What is Retreat?
Our working definition of “retreat” builds from two key elements: boundaries and intensive meditation practice.
1. Boundaries (tibetan: tsam)
A retreat has defined boundaries that every participant personally commits to uphold for the duration of the retreat. Retreat boundaries can be created through your body, speech and mind. For example, on a physical level, you may commit to staying in a certain location for the duration of a retreat. On a speech level, you may commit to periods of silence or mindfulness in what you say. And with your mind, a retreat boundary can include letting go of regular concerns.
For our shorter group retreats, we encourage participants to commit to attending the whole retreat, and to do their best to unplug from the outside world so that they can experience the power of retreat. All our retreats also include an extended period of silence.
2. Intensive meditation practice
One of the main purposes of retreat is to engage in an intensification of one’s meditation practice. During retreat, the aim is to bring awareness to your activities both during formal practice and throughout every activity. This provides a profound opportunity to deepen one’s experience and understanding of meditation.
Generally, during retreat, formal meditation is practiced during multiple sessions a day. In between, activities are kept simple like walking, eating and sleeping.
At our Joy of Living Retreats, we have periods of meditation throughout the day, where we alternate between seated and walking meditation. We also have periods of teaching, eating, sleeping, and breaks.
Content & Guides
The content of our retreats is based on Joy of Living and Path of Liberation courses. You can also access these skillful, inspiring instructions at any time through Joy of Living Online and Vajrayana Online.
Tergar International’s website has a list of the Instructors and Facilitators who are authorized to teach these courses. Each year we invite some of them to guide our retreats.
Evolution
Our definition of “retreat” will evolve over time. We are excited to explore the limits of what is or isn’t a retreat.