Events

April 20 – 25, 2025

Drala Mountain Center

with Janet Solyntjes

Mindfulness and awareness training allows one to fully receive the unpredictable, extraordinary, and sometimes heartbreaking dance of life, as it appears within our own personal experience. The inclination of our heart’s longing for contentment and freedom reflects our innate beauty and wisdom. Opening to this present moment illuminates the vividness of reality, the tenderness of the heart, and the magic of being alive, and prepares us to meet the challenges of this life with awareness and love.  It is through this path of opening and softening that we discover our own essential nature, our innate goodness, and the innate goodness of all humanity.

“Whatever exists in us is a natural situation. It is another dimension of natural beauty.  People sometimes go to great lengths to appreciate nature by climbing mountains, going on safari to see giraffes and lions in Africa, or taking a cruise to Antarctica. It is much simpler and more immediate to appreciate the natural beauty of ourselves.”      Mindfulness in Action, Chögyam Trungpa

The Sitting in Beauty retreat is an intensive 5-day silent meditation program that emphasizes the deep understanding and practice of mindfulness meditation in its most universal and secular expression. In this retreat we will explore the journey of opening and softening through periods of sitting and walking meditation practice, gentle movement exercises, and talks by senior teachers to deepen the understanding of the practice. Each afternoon there will be a period of time to rest or take a walk around the land of Shambhala Mountain Center.

While participants will be in silence for the majority of the retreat, there will also be an opportunity to meet with a teacher to discuss your meditation practice.

For more information and to register: Sitting in Beauty

For more information and to register: Heart of Mindfulness

With Janet Solyntjes and Rebecca Eldridge

September 26th – October 1st, 2025

Karmê Chöling Retreat Center in Vermont

“Fullness of being” refers to living life authentically, able and content to be fully who we are. One way to discover and experience such fullness of being is through the path of mindfulness meditation—a path that strengthens our human capacities for openness, deep caring, resilience, insight, and more. The practice of silent meditation has been encouraged throughout time in many contemplative traditions as a way to reconnect us with our unconditional confidence, natural wakefulness, and inherent goodness.

For more information about this retreat and to register: Fullness of Being

October 5–9, 2025

Drala Mountain Center

with Rob Dube and Janet Solyntjes

The Do Nothing Leadership Retreat offers business leaders, entrepreneurs, and those seeking a more mindful life the most rewarding challenge they may ever take — a leadership-focused mindfulness and meditation retreat.

Discover why meditation and mindfulness practices can positively impact your life. After slowing down, unplugging, and looking within, you’ll understand why presence and awareness are the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves and others.

To find out more and to register: DoNothing

December 5 – 12, 2025

Drala Mountain Center

With Janet Solyntjes and Gaylon Ferguson

The Heart of Mindfulness Retreat is a 7-day silent meditation retreat that emphasizes the deep understanding and practice of mindfulness in its most universal expression while respecting and acknowledging its contemplative and spiritual roots.

This week-long silent retreat includes mindfulness meditation practice and instructions, talks by senior teachers, gentle yoga, and contemplative practices.

The retreat is open to all meditators who are looking for an enriching silent retreat experience. It is suitable for mindfulness teachers or aspiring teachers and fulfills the retreat prerequisite for attending many teacher training programs.

For more information and to register: Coming soon!