White Lotus – Retreats

White LotusThe White Lotus Foundation is a 501c3, nonsectarian spiritual Foundation dedicated to the development of the total human being. Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. Our mountain retreat center over looks the city of Santa Barbara, the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. We are situated in a steep canyon on forty acres in the San Marcos Pass. Through the bottom of the canyon flows the year ’round San Jose creek. This land was once sacred to the Chumash Indians who called it Taklushmon which means the gathering place. The teachings of Yoga have traditionally been shared in powerful and natural settings. Living in close communion with the Earth, in the energies of nature, opens us to the beauty and sacredness of life. Here clarity, meditation and understanding flow spontaneously. We have an ideal and very special location with pure air, spring water, beautiful sandstone swimming holes, hiking trails and plenty of secluded places for silent reflection. We have indoor accommodations and Yurts, as well as campsites under the bay trees, near the waterfall or on plateaus overlooking the ocean

 

UCLA Semel Inst. – Meditation

MARCMindfulness Awareness Research Center’s (MARC) mission is to foster mindful awareness through education and research to promote well-being and more compassionate society. The institute offers classes and workshops to the general public, teaching the skills of mindfulness across the lifespan. These classes are offered at all levels including those for the absolute beginner to workshops and retreats for advanced practitioners. MARC also offers a one year certification training for Mindfulness teachers. Of special interest is the variety of classes offered to support mental health professionals

 

Insight LA – Meditation

Insight LA offers courses, retreats and workshops on mindfulness and comparison to people everywhere. Buddhist wisdom is at the core of the teaching and Trudy Goodman is the founding teacher. Classes and sitting groups are offered weekly throughout the year and in great variety. Affordable rates (sliding scale) and diverse offerings are a few of the wonderful aspects of this organization Daniel Stewart is the co-owner of rising Lotus yoga. He teaches a powerful yet playful hatha yoga class integrating music, meditation and even depth psychology (he is also a trained psychotherapist). He also shares his joy of music leading a monthy drop-in Kirtan and playing sacred music. The studio is clean, spacious and inviting and his classes should not be missed.

 

Vipassana – Meditation

The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.

There are no charges for the courses – not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit

Courses are given in numerous Meditation Centers and at non-center course locations at rented sites. Each location has its own schedule of courses. In most cases, an application for admission to each of these courses can be made by clicking on a selected one of the listed course dates that appear in the schedule.

There are numerous Centers in India and elsewhere in Asia/Pacific; ten Centers in North America; three Centers in Latin America; eight Centers in Europe; seven Centers in Australia/New Zealand; one Center in the Middle East and one Center in Africa.

Ten day non-center courses are frequently held at many locations outside of Centers as they are arranged by local students of Vipassana in those areas. An alphabetical list of worldwide course locations is available as well as a graphical interface of course locations worldwide and in India and Nepal.

Vipassana Meditation courses are also being taught in prisons.

A special 10-day Vipassana course especially for business executives and government officials is being held periodically at several centers around the world. For additional information visit the Executive Course Website.

 

Insight Meditation Society – Retreats

dharma_logoIMS’s Forest Refuge has continuously hosted experienced meditators since 2003. Its program is specifically designed to encourage sustained, longer-term retreat practice – a key component in the transmission of Buddhism from Asia to the West.

Within a harmonious and secluded environment, meditators can nurture the highest aspiration for liberation. In consultation with visiting insight meditation teachers, a program of training in one or more Theravada Buddhist practices is created for each participant, allowing the continuing unfolding of deeper levels of wisdom and compassion. A personal retreat here strengthens practice faith, confidence and self-reliance.

 

Golden Bridge – Yoga

golden bridgeWith locations in LA, Santa Monica and New York, Golden Bridge is a community dedicated to the cultivation of consciousness, with the belief that “happiness is the birth right of every human being”. From the moment you step through our doors, you implicitly understand that very first principal of the teachings.

Golden Bridge offers over 100 classes per week taught by highly experienced teachers. In addition, we offer numerous workshops, special events and teachers trainings. Together these provide students the opportunity to deepen their practice and further their understanding of various spiritual teachings.

Golden Bridge is a community dedicated to the cultivation of consciousness, with the belief that “happiness is the birth right of every human being”. From the moment you step through our doors, you implicitly understand that very first principal of the teachings.

Gaia House – Retreat

Gaia House is a Silent Meditation Retreat Centre – a sanctuary of contemplative calm set amongst the gentle hills and quiet woodlands of South Devon.

Buddhist Meditation Retreats are an opportunity to explore and develop serenity, wisdom and compassion through meditation and mindfulness practice in a supportive environment.

We offer an extensive Group Retreat Programme with meditation instruction and teachings drawn from a variety of Buddhist traditions, with emphasis on Vipassana or Insight Meditation.

Group Retreats are led by experienced Dharma teachers from around the world. Beginners are very welcome, as are more experienced meditation practitioners wishing to deepen your practice.

We also offer Personal and Work Retreats, which are suitable if you have previous experience of silent retreats and an established meditation practice.

All retreats are held in silence, with the exception of the annual Family Retreat.

A registered (non-profit) charity founded in 1983, Gaia House is run by a Board of Trustees who are committed to preserving, protecting and enhancing emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual health through meditation. Gaia House Meditation Retreats are open to all. To benefit, all that is needed is an interest in inner exploration and development.