Come Play in the Light!
A Spiritual Retreat is a strategic withdrawal with the intention to return. Stepping away from the world allows us to gather our strength and let go of old patterns. When we go on a retreat together, the power is amplified by all those who attend, allowing us to reach deeper into Light.
At Dharma Center, we design our retreats with time to withdraw, learn, rejuvenate, and integrate the experience. This includes time both with the group and alone. We do not rush or try to pack too much into our adventures; we recognize the importance of giving our participants time to unfold into their new selves so they can return ready to engage and implement these powerful changes in their lives.
Many retreats and adventures are for only Dharma Center members, who will receive private invitations via email. The retreats posted with registration information on this site are available to non-members who have their intentions set on spiritual evolution and enlightenment. To learn more about a particular event, please contact the retreat leader indicated in the description.
Most retreat invitations are sent only to Dharma Center Members.
Prerequisites for Overnight Retreats:
- Established personal practice
- Attend at least 10 public classes, preferably with different teachers
- Attend at least 1 non-class event in person (Sangha Social, Member day trip, Volunteer meeting, etc.)
- Maintain membership for at least 3 months
- Mandatory pre-trip meeting*
*Appropriate etiquette is required for all participants. Meeting these prerequisites does not guarantee an invitation to overnight retreats.
Attendees are responsible for their own lodging, transportation, and food unless otherwise specified. Many retreats are scheduled far into the future and may have limited space. Please be mindful of the rsvp deadline, and respond early if you plan to attend. Spots for the trips often are filled months in advance.
All participants must certify they are in good mental and physical health, and will be required to sign a Liability Release before the retreat.
Become a Dharma Center Member to be invited on our unadvertised adventures!
Coming Soon:
Giant Buddhas
Mount Shasta
Santa Cruz
New York
PAST RETREATS:
Explore below to learn about some of our previous adventures.
Hawaii – September 2022
San Francisco – July 2022
Arches / Canyonlands Retreat – September 2021
Daily adventures with Turīya & Hathor on 9/23 – 9/26
Attend one or more days – your choice!
Retreat begins Thursday, 9/23 at 10am and ends Sunday, 9/26 at 8pm
Adventure!
We’ll meet in the little town of Moab and head out to either Arches or Canyonlands. As this is a fluid and popular power spot, the exact details will be revealed the day before to participants. There will be morning, afternoon, and night time explorations while we are in this enchanted land. (The night time adventure will most likely be Friday night, but like all things, is subject to change.) The energy of Arches and Canyonlands creates a special opening for those who are ready to embrace the mystery of Being. What will this ancient land teach you?
Preparation:
Be prepared for long car rides and walking over rough terrain. We will be sitting on rocks or the ground in meditation for extended periods of time. There are little to no services where we will be going; we will need to bring food and water with us for the entire day, and pack out any trash.
Planning:
You are responsible for your own lodging and transportation. If you would like to carpool and/or share accommodations with other attendees, please add your contact information to the Arches/Canyonlands post on the Community Board in the Members Portal at samsaraisnirvana.com. Check the post often to connect with others to make your plans. Non-members: your retreat fee includes a One-Year Dharma Center Membership. (Existing Members receive a $200 discount off the retreat fee.)
The closest airports are:
Grand Junction, CO (about 2 hours away from Moab, UT)
Salt Lake City, UT (about 4 hours away from Moab, UT)
There are many hotel options in Moab, Utah, as well as AirBnB or VRBO.
It is recommended you make your hotel reservations now, even if you are a maybe. With mild temperatures, September is a popular time to travel to Moab, so hotels might fill up. Most hotels will allow cancellations, but verify this with the hotel before you book.
Retreat Fee: $450 for non-members / $250 for members
Please wait to pay your retreat fee until you are certain you can attend, as retreat fees are non-refundable. The retreat fee is the same whether you attend one day or all four days. Please specify which days you plan to attend when you register, and note which days you are traveling in and out of the area.
Registration for this retreat is now closed. Please check back for future retreats. Become a Member to hear about private adventures!
Cultivating Balance: Santa Fe Adventure with Meditate Santa Fe
Oct 10 – 13, 2019
The group will gather at Meditate Santa Fe for a special workshop with Turīya on Thursday evening at 7pm. She will offer empowerment and instruction in Elemental Pyramid Meditation, a powerful intermediate technique for those ready to open all of their chakras and experience a deeper level of Being. Participants must be able to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes per meditation session.
On Friday and Saturday, our guides from Meditate Santa Fe will bring us on easy hikes to a few of their favorite power spots where we’ll enjoy the silence of meditation. We’ll gather for group meals at local restaurants to share our moments of powers. If time and flight schedules permit, we’ll meet for a morning meditation at Meditate Santa Fe Sunday morning to close the retreat.
Did you miss this one?
Become a Dharma Center Member for invitations to private adventures and to hear about new retreats first!
Writing Retreat at Lake Tahoe, plus optional side trips
July 30 – Aug 4, 2019
We’ll begin our adventures with an optional side trip to the Giant Sequoia National Forest! We’ll spend the night of 7/30 at a Fresno area hotel, then visit the Giant Sequoia in the morning. After meditating at an inter-dimensional vortex and saying hello to our Giant friends, we’ll make the drive to Lake Tahoe.
On 7/31, the official retreat will begin at Lake Tahoe, where we’ll spend 3 nights in a retreat house. We’ll start the day with group meditation and observe silence while working on our creative projects. In the evening, we’ll meet once again for meditation and break our silence to share our projects and insights. The mountain air will boost our creativity and clear our minds.
On Saturday 8/3, our second optional adventure will begin. We’ll drive down one mountain and up another to the Pine Mountain School of Zen Arts north of Los Angeles. After a night at a local hotel, we’ll visit Ganga and Tara who will share their lovely home temple with us. They teach a variety of Zen Arts, including the ancient art of the tea ceremony. (Note this part of the trip depends upon Ganga & Tara’s schedule and is subject to change.)
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Begin Again Retreat – Meditation Intensive (2nd Annual)
March 21-24, 2019
Experience the community of sangha and make spiritual friends while expanding your awareness during this intimate retreat. The 4-day Begin Again Meditation Intensive is limited to 14 participants and will be held at Dharma Center in beautiful San Diego. While the retreat is designed for experienced students with a beginners mind, new students ready to dive deep into Light are also welcome. Remember how to apply the twin practices of meditation and mindfulness to renew your life and Begin Again.
The Begin Again Retreat is also the perfect preparation for our future retreats and adventures to places of power and light. NO MEDITATION EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED for this powerful and transformative event.
The Begin Again Retreat is your chance to sit together will ALL of the Dharma Center teachers and experience the full mandala of offerings integrated into 4 days of bliss.
Retreat runs from Thursday, March 21 at 1pm through Sunday, March 24, at 1pm.
Workshops during this Meditation Intensive include:
- M3 – Introduction to Meditation, Mindfulness, and Managing Energy
- Meditation and Movement
- Storing Power
- Expanding Consciousness with Sound and Meditation
- Uniting Mind & Body with Martial Arts, Yoga, and Meditation
- Sound, Vibration, and Selecting Meditation Music
- Subtle Body Structures
- Embodied Enlightenment & Trikaya Buddhism
- Medicine Buddha Guided Self-Healing Meditation
- Beginners Mind on the Endless Path
- Applying the Practice to Real Life
- Plus private one on one meetings with Turīya
In addition to the workshops, there will be time to share meals and stories with other attendees. Discover the power of spiritual community with this transformational event!
Silent Writing Retreat at Joshua Tree – 2018
September 19 – 23, 2018
REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED FOR THIS RETREAT
Limited to 7 participants
Do You Have Stories to Tell?
Write with Us!
Give yourself time to write at a large luxurious estate in the beautiful Joshua Tree area. This power spot is connected with the third eye and innovation … the energy here allows us to see deeper and opens the door to our creative expression.
We’ll begin on Wednesday afternoon, gathering at the house to say hello, and in the evening have a group meditation, discussion and pot luck dinner. Each morning after our 9am group meditation, we’ll spend the days in silence, spread out at the estate writing by the pool or inside the air conditioned home. By not talking throughout the entire day, the energy normally expended during ordinary conversation can be directed into our creative work. At 6pm, we’ll gather for meditation and dinner. Each evening, everyone will have the option to share a few pages of their writing with the group.
Also in the evening, Turīya, who has written and published multiple books including an Amazon best seller, will share tips for getting out of the way so the words can flow, organizing your ideas, and book structure for both fiction and non-fiction works. She will also provide an overview of preparing your work and your options in the publishing industry, including what’s involved in turning a raw manuscript into a polished, professional looking book. We’ll discuss the options available for selling and distributing your work, including both the traditional agent/publisher road and the indie route. She’ll also point out the scams that take advantage of first time authors so you can avoid them. Bring your questions!
On Friday afternoon, we’ll end our writing session early for an inspiration break at Joshua Tree National Park to enjoy a sunset meditation.
For those of you who want to share your story for the first time, have been putting off writing the book you started, or who need a block of time to edit and polish your manuscript, this is the perfect retreat to close the mouth and get those words out on the page!
Artists who work in other mediums in silence are also welcome.
New writers are welcome!
Meditation experience is not required; beginners are welcome!
Register Now
Retreat Fees are non-refundable.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; please indicate in your RSVP if you would like me to share your contact information with others so you can discuss the possibility of carpooling.
*non-members will also receive a one-year membership
Books by Turīya include:
Peace with Pain: Your Guide to Life in a Malfunctioning Body
Worlds of Power, Worlds of Light
Summer Solstice Under the Stars! – 2018
Anza Borrego with Turīya
June 21 – 24, 2018
The Retreat House is full, but you can join us and secure your own lodging at a nearby hotel.
Sit in silence under the stars in the Anza Borrego Desert with your sangha! We’ll plan to relax at the retreat house during the day, and on Friday and Saturday evenings we will drive out in 4WD vehicles to put some distance between us and the world. Out beneath the stars, we’ll let the Light carry us away into worlds of mystery, magic, and power.
We’ll rent a beautiful retreat house for the weekend. On Thursday we’ll have a group meal and meditation in the evening. If you cannot make it out on Thursday, please arrive during the mid-afternoon on Friday. This will ensure enough time for you to unwind before we head out from the house around sunset on Friday night for our first adventure.
Send your RSVP to:
Jenna@DharmaCenter.com
Retreat Fees are non-refundable
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; please indicate in your RSVP if you would like me to share your contact information with others so you can discuss the possibility of carpooling.
*non-members will also receive a one-year membership
Begin Again Meditation Intensive – 2018
Beginner’s Mind Retreat at Dharma Center
February 22 – 25, 2018
2018 Workshops:
- Meditation, Mindfulness and Laughter with Turīya
- Medicine Buddha Self-Healing Guided Meditation with Varada
- Expanding Consciousness with Sound and Meditation with Teresa
- Uniting Body & Mind with Martial Arts, Yoga, and Meditation with Hathor
- Listening to Heart Wisdom with Turīya
- Managing Your Energy & Places of Power with Turīya
- Applying the Practice to Real Life with Turīya
- Private one-on-one meetings with Turīya
Joshua Tree & the Integratron with Turīya & Teresa – 2017
October 12 – 15, 2017
Dissolve with us beneath the stars surrounded by magical Joshua Trees! We’ll rent a luxurious retreat house where we can gather together Thursday for an evening meditation. On Friday we’ll enjoy the surrounding area and prepare for an evening in Joshua Tree Park. Saturday we’ll explore the power of sound at the intriguing Integratron. Teresa will take us to the Big Rock and airstrip where the Integratron was first dreamed into being. Then we’ll visit this unusual structure for a “sound bath” where we’ll experience the sound waves of their specially designed music. We’ll end the evening with a sunset desert meditation. Sunday morning we’ll sit together again before heading back to the world.
Please RSVP by 9/2/2017 to Turīya at: Jenna@DharmaCenter.com
Space in the Retreat House is limited to 12 people; first come, first serve. PLEASE RSVP NOW to save your spot.
Once the retreat house is filled, attendees will need to secure their own lodging. Please contact us for details about the closest hotel.
Retreat Fees are non-refundable
**non-members will also receive a one-year membership
Explore all of our Membership Options to fit your budget
Summer Solstice Mountain Walk with Turīya – 2017
June 24, 2017
10am – meet in La Mesa
San Diego is home to a wonderful variety of environments to explore. Join us for a day trip to our local mountains. The terrain will be rocky, so be sure to wear study hiking shoes. Parking at the trail head is limited; we’ll carpool from La Mesa and take a voyage together into the beauty and power of rocks and trees. We’ll meditate out in a nature. Please pack a lunch, snacks, and plenty of water.
Please RSVP by 6/21/2017 to Turīya at: Jenna@DharmaCenter.com
San Francisco Mount Diablo & Vedanta Retreat Center -2017
May 19 – 22, 2017
We’ll stay at a lovely resort hotel in Marin, so please RSVP as soon as possible as this is a popular time of year in that area. If you would like to share a room, please indicate that in your email so we can try to match you up.
Our retreat will begin with a public meditation on Friday evening at 6pm, followed by dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. The weekend adventure to the Bay Area will include a day of walking and seated meditation on the beautiful Mount Diablo and at the pristine Vendanta Society Retreat. On Monday, we’ll stop by the Big Trees at Muir Woods and/or a short hike on Mount Tamalpais before heading to the airport.
Prior meditation experience is recommended for this transformative retreat.
As mountains go, Mount Diablo isn’t particularly tall – only 3,849 feet. However, it is surrounded by low, rolling hills and broad, flat valleys, so the view from the Summit is remarkable. When conditions are best, you can see almost 200 miles!
The Vedanta Society Retreat in Marin offers 2000 acres of pristine land upon which to walk, meditate, and enjoy the nature beauty and wonder of this earth.
Fall Equinox Desert Trip! – 2016
Join our Members Retreat to the Anza Borrego Desert, to sit under the stars and the full moon. We’ll plan to relax by the pool during the day, and on Friday and Saturday evenings we will drive out in 4WD vehicles to put some distance between us and the world. Out beneath the stars, we’ll let the Light carry us away into worlds of mystery, magic, and power.
Those of us staying at the house will arrive on Thursday for a relaxation day before the official start of the retreat. If you plan to arrive on Friday, please arrive during the mid-afternoon. This will ensure enough time for you to unwind before we head out from the house around sunset on Friday night for our first adventure.
Touching Aloha: A Kauai Retreat with Lakshmi – 2016
July 21-25, 2016
Presented by The San Diego Dharma Center and Integrated Meditation Studies
The Hawaii Retreat is FULL, however, I will have a waiting list in case of cancellations. Please use the contact information below to learn more.
Join Lynne/Lakshmi for 4 days of adventures that will introduce you to the beauty and power of Kauai–her land, water and wind. Experience the island energy as you mediate on sacred land. Enjoy the pool, beaches and views from oceanfront Condos on the Coconut Coast which provide affordable luxury and old school charm. Open your balcony doors and let the tropical breezes and ocean waves sooth your soul.
Retreat offered by Lynne Miller/Lakshmi
Contact Lynne oblynne1 @ gmail.com
Arches of Light and Power with Turīya – 2016
May 19 – 22, 2016
RSVP Deadline: May 1, 2016
The Retreat House is full; however you are still welcome to join us by booking your own lodging!
If you have a stable meditation practice and are ready for the next jump in personal transformation, join us as we explore the magical worlds of Arches National Park, spanning across dimensions of Light and purity.
We’ll gather at the retreat house centrally located in the heart of Moab, just 10 minutes from Arches National Park. We’ll meet at the house Thursday afternoon, where those staying at the house will be able to soak in the hot tub, do yoga or Tai Chi in the yard, or walk to the restaurants and shops in town.
We’ll kick off the retreat with group meditations Thursday evening and Friday morning. Friday during the day will be a time to relax, explore, and let go of the weight of the world. We’ll meet at the Park for a sunset meditation on Friday night beneath a cathredral-like Arch. On Saturday, we’ll have a lunchtime picnic, short walk and meditation before taking a break to nap. Late Saturday night, we’ll meet up again for a midnight meditation under the full moon in the silence of the Arches National park. Sunday will be a day for you to explore this mystical treasure on your own or with friends you met at the Retreat and integrate all that you’ve learned from this special place.
To see more pictures and enjoy “Reborn,” a poem about our last visit to Arches, visit her blog.
THIS RETREAT IS FULL
Payment/Cancellation
Policy: RSVP becomes final when payment is received. All payments are non-refundable. If we find someone to take your place, the lodging cost will be returned. Retreat fee ($200) is non-refundable.
Fees do not include air or ground transportation, lodging, food, or optional events.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; please indicate
in your RSVP if you would like me to share your contact information with others who are securing their own lodging so you can discuss the possibility of carpooling.
*non-members will also receive a one-year membership
Joshua Tree – 2015
Lake Tahoe – 2015