Qualities of a Liberated Mind: Cultivating the Seven Factors of Awakening

A 10-day meditation retreat with Shaila Catherine

May 4 – 14, 2027
at Redwood Glen Retreat Center in Loma Mar, CA

The retreat begins with registration from 2:30 – 4:00 pm on May 4.

This retreat focuses on developing seven qualities that prepare the mind for awakening: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity. These Seven Factors of Awakening mature as the mind becomes bright, balanced, and peaceful, imbued with deep concentration, and ripe for insight. By cultivating these seven qualities meditators refine their meditation skills, balance their meditation practice, and progressively incline the mind toward awakening.

This retreat will provide practical instructions for nurturing and balancing the seven factors in the context of mindfulness, concentration, and insight meditation practices. It is intended for practitioners who already have some familiarity with mindfulness meditation practice and have attended at least one prior silent retreat of at least 3 days.

SITE FEATURES: 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 creekside paths, surrounded by the powerful serenity of the redwood forest.

PARTICIPATION RESTRICTIONS: Participants may be required to take a rapid-antigen test prior to arriving to test for coronavirus. If symptoms of a contagious illness arise during the retreat, participants may be required to wear masks, isolate in their rooms, or leave the retreat.

Register now! Space is limited.

The retreat begins with registration at 2:30 pm on May 4; it ends with an optional noon lunch on May 14. Participants who are traveling from afar might need to check flight times carefully, and possibly 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. There are many hotel options in the surrounding coastal area and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

TO REGISTER: Please use the online form at the link below to submit your registration and waiver forms.

• Registration Form: 

This form will take approximately 20 minutes to fill out. Upon completion of the form you will receive an email with details for completing your payment. You have the option of paying the non-refundable deposit of $250 or the full retreat payment either by mailing a check to the registrar or by making a Zelle bank transfer. The address and account information for making this payment will be included in the registration confirmation email.

The retreat facility is somewhat handicapped accessible. Accommodations include comfortable hotel-style rooms with ensuite baths, and a few dorm-style cabins. Tent camping and RV camping with hook ups are available. Seasoned campers have enjoyed camping at previous retreats here, but we only recommend camping for participants who are driving to the retreat and therefore able to bring sufficient gear for variable weather conditions. See the application form for more accommodation details.

COST: 10 nights (registration fee includes accommodation and meals). You will also be asked to make a donation to the teacher(s) at the end of retreat.

• Full retreat for single occupancy: 10 nights is $3900 – $3500 sliding scale (estimated actual cost for single is $3700)
• Double occupancy sliding scale: $3600 – $3200 (estimated actual cost for double occupancy is $3500)
• Camping in personal tent or RV: $3000

Fee covers only accommodations, food, and basic administrative expenses. There will be an opportunity at the end of the retreat to make a donation to the teacher.

The estimated actual per-person cost if we had used a fixed rate is $3700 for a single room, $3500 for a shared room, and $3000 for camping. By selecting an amount above the estimated actual cost, your generosity supports those who need to select a lower rate to attend the retreat. Selecting an amount below the estimated actual cost is equivalent to receiving a partial scholarship.

The sliding scale will allow most scholarship needs to be self-managed. If you need additional scholarship support to attend, consider applying for a scholarship through https://opendharmafoundation.org, or contact our registrar for partial assistance through IMSB/Bodhi-Retreats.

PARTIAL ATTENDANCE may be arranged for a stay of 5 nights or more, but must begin on the first day of retreat, and priority is given to full retreat participants. We strongly encourage attendance at the full retreat, especially for students new to Shaila Catherine’s retreats. Applicants for partial attendance will be placed on a wait list which will be reviewed approximately 2 months prior to the retreat; camping options will usually be confirmed earlier. Partial attendees may be housed in double or single occupancy rooms depending upon availablilty 1 month prior to the retreat. You may contact the registrar to determine if single rooms for partial attendance are available.

The registration fee for partial attendance is the same for single or double occupancy. We will assign the accommodations based upon available rooms and beds.

The registration fee for partial attendance for camping accommodation is 15% less than the fees for partial attendance listed below:

• 5 nights (Tuesday–Sunday in single or double accommodations) is $2200
• 6 nights (Tuesday–Monday in single or double accommodations) is $2600
• 7–9 nights in single or double accommodations rate is same as full retreat

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $250 deposit is non-refundable. The balance is handled as follows:

Two months before the retreat (Before March 4, 2027)

Any retreat fee paid over the $250 deposit will be refunded to you by check. Or you may request that the funds be transferred to teacher dana or to our scholarship fund (these transfers are not tax-deductible).

Two months or less before the retreat (On or after March 4, 2027)

There is a $1,975 cancellation fee (includes the $250 deposit). The remaining balance of what you paid, up to $3700, will be granted to you as a 2-year voucher toward a future Bodhi Retreats retreat or Bodhi Courses online class. Any amount you paid over $3700 will be due to you as a refund. You can request one of these options for that refund:

• Apply it toward the 2-year voucher.
• Transfer the refund to teacher dana or to our scholarship fund (these transfers are not tax-deductible).
• Receive a refund check.

If IMSB/Bodhi Courses must cancel the retreat (due to unforeseen circumstances), full refunds will be given to those registered at the time the retreat is canceled.

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.

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Co-Sponsored by Bodhi Retreats and Insight Meditation South Bay