Entryway to Intensive Retreat

Event Description

The Entryway to Intensive Retreat is a week-long silent meditation retreat. It’s designed primarily for people who have yet to do intensive retreats, yet it also suits the needs of experienced practitioners. This retreat will introduce you to the Dharma Drum Lineage’s overall approach to intensive Chan Buddhist practice. Here you’ll learn how to adapt to retreat life as well as how to deeply experience and understand yourself via methods of practice (including breath awareness/counting, buddha-name recitation, huatou, and silent illumination).

The retreat schedule alternates between stillness and movement, with typical sitting periods lasting 30 – 40 minutes. The overall design of retreat is tailored to help you develop concentration and awareness in an easygoing manner—not too tight, not too loose.

Methods of meditation will be taught in the context of daily life activities, such as sitting, standing, walking, sleeping, working, and eating. Gentle yoga exercises further harmonize the body, breath, and mind. The retreat also includes daily lectures, meditation, and personal interviews.

Pricing

This event is priced on a sliding scale. Please consider your registration as a moment to practice generosity by paying at the highest rate that you can afford. Your generosity supports Dharma Drum Retreat Center, staff, your fellow practitioners, and our continued efforts to help people to learn and grow. Any amount paid above the Base rate is a tax-deductible donation to DDRC. Please contact us if you need the tax receipt.

No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Chartered Shuttle

We are happy to offer a chartered shuttle service from Manhattan Penn Station to our center, provided we have enough interested participants. The fee for the shuttle service is $75 for one way and $150 for a round trip per person.

The shuttle will depart from Manhattan Penn Station at 2:00 pm on the start day of the retreat, taking you directly to our center. On the end day of the retreat, the return shuttle will depart from our center at 10:30 am, heading back to Manhattan Penn Station.

If you wish to avail of the shuttle service, please remember to check the item during registration.