This page includes policies and frequently asked questions for in-person residential retreats.
If you would like to sign-up for a retreat, please see Programs & Retreats.
Comfortable, home-like environment but not home
We try to create a comfortable, cozy home-like environment. But there are boundaries.
Food in the main refrigerator and pantry is reserved for future meals. We ask that yogis choose from the food that has been offered – what was put out for consumption. Tea and snacks are always available.
Yogis are welcome to bring additional food. There is some refrigerator space available but it is limited.
We’d like yogis to make themselves at home but to do so with respect to other yogis and to the retreat container. Please take steps to make yourself comfortable but please do so without creating a distraction or bothering other yogis.
- If you skip a meditation session, that is a good time to be extra quiet as to not disturb the rest of the group.
- If you make a mess, clean it up.
Retreats are in rented houses which weren’t necessarily setup for residential retreat. We frequently have to make do. The houses are comfortable but may not have everything you’re used to.
Number of participants
This varies by each retreat but most of the retreats are between 10 and 15 people. This allows for a lot of direct instruction and guidance. It is an intimate family-like environment where everyone probably knows everyone else’s name by the end.
Bring what you need
Please bring all items you need with you. We ask that you not have items shipped while you are on the retreat. There is no availability for errands to be run on behalf of participants (outside of any medical emergency).
Bedding and towels are provided at the retreat site; however, you may wish to pack a meditation cushion or any other items you require for extended meditation sits.
Arrival and departure
Arrival time is usually late afternoon of the first day of the retreat.
Late arrival is normally not allowed due to the disruption it causes. Late arrival due to difficulties mid-travel is of course more tolerated.
We encourage you to stay until the end of the retreat. Departure time is usually early on the last day of the retreat.
Silence
Retreats are held in noble silence. This means we not only refrain from talking but also engage in inner silence to the extent possible.
Silence usually begins after breakfast on the second day of the retreat. This gives time for yogis to get settled, to be able to speak with each other to work out any arrangements needed, and gives time for building friendships and sangha.
Silence usually ends on the day before the last day of the retreat.
Interviews
Interviews are normally every other day or every third day, and begin around the third day of the retreat. Interviews are typically 15 minutes long.
Interviews are there to help guide and support you. If you take a wrong turn, the interview can help get you back on track.
Sundays are usually a day off for Mugen. Typically there are no guided meditations or interviews on Sundays. This can be a great practice day.
Each retreat may have a different schedule. This is just to give you an idea of what to expect.
Appropriate Conduct
- Abstain from killing.
- Abstain from taking what is not given.
- Abstain from sexual misconduct.
- Abstain from lying.
- Abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.
Outside Food Policy
Outside food is allowed but is limited to a few personal items only.
Allowed: personal tea or coffee, protein bars, protein powder, seeds, nuts, dried fruit, candy, jerky, items that can be kept in one’s room without causing a distraction, items requiring very little refrigerator space (e.g., a carton of juice), and foods that require very little preparation.
NOT Allowed: entire meals, foods with strong smells (e.g., seafood), foods requiring cooking (e.g., fresh foods), anything requiring more than a small amount of refrigerator space, anything requiring freezer space (which is a premium), and any kind of deliveries, are all not allowed.
What kind of food is served?
All meals during the retreat are vegetarian and that there are no exceptions to the vegetarian meal plan due to the small retreat staff and to keep costs reasonable. For example, there are no dairy-free or guten-free meals. Baked goods are prepared using eggs, milk, flour, butter, and various nuts, as needed.
When there are left-overs from the previous day they are often put out with the next meal to increase the options people have to choose between.
Breakfast examples:
- Oatmeal with optional toppings
- Pancakes
- Homemade muffins
- English muffins with optional toppings
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Coffee is available each morning
Lunch examples:
- Homemade mac & cheese
- Homemade vegetable pot pies
- Spaghetti salad with vegetables, served cold
- Veggie burgers with french fries
- Salad greens with toppings included as a side with most lunches
Lunch is usually the larger meal of the day with dinner being a light soup or similar.
Dinner examples:
- Simple homemade vegetable soup served with sliced bread
- Homemade vegetarian chili with textured vegetable protein, served with homemade Cornbread muffins
- Homemade split pea soup served with freshly baked dinner rolls
Dessert examples:
- Homemade date bars
- Homemade cookies
- Homemade cakes and pies
- Homemade sour cream coffee cake
What if I need a lot of protein?
You’re welcome to bring protein bars, protein powder, jerky, or similar. See Outside Food Policy above.
Rest
Yogis are encouraged to get enough sleep and rest. The schedule is sufficiently flexible to allow naps or going to bed early.
Personal Hygiene
Yogis are encouraged to take care of their personal hygiene.
Chores
Yogis are each expected to take a daily chore. These are usually quick simple tasks that do not take much time.
Public bathrooms and shared bathrooms
For bathrooms which are shared in public space, there is usually a yogi job for cleaning that bathroom.
For bathrooms which are shared in a private space, like off of a bunk room, it is up to the yogis sharing the bathroom to decide how they’d like to divide the cleaning for that bathroom.
If you are lucky enough to have your own bathroom, you are responsible for cleaning it.
Example Schedule
Each retreat has a different schedule. The schedule below is only to give you an idea of what the schedules are like. Walking periods are not formal so they can be used for walking meditation, additional sitting meditation, or whatever you need to take care of.
1st day
2:00 - 4:00 pm Check – In
5:00 Evening Meal
7:00 Retreat Begins with opening talk
2nd and 3rd day
6:30 Sitting
7:00 Breakfast & morning tasks
8:45 Sitting & Guided meditation
9:45 Walking
10:30 Sitting
11:15 Walking
12:00pm Lunch & afternoon tasks
1:45 Dharma Talk & Guided Meditation
2:45 Walking
3:15 Sitting
4:00 Walking
5:00 Light Meal & evening tasks
6:00 Open Sitting
4th day onward
6:30am Sitting
7:00 Breakfast & morning tasks
8:45 Sitting & Guided meditation
9:45 Open Sitting
12:00pm Lunch & afternoon tasks
1:45 Dharma Talk & Guided Meditation
2:45 Open Sitting
5:00 Light Meal & evening tasks
6:00 Open Sitting
2nd to last day
6:30am Sitting
7:00 Breakfast & morning tasks
8:45 Sit & Closing Circle
1:45pm Guided meditation
Break silence
Last day
7:00am Light breakfast
Departure
Related video about retreat schedules.
Experience prerequisite
At least 2 silent, residential, Buddhist meditation retreats for a minimum of 6 days. Please include specifics of your retreat experience to verify that you meet these requirements in your application. Mugen may consider exceptions to these requirements under some circumstances. To request an exception, please email us at events@awakeningdharma.org.
It is also quite helpful to join an online program before committing to a full retreat.
What is the COVID policy?
Please review the COVID policy.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation results in either a partial refund or no refund. These are very small retreats and there is a trade-off between a less generous cancellation policy or higher retreat costs for everyone. We’ve opted to keep retreat costs down and ensure that when people sign-up, they are committed.
Please see the Cancellation Policy.
What is the participation waiver?
By participating the Awakening Dharma events, you agree to the Participation Waver.
What is the importance of retreat practice?
Gentleness and ripeness
We encourage students to take a gentle approach to practice and allow ripeness to unfold.
