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The Hermitage: Meditation RetreatsIf you are interested in participating in a meditation retreat at the Hermitage, please check the schedule below for upcoming retreat dates and then contact us. We offer three different types of meditation retreats to our visitors:
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| May | ||
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Fri, May 29 |
Silent Shamatha Calm-abiding Meditation
Retreat At 2:00 PM Sunday: Special Lecture by Lama Lodroe Rabsal (Sidney McQueen-Smith) on the subject: How to Make Sure Your Meditation Practice Works! A great master said recently that many individuals are naïve about what it takes to awaken. Many beings practice 30 years or more with no significant results. In this talk by Lama Lodroe Rabsal, you will receive many specific teachings, pearls of wisdom and tips, so that you can ensure that your meditation practice is effective and your effort is not wasted. |
3 days |
| June | ||
Fri, June 5 - |
Shamatha and Hatha Yoga |
6 days |
Fri, June 12 - |
Special Kundalini Meditation Retreat: Led by Devmurti and Hari Amrit Khalsa. Devamurti and Hari Amrit are KRI-Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructors and have taught yoga and meditation professionally for over 30 years. They also had the good fortune to study and live with the great Kundalini Yoga master, Yogi Bhajan, for over 25 years. |
5 days |
| Sat, June 20 - Tues, June 23 |
Profound Calm-abiding in the Midst of Nature Guidance and practice of Shamatha Meditation particularly for the Summer Solstice. Learn through quiet practice to focus the mind, develop inner calm, and discover's one's own inner peace. Led by Lama Rodney Devenish. |
3 days |
| Fri, June 26 Tues, June 30 |
Beginner Meditation! A blissful five days of stress-free meditation under the compassionate guidance of Alison Yarwood. In particular, Alison will give guidance in sitting posture, help each student with their ability to sit, and she will also teach Pranayama (breath work). Find the meditation that works for you. Meditation practice in silence and in the midst of nature each day. Each student can proceed at their own pace. |
5 days |
| July | ||
Fri, July 3 - |
Sublime Path of Cutting the Ego The yogi and Ngakpa-Lama Kalzang Dorje comes from Rekong in Amdo, far eastern Tibet. He grew up studying Buddhist philosophy, psychology and Dzogchen under the guidance of many wonderful practitioners, and became the chosen disciple of a number of very famous Lamas, one of whom included the great Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. In 1992 he entered Shedrup Dojo Ling monastery in Nepal where he was the student of the Venerable Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche. In 2004 he came to Canada and now is head-Lama of Thubten Choling in the Cowichan Valley. |
10 days |
Fri, July 17 - |
Disciplined Calm-abiding Silent Meditation Retreat |
10 days |
| Fri, July 31 - Sun, August 2 |
Long Weekend Learning Experience based on The Tibetan
Book of the Dead These instructions can also be used by the living to help those who have recently died and to give guidance through the intermediate states, so as to lead to a good outcome. The Tibetan Book of the Dead contains teachings that can also help you right now in your life and on your personal spiritual path. In these sessions the teachings of the Tibetan Book of the Dead will be presented in a clear and simple way. In addition, detailed instruction on how to read the text for a dying or deceased person will be given. Led by Lama Lodroe Rabsal. |
3 days |
| August | ||
| Sat, August 8 - Mon, August 17 |
Calm-Abiding Silent Retreat in Preparation for Mahamudra This is a strict, silent retreat in which practitioners immerse themselves in deep concentration. Meditators will practice individually, in silence and isolation, in the midst of Nature. Minimal preparatory instruction will be given, to allow for a maximum amount of direct practice. Each practitioner will however meet the meditation master once a day in a private interview to examine how their progress is developing and to allow the student to ask questions. Led by Lama Rodney Devenish. |
10 days |
| Thurs New Moon, August 20 - Thurs, September 3 |
The Special Annual Hermitage Profound Essence-Mahamudra
Retreat “Essence Mahamudra” involves direct looking into
the mind’s deepest nature, eliminating the darkness of
ignorance and leading toward the attainment of highest insight
through the four mystical yogas of One-pointedness, Non-proliferation,
Single Taste, and ultimately the profound experience beyond either
Meditation or Non-meditation. “Mahamudra” is considered
by some to be the clearest, most direct path of awakening, since
its focus is on an immediate recognition of one’s own mind,
without recourse to anything artificial. Since the profound practice
of Mahamudra, when it is properly taught in a retreat environment,
is itself a “pointing-out instruction,” directly
introducing the seeker to the true nature of his or her own mind,
this practice-retreat has led many to self-realization in a surprisingly
short length of time – hence, it is called the “rapid
path” of awakening. The retreat is held in silence and
many, many hours of disciplined meditation practice is expected
from each attendee. Led by Lama Rodney Devenish, with the Buddhist monk Gelong Karma Tinley assisting. |
14 days |
*Lama Lodroe Rabsal (Sidney McQueen-Smith) has been a Dharma practitioner for over forty years, both in the world and as a monk. His principal teachers include His Holiness the 16th and 17th Karmapa, His Eminence Situ Rinpoche, and first and foremost the great Canadian master Namgyal Rinpoche. His specialty includes the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and particularly the path and method of Awakening while living in the world.

How do I get to the Hermitage?
The Hermitage is located on Denman Island, off the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada. There are ferries from the city of Vancouver to Vancouver Island, arriving at the port cities of Victoria and Nanaimo. Buckley Bay, where you catch the 10 minute ferry to Denman Island, is about 1 hour and 15 minutes north from Nanaimo and about 2 1/2 North from Victoria by car. In both cases, the drive is a pleasant one up the inland coast of Vancouver Island. Alternatively, you can fly into Comox, which is located a 20 minute drive north from the Buckley Bay ferry. Many visitors arriving from the United States have found this extremely convenient, especially in the summer when ferries can be very busy.
Spirituality may not be bought or sold as if it were a commodity. Didn't Jesus overturn the tables of the money-changers in the Temple? So too, there has never been any charge for the Buddha's precious meditation teachings. All retreats are run on a private donation basis--donations are all that we ask for. Your donations cover the cost of food, heat and light, etc. The level of suggested donation should vary from individual to individual, those with wealth benefiting the Hermitage more, and those without being benefited in turn. Please make your personal donation one that truly reflects your support for the centre.
What kind of accommodations are available?
Accommodations are limited. We are able to provide accommodations at the Hermitage on a limited first come, first served basis. If you can supply your own tent and bedding, there is ample space for camping on the Hermitage land. Beyond this, potential retreat participants can seek out lodging at one of the comfortable Bed & Breakfasts located on Denman Island.
We believe that delicious and wholesome food makes the retreat a thoroughly enjoyable, nurturing experience. The food is vegetarian fare (but not vegan) with two main meals per day (breakfast and lunch) and a light soup in the evening, in the tradition in most Buddhist retreat centres. Meals are eaten in common per day, in relative silence.
Certainly not! People from many religions, or with no religious adherence, have equally found meditation helpful and beneficial in their day-to-day lives.
How can I be sure I am capable of doing meditation?
For a person who is genuinely interested, meditation is not difficult. If one follows the instructions patiently and diligently, one can be sure of tangible results. The day's schedule is neither too severe nor too relaxed, but follows a comfortable Middle Path founded on moderation in all things. Lama Kunzang teaches that meditation should be pleasant and easy, if we want our body and mind to adapt rapidly to the practice.
Where can I find instruction on meditation?
To start with, read the Dharma
Fellowship Meditation Manual. This gives you a very basic outline
of the concentration practice that we teach at the Hermitage.
In this section:
Highlights:
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