Retreats

Zen Life & Meditation Center has been offering and leading meditation retreats for over 15 years. We conduct short retreats and long retreats. We conduct meditation retreats that are informal, and we conduct retreats that are more traditional (include more formality and services). Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, you will find something here that meets your needs. We are firmly committed to the practice of doing meditation retreats, and are convinced they can deepen your meditation practice and help rejuvinate and restore your energies that are often strained and stressed in our fast-paced modern world.

You do not need to be a member to attend any of our retreats.

To see scheduled retreat times, click here.

Day of Mindfulness

Zen Life & Meditation Center now offers a one day retreat. This retreat is conducted in silence. It is informal, includes little if any ritual, no robes and no services. It includes meditation (seated and walking), a talk, optional private interviews with teacher, work practice, light body work and a delicious home-made Zen meal and a closing council circle. This retreat is ideal for those of you who have never done a retreat of this kind. It's also ideal for anyone else wanting to spend a day in mindfulness in the pleasant company of other like-minded people. We live in a complex and speedy world.

There are many benefits you will receive from doing a one day retreat like this. This time spent in silence will help you slow down and will give you a fresh way to appreciate your life. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it can help ground you in the present. In this way, it will strengthen your experience of being mindful and help bring clarity and perspective to your life. 

Prerequisite: No prior mediatation experience necessary

Cost: $65; $50 for ZLMC Members
To Register: Click Here
 

Two Day Meditation Retreat

Zen Life offers a two day residential meditation retreat that is conducted in silence. The retreat includes intensive meditation, a morning Buddhist service, daily talks by the teacher, optional private interviews with teacher, work practice, light body work. Meals and lodging are also provided. Almost anyone can do this kind of retreat. You'll find that the safe container we provide for this kind of retreat at the Zen Center makes it easier than you might have imagined.

Prerequisite: An established meditation practice
Cost: $150; $100 for ZLMC Members
To Register: Click Here

12 Step Mindfulness Retreat

This two day residential retreat appreciates the 12 Steps of AA from the perspective of mindfulness awareness. The retreat includes mindfulness meditation (seated and walking), talks and discussions. This retreat is open to anyone suffering from any kind of addiction or anyone wishing to learn and understand more about how mindfulness can be used to help heal the suffering of addiction. The 12 Steps of AA are a set of powerful spiritual principles for living a fulfilled, joyous and sober life. Everyone is invited and welcome. 

No 12 Step Retreats are scheduled as of this time.

Seven Day Traditional Zen Retreat (Sesshin)

This is a traditional Zen retreat. It is conducted in deep silence. It is residential and includes three meals a day. Robes are worn, and traditonal Buddist services and rituals are observed. It includes intensive zazen (medtiation), samu (work practice), Teishos (dharma talk) by teacher, dokusan (private interviews with teacher), light body work, and practice of immediacy (optional).

Prerequisite: An established meditation practice
Cost: $525; $420 for ZLMC Members