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The Hermitage: Meditation Retreats

If 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:

Five Day Calm-abiding Retreat

This basic five day Calm-abiding (samatha) retreat is ideal for beginner meditators but also eminently suitable for experienced meditators as well. It consists of a program of silent calm-abiding meditation with daily group instruction. A private interview with the meditation teacher each morning aids and supports the practice. In an extremely gentle manner, one is taught to sit in meditation for longer and longer lengths of time, without undue discomfort.

Ten Day Calm-abiding and Insight-practice Retreat

The ten day Calm-abiding and Insight-practice (samatha-vipasyana) retreat begins with several days of preliminary concentration practice to attain balance, calm and depth in meditation, and then evolves into insight-practice. Following the ancient maxim—"No insight without first attaining calm"—we believe that authentic Insight-practice requires a proper basis before it is able to lead to Enlightenment. We therefore tend to emphasize the need for Calm-abiding as a thorough foundation. The aim that is developed in this retreat is direct insight into the nature of one's mind. Depending on the prior experience of the meditator, it is possible to make significant breakthroughs, both in understanding the psychological functioning of one's own mental processes and directly into the nature of mind itself. The routine of the retreat is the same as for the five days, described above. Silence is maintained throughout the complete ten days.

Ten Day Mahamudra Retreat

The famous Mahamudra retreat is quite special. It is however, only open to those who have already done at least one Calm and Insight session at the Hermitage. We feel that to get the full benefit of the Mahamudra retreat, it is necessary to be familiar with Hermitage routine and to have a solid foundation in Calm and Insight Meditation practice.

The instruction at the Mahamudra is graded, in the sense that each day is a step in coming to experience the intrinsic nature of mind directly. The purpose of the retreat is to impart—through direct experience—this true nature of mind. Both through intensive meditation practice, daily question-and-answer sessions with the Lama, and the unique Kagyu "pointing out" instructions that are incorporated in the Mahamudra technique, the fortunate meditator is guided toward a direct confrontation with the ultimate nature of mind.

2008 Summer Schedule

Posted March 4, 2008. Please stay tuned for updates. We expect to be finalizing the details on additional retreats and visiting teachers in the coming weeks. If you wish to be added to our mailing list and be notified of changes directly, please email the retreat registrar at info@dharmafellowship.org.

May
Friday, May 2 - Tuesday, May 6	Green Tara Retreat Discover the Divine Feminine through the 21 aspects of the Goddess Tara as a spiritual practice to enlighten one’s personal life with devotion and love. This special Tara retreat will inaugurate the coming of Spring, and bring blessings for the year 2008. Led by Lama Tenzin Tsundu, whose devotion to Tara has formed the main practice of his own spiritual life. A portion of the donations received for this Retreat are intended to support Lama’s Trip to Tibet later in the year.	5 days
Friday, May 9 - Tuesday, May 13	Beginner Calm-Abiding Meditation Retreat Learn through silent practice to focus the mind, develop inner calm, and discover one’s own inner peace, through the practice of silent Calm-Abiding (Shamatha) Meditation. Led by Lama Karma Kunzang.	5 days
Friday, May 23 - Thursday, May 29	Shamatha-Vipasyana Retreat Classical disciplined, silent meditation retreat combining Calm-Abiding Meditation with Insight Practice, supported by daily guidance and private one-on-one audiences with the teacher. Led by Lama Karma Kunzang.	7 days
June
Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 15	Mahamudra Retreat I Learn the basic techniques of Directly Seeing into the Nature of One’s Own Mind, the tradition Kagyu Path of Mahamudra. Experience ten days of Insightful Meditation with daily guidance and a clear introduction to this unique path. (Please note that this session is restricted to those who have previously completed at the very least one 10-day retreat at the Hermitage under Lama Kunzang's guidance. Led by Lama Karma Kunzang.	10 days
Friday, June 20 - Tuesday, June 24	Summer Solstice Retreat Details to come.	5 days
July
Friday July 4 - Sunday July 13	Shamatha-Vipasyana Retreat Calm-abiding Meditation and Insight-practice, with daily guidance and instruction, following the traditional method as handed down by the late Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche. Led by Lama Karma Kunzang.	10 days
August
Friday, August 1 - Tuesday, August 5	Dzogchen Ngondro Retreat The Preliminary Stages of the way of Absolute Totality. The profound Path of Dzogchen, or realization of the ‘Absolute Totality,’ called the way of the Great Perfection, originally taught in Tibet by the Master Padmsambhava, forms the supreme teaching of the ancient Nyingma School of Tibet. Through a series of illuminating ‘Preliminary Stages’ of practice, the spiritual seeker is introduced to the basic insights that lead toward the awakening of ultimate Enlightenment and self-realization. Ngondro or Preliminary Practice is the foundation of the Mahayana Tradition in Buddhism and essential for those who would like to enter the path of Dzogchen-Mahamudra. Led by Ngakpa Kalsang Dorje. The yogi Ngakpa Kalzang Dorje comes from Rekong in Amdo, far eastern Tibet. He grew up studying Buddhist philosophy and psychology and has been extensively trained in the Nyingma tantric tradition under a number of different 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, where many spiritual seekers are now engaged in daily Ngondro practice.	5 days
Friday, August 8 - Thutsday, August 21	Mahamudra Retreat II This is our highly disciplined Great Mahamudra Retreat led each year by Karma Kunzang Rinpoche. Extended this year to fourteen days in length, it is an incredible meditation experience. For reasons of discipline and harmony, this session is restricted to those who have previously completed at the very least one Ten Day Shamatha-Vipasyana retreat at the Hermitage under Lama’s guidance. It is essential that participants be prepared and knowledgeable in Hermitage routine, the meditation program, and Lama’s methods to properly engage in this unique retreat. Led by Lama Karma Kunzang.	14 days
September
Friday, September 5 - Tuesday, September 9	Details to come	5 days
Wednesday, September 10 - Sunday, September 14	Details to come	5 days

Marsh on the Hermitage property.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the Hermitage?
How much does it cost?
What kind of accommodations are available?
What about food?
Do I have to be a Buddhist?
How can I be sure I am capable of doing meditation?
Where can I find instruction on meditation?

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.

How much does it cost?

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.

What about food?

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.

Do I have to be a Buddhist?

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: