) it’s not necessary. We will offer instructions on how to work with distracting sounds during the retreat.
I can’t afford the registration fee. Do you provide scholarships?
We are committed to making this retreat and these practices accessible to everyone regardless of financial means. If you are unable to afford the registration fee, please email us.