WEEKEND RETREAT
Silent Compassion in a Mind-Made World
with Venerable Losang Gendun
Fri-Sun, Sep 13-15
Check-in: Fri 3-6pm; End of Retreat: Sun 1:30pm EDT
at Garrison Institute, NY
IN-PERSON
The Buddha famously said, “All experience is preceded by mind, led by mind and made by mind.” Realistically, experience is all that we have. In that sense, our world is like a web of mind-mirrors reflecting each other and the objects of our thoughts.
It is in those thoughts though that we easily get lost, polarized, angered, and addicted. Trying to remedy this challenge simply with more opinions, identities and attachments is the dead-end that we are by now familiar with. Lost in our hall of mirrors, we all seek for the exit.
Our retreat will focus on calming the mind and opening the heart, as a window to living frictionless in the world, where our well-being is intimately interwoven with those of others. Focusing our attention on our heart’s capacity for joy, kindness and care, we will cultivate a wholesome way of being in the world as an oasis, where the thirsty can be replenished.
Our days will consist of silent meditation, with Dharma talks and time for Q&A in the evenings.
Garrison Institute is a peaceful retreat center located in Garrison,
NY. It is located around 75 minutes away from Grand Central Station via Metro North, with free shuttle service from the Garrison Metro North Station to/from the Institute.
Five Buddhist Precepts
During the retreat, we request everyone to observe the five lay precepts: to refrain from killing (including insects), stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants (drugs, alcohol and cigarettes). We also encourage retreaters to refrain from wearing perfume and other strong scents, as fellow retreaters may be allergic.
Important Note
This is an offsite retreat at Garrison Institute.
Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 10.
After completing registration, the system automatically sends a confirmation email and a receipt email. If you don’t receive BOTH emails immediately afterwards, please contact us at registration@shantidevanyc.org. Proof of successful registration is based ONLY on the confirmation email.
A separate registration is required for each person. Manually increasing the quantity in the cart during the checkout process does not result in additional registration.
Check-in will be from 3-6pm on Friday, September 13, followed by 6pm dinner and an evening session. The retreat will end around 1:30pm (after lunch) on Sunday, September 15.
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel at any time without penalty on or before Monday, September 2, 2024. After that date, no refunds will be possible unless:
- there is a serious medical injury or illness such as being hospitalized and with a doctor’s note
- there is proof of you tested positive for Covid test on Friday, September 13 (see COVID Policy section below)
- or Shantideva Center can find someone to take your place
For cancellation requests, please contact registration@shantidevanyc.org to discuss cancellation details. This registration is not self-cancellable.
COVID Policy
To help ensure the safety of all retreaters, and in accordance with Garrison Institute’s policy, please take a COVID test on the morning of the retreat (on Friday, September 13). All retreaters must test negative for COVID. At check in we will ask you if you took a COVID test and confirm that you were negative.
Wearing masks at the retreat venue is optional.
Fees & Registration
The fees for the entire retreat are:
- Single room: $500
- Double room: $440
- Triple room: $410
- Commuter rate: $370
The cost also includes 3 vegetarian meals per day (from dinner on Friday to lunch on Sunday), use of facilities, and support for teacher offerings and expenses.
We have tried to keep fees as low as possible for this retreat. Shantideva member benefits do not apply due to facility expenses.
You may register via the Register button below. Please register as soon as possible to secure your spot and room preference. Please email registration@shantidevanyc.org to be waitlisted for desired room types.
Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 10.
Time zone: US Eastern Daylight Time (GMT/UTC-4)
For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.
Location and Directions
Garrison Institute: 14 Mary’s Way, Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524
Click here for more detailed directions.
Note: Garrison Institute offers free, no-reservation-required shuttle service from the Garrison Metro North Train Station during registration check-in hours, between 3-6pm.
What to Bring
Click here for more information.
Garrison Institute will provide:
- Meditation cushions and chairs
- Sheets, a pillow, blanket, bedspread and bath towel for each non-commuting guest
Accommodations
Accommodations are simple but comfortable. Click here for more information.
To request sharing a double (or triple) room with a specific person, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org with the name of the person by September 10. Otherwise, roommate(s) will be randomly assigned.
Meals
Garrison Institute is known for its delicious meals, offering local/organic foods. The meals will be vegetarian. Coffee and tea will be served throughout meal times.
Individual dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated for the group, but guests can bring their own food (for which Garrison Institute provides storage and refrigeration). Please make sure food is stored in fully zippered, labeled bags. Garrison recommends using disposable gloves (provided by the Institute) for retrieval if using their common space for storage.
Dana for the Teacher
Shantideva Center makes offerings to all of our teachers using the funds collected through registration. You can give additional support to the teacher and create a stronger karmic connection by offering dana online or onsite at the retreat. If offering online, please make sure to select the teacher’s name in the dropdown menu. Dana offered is passed entirely to the teacher, but please note that it is not tax-deductible.
About the Teacher
Venerable Losang Gendun has practiced Buddhism for nearly four decades and has been a Bhikshu (Buddhist monk) in the Tibetan tradition for the past 18 years. Until his ordination he worked in diverse areas such as palliative care, tech, refugee organizations, and commercial management. He studied Buddhist philosophy and practice for 10 years in monasteries in France, India, Nepal and Myanmar, before spending over four years in retreat, training in Tibetan sutra and tantra, as well as in the Burmese Theravada Forest Tradition. For the past 15 years, Ven. Gendun has been teaching Buddhist philosophy, psychology, and meditation across the world. He is a member of Mind & Life Europe, a multidisciplinary laboratory of researchers and contemplative practitioners for investigating the nature of experience. He is the interreligious canon of the Peace Cathedral in Tbilisi Georgia and is at home in a Mevlavi Sufi Dergah in Istabul. In 2023 Ven. Gendun founded The Buddha Project for the long-term guidance of Buddhist meditators, scientific research, art projects and intercontemplative social engagement.
