Often, our minds are unstable, scattered, easily distracted, and stirred up by thoughts and emotions. These states cause us difficulty, stress, emotional pain, fear, anxiety, anger, and so forth. Most of us are drawn to meditation out of a yearning for peace and relief from these states. When we meditate, we familiarize ourselves with our state of mind or become mindful of it.

Calm Abiding or Shamata is a foundational Buddhist meditation that trains the mind to rest in its natural state of stability and clarity. In this weekend retreat, you’ll begin a deep exploration of this practice within the Buddhist path of liberation—a journey toward freedom from habitual reactivity and the cultivation of rest. You will engage in solo and group meditation sessions, receive personalized guidance, and leave with meditation homework to develop your understanding between retreats.

This retreat is the first step in our two-year Walking the Path program or a standalone opportunity to deepen your meditation practice. You will receive detailed instructions, illuminating the intricacies of Calm Abiding and providing practical insights to enhance your practice. This immersive experience sets the tone for the entire program, laying the groundwork for stability, focus, and calm awareness. Participants can attend this retreat without signing up for the two-year program.