Cultivating Concentration and the Jhana Factors

A 10-day retreat with Shaila Catherine

Tuesday, February 18 – Friday February 28, 2020.
Partial attendance can be arranged but must start on the first day of the retreat.

Don’t wait! Scroll down to register now!
Registration closes February 1. 

This ten-day residential retreat will utilize mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) and loving-kindness (metta) to cultivate concentration. The instructions will emphasize developing five factors that intensify focused attention and characterize the blissful states of meditative absorption known as jhana. The five factors are applied attention, sustained attention, joy, happiness, and one-pointedness of mind. Although these are called the Five Jhana Factors, they are not exclusive to jhana states. The teachings on this retreat will provide practical instructions for developing and balancing these factors; distinguishing between the jhana factors and the states of jhana absorption; and examining the powerful role that concentration plays on the path of awakening.

Daily group instructions will explore mindfulness with breathing (anapanasati) and loving-kindness (metta). Group and one-to-one guidance will tailor the practices to meet the needs and interests of individual students.

This silent retreat is structured with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, dhamma teachings, and teacher consultations. It will provide an ideal occasion for nurturing serenity and calmness, and introducing the basics of jhana practice. No previous jhana experience is required, however, this retreat is intended for meditators who already have an established mindfulness based practice, and have previously attended at least one multi-day silent residential retreat.

Prior to the retreat, please read the first 11 chapters of Focused and Fearless by Shaila Catherine.

SITE BENEFITS: This retreat will be held at Redwood Glen, a lovely retreat center nestled in a redwood forest between La Honda and Pescadero. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Pescadero State Beach, and about a 1-hour drive from either the San Francisco Airport or the San Jose Airport. This retreat center is convenient to reach, and yet offers a secluded and intimate environment for deep meditation practice. You will enjoy the benefits of natural beauty, a spacious meditation hall, comfortable accommodations, delicious meals, and access to walking trails. The center is nestled in a majestic redwood forest, adjacent to county parks and open space preserves. Just a few minutes’ walk from the meditation hall you will find yourself strolling along creek side paths, surrounded by the powerful serenity of the redwood forest.

Register now! Space is limited.

We keep this retreat small (under 36 participants) to enable in-depth guidance from Shaila.

The retreat begins with registration at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18; it ends with noon lunch on Friday, February 28. Participants who are traveling from afar might need to check flight times carefully, and if necessary arrange to stay in a hotel the night before the retreat. Early-arrival accommodations are not available at this retreat center, and we must depart shortly after lunch on the closing day.

TO REGISTER: Download and complete the RG2020 registration and waiver forms, enclose a non-refundable deposit of $250 (payable to Bodhi Retreats), and return the registration and waiver forms via email and/or postal mail to the address below. We are not currently accepting credit card transactions, so please send your registration deposit and fees via check or money order made payable to Bodhi Retreats. If this is not possible for some of our international guests, please contact the registrar for alternative payment arrangements.

Robin Boudette
26 Zion Road
Hopewell NJ 08525
United States

retreatregistration

• RG2020_Registration_Fillable_Form
• RG2020_Registration_Standard-Printable_Form
• RG2020_Waiver-of-Liability

The retreat facility is somewhat handicapped accessible. Accommodations include comfortable hotel-style rooms with attached baths, and a few dorm-style cabins. See the application form for accommodation details.

COST: 10 nights including accommodation and meals.

• Double occupancy sliding scale: $1800 – $1250 (estimated actual cost is $1600)
• Single occupancy sliding scale: $2800 – $1850 (estimated actual cost is $2300)

Selecting an amount above the middle of each sliding scale range will support the retreat and enable those who need to select a lower rate to attend the retreat. Selecting an amount below the middle of the sliding scale self-selects a supported scholarship rate. The mid-point of each sliding scale represents the amount that we would have charged to cover costs for accommodations, food, and basic administrative expenses if we had used a fixed rate instead of a sliding scale. Our estimated actual costs for double accommodations is $1600, and for single accommodations it is $2300.

Inquire with the registrar if you need additional scholarship support to attend.

PARTIAL ATTENDANCE: Partial attendance may be arranged for a stay of 3-6 nights. Priority will be given to full retreat registration. Partial attendees will likely be housed in double occupancy rooms. Singles accommodations will not be reserved in advance for partial attendees.

• 3 nights (Tuesday–Friday) is $900 – $550 sliding scale
• 4 nights (Tuesday–Saturday) is $1,100 – $675 sliding scale
• 5 nights (Tuesday–Sunday) is $1,300 – $800 sliding scale
• 6 nights (Tuesday–Monday) is $1,500-$950 sliding scale

Contact the registrar for details about partial attendance.

DANA: Compensation for the teacher is not included in the registration price. There will be an opportunity to offer donations to the teacher at the end of the retreat.

Co-Sponsored by Bodhi Retreats and Insight Meditation South Bay