Reset and Reconnect: A Five-Day Meditation Retreat

Presented by Dharma Moon in partnership with Tibet House US.

In the rush of daily life, it’s easy for meditation practice to get squeezed into the margins — a few minutes here, a half hour there. But something profound happens when we step away from the constant pull of our schedules and devote ourselves fully to practice.

In the arc of any practitioner’s journey, periods of sustained, focused practice are vital — they deepen understanding, strengthen mindfulness, and renew inspiration. They allow the mind to settle beyond surface chatter, the heart to open more fully, and insight to deepen in ways that shorter sessions seldom do.

This year, Dharma Moon’s 3rd Annual Meditation Retreat at the Menla Institute will focus on the foundations of the path itself, exploring the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as taught in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, one of Buddhism’s central texts. We’ll take a fresh look at these essential teachings, offering beginners a clear foundation and giving experienced meditators the chance to refresh and deepen their practice. Together we’ll explore:

• Mindfulness of Body — breath, posture, movement, and the changing nature of the body
• Mindfulness of Feelings — recognizing experiences as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral without being swept away
• Mindfulness of Mind — noticing the qualities of consciousness, whether restless or calm, contracted or open
• Mindfulness of Phenomena — observing patterns of thought and experience, including key teachings on the Five Hindrances and the Seven Factors of Awakening

These foundations offer a complete framework for cultivating awareness and provide a complete map for observing reality—body, feelings, mind, and mental phenomena.

To support this work, the retreat will also include optional yoga classes as well as a meditation posture clinic led by Dharma Moon teacher Susan Layden, offering guidance on how to sit comfortably and sustainably for longer practice sessions.

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Catskill Mountains, this retreat will be an opportune chance to step away from the busyness of daily life and immerse yourself in practice, amazing food, and community.

Led by David Nichtern and the Dharma Moon teaching team, we’ll explore mindfulness, compassion, and clarity through extended practice sessions, teachings, periods of silence, and – creating space to reconnect with our minds and hearts beyond the habitual framework of our day to day roller derby.

Appropriate for both new and seasoned practitioners, the retreat is an opportunity to reconnect with practice in a supportive community. We hope you can join us!

Schedule

Wednesday, April 29th

• 3 – 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Welcome Session with Presenter & Support Staff

Thursday, April 30th

• 6 – 7am Optional All-Levels Yoga Class
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Morning Meditation Session with Mindfulness of Body Presentation
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm Afternoon Meditation Session (silent sitting and walking meditation)
• 6- 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Evening Meditation Session with Posture Clinic 

Friday, May 1st

• 6 – 7am Optional All-Levels Yoga Class
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Morning Meditation Session with Mindfulness of Feelings Presentation
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm Afternoon Meditation Session (silent sitting and walking meditation)
• 6- 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Evening Meditation Session with Presenter led Q&A and Group Discussion

Saturday, May 2nd

• 6 – 7am Optional All-Levels Yoga Class
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Morning Meditation Session with Mindfulness of Mind Presentation
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm Afternoon Meditation Session (silent sitting and walking meditation)
• 6- 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Evening Meditation Session with Presenter led Q&A and Group Discussion

Sunday, May 3rd

• 6 – 7am Optional All-Levels Yoga Class
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast 
• 10am – 12pm Morning Meditation Session with Mindfulness of Phenomena / Reentering the World Presentation
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note this schedule is subject to change.

What Past Retreat Participants Are Saying

This retreat was a powerful and inspiring way to deepen my practice, reify the meaning and value of the work, and make my practice more frequent. It also has deepened my sense of community and been a wonderful form of connection. I left revitalized and ready to do great things! – Derrick

Honestly the retreat was one of the best experiences I’ve had. It was incredible to practice and connect with folks in such a meaningful way! – Pat C

This was my very first meditation retreat, and honestly, it’s been incredibly meaningful. It gave me the chance to really deepen my own practice and feel more connected to the Dharma Moon community in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I’ve told my friends that coming here was the single best thing I’ve done for myself this year—and I truly mean that. – Mike S

It was so special to be together in person and being able to connect on a deeper level with other attendees. There was something so pure and blissful about being in a community grounded in practice and compassion. I experienced actual grief when it was time to leave but I also felt inspired to participate in and create an in-person sangha back home. I found the teachings from David to be profound and extraordinarily helpful for navigating the world.

I was able to see myself and to understand meditation deeper than ever. Spending 5 days in such a wonderful environment purified me. – Tetsuro O

The heart connections I made were profound and transformative. The time spent in meditation and learning in a true communal context lifted me out of my habitual life of anxiety and disconnection as I have been on zoom and isolated for so long for so many things. It has had a lasting effect and one I’d like to repeat at least once a year at Menla. – Cynthia D

It was a lovely time to connect with teachers, make new friends, be in nature, have some solitude, practice yoga and meditation in community, dance, and learn/experience wind horse meditation. – DB

The people, teachings, container, conversations, connections (with people and nature) – uniquely touched my heart.

I loved it! Thank you for organizing such a wonderful and heart forward retreat. The dance party was great too ; )