Sitting in Beauty: A 5-day Silent Meditation Retreat

April 25th - 30th, 2026

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Arrival: April 25th, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: April 30th, 12:30 PM

Tuition:
$450 + 5 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tuition:
$450 + 5 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

“Whatever exists in us is a natural situation. It is another dimension of natural beauty.  People sometimes go to great lengths to appreciate nature by climbing mountains, going on safari to see giraffes and lions in Africa, or taking a cruise to Antarctica. It is much simpler and more immediate to appreciate the natural beauty of ourselves.” – Mindfulness in Action, Chögyam Trungpa

Meditation is a path in which we cultivate our innate capacity as human beings to inhabit qualities associated with well-being – openness, peace, caring, resilience, and insight. In order to enhance this capacity, we will directly explore the power of mindfulness meditation and related practices including yoga, slow walking, mindful eating, and loving-kindness practice.

The retreat emphasizes the direct experience of mind and heart in a silent and supportive atmosphere. This secular, accessible retreat will be offered in the tradition of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as taught around the world. It will include guided meditation instruction and talks by the retreat leader and an opportunity to discuss your practice in a small group meeting. It can be a profound and strengthening opportunity to meet oneself in this kind of supported, extended, compassionate silent retreat setting.

The daily schedule will integrate sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, and periods of informal practice, all held within the container of noble silence. The retreat leaders will offer meditation instruction and talks to illuminate the foundational principles of mindfulness, the universality of the human experience, and the cultivation of wisdom and compassion. Participants will have an opportunity to meet with a retreat leader in a small group setting to discuss their experience and ask questions.

Attendance Requirement: Participants must attend all practice sessions

Program Goals:

  • Provide a safe, nourishing environment for cultivating a deep and grounded mindfulness meditation practice.
  • Foster a rigorous retreat experience independent of any religious outlook.
  • Offer excellent support and guidance from highly trained, experienced teachers and meditation instructors.
  • Practice noble silence to develop a strong container for deepening meditation practice.

Program Schedule

Daily Schedule Overview

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.       Program Session
8:00 – 8:30 a.m.       Silent Breakfast
9:00 a.m.- noon       Program Session
12:30 – 3:00 p.m.     Silent Lunch and Open Period
3:00 – 4:30 pm         Program Session
4:30 – 5:00 p.m.       Silent Tea
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.       Program Session
6:30 -7:30 p.m.         Silent Dinner
7:30 -8:30 p.m.         Program Session

Retreat Faculty

Janet Solyntjes

Janet Solyntjes leads programs and silent retreats in both the Shambhala tradition and in the MBSR-based style of secular mindfulness. She is the co-founder of the Center for Courageous Living and has served on the faculty of Naropa University, the Center for Mindfulness, the Engaged Mindfulness Institute, and Mindful Leader.  Janet facilitates the annual leadership retreat: Do Nothing: [...]

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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