Foundations of Meditation I: Establishing the Ground

February 19th - 21st, 2027

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Arrival: February 19th, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: February 21st, 12:30 PM

Tuition:
$0 + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tuition:
$0 + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

At Drala, we are deeply committed to offering inclusive and transformative programs that inspire personal growth, cultivate inner peace, and support meaningful practice. To honor this commitment, we offer tuition-free Foundations Programs such as Foundations of Meditation I & II and Retreat & Renewal.

About the Retreat

Establishing the Ground

Foundations of Meditation 1 offers a clear and supportive introduction to Buddhist meditation practice. Whether you are entirely new to meditation or returning to reestablish your foundation, this retreat provides the essential forms of sitting and walking meditation. Instruction focuses on posture, breath, and cultivating mindful awareness of thoughts, emotions, and sensations with neutrality towards our experience.

Foundational teachings of the Buddha are introduced in an accessible way for why we practice and how meditation supports clarity, balance, and inner stability. The emphasis is not on mastering technique, but on developing a gentle, sustainable relationship with awareness itself.

Through guided meditation, teachings, and periods of reflection, participants begin building confidence in the practice. No prior experience is required—only curiosity and a willingness to simply be.

Foundations 1 establishes the ground: learning how to sit, return to the present moment, and meet experience with steadiness and kindness.

Teachings may include the four noble truths, the changing and conditioned nature of experience, and the cultivation of compassion as an expression of wisdom. Silence plays a stronger role in this retreat, allowing experience to mature beyond the formal session into post meditation practice.

Foundations 2 invites a shift from meditation as a method for calm to meditation as a path of transformation. As clarity deepens, the heart naturally opens. Practice becomes less about self-improvement and more about understanding our shared human condition.

This retreat is appropriate for those who are ready to engage the Buddhist teachings more directly.

Can’t make it this weekend?

Here are other opportunities to join us for Foundations of Meditation II that are already on our calendar. We also offer a range of Tuition-Free Foundations programs designed for all levels of experience and meditation practice if this isn’t quite the right fit.

2026

October 9-11, 2026

December 18-20, 2026

2027

April 2-4, 2027

May 7-9, 2027

July 9-11, 2027

October 8-10, 2027

December 17-19, 2027

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Off Land
Participants who wish to commute from home or arrange their own accommodations off-campus (for example, a bed and breakfast, camping nearby)  pay tuition, plus $54/night for meals (3 meals per day) and use of our facilities.

Car Camping
We have 5 primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot, for simply parking and sleeping. This includes food and access our bathhouses in Rigden Lodge
Note: We don’t have any water or electric hook ups for RV’s.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

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