Embodied Breathing, Clear Seeing, Liberated Heart

Attending closely to the breath, in the spirit of the Buddha’s original instructions, offers a deeply embodied way of practice. Through this careful, curious inquiry, participants can discover a broad range of insights into the realities of body, mind, and life. Along the way, familiar themes from vipassanā practice may arise, including impermanence, equanimity, and letting go. At the same time, insight can also deepen through bodily relaxation, joy, well-being, faith, inspiration, and an opening into emptiness.

This retreat will center on the sixteen breath-based trainings of ānāpānasati, with particular attention to how embodied insight is supported at every stage. Clear seeing unfolds alongside settling and calming (samatha). As attention becomes more unified and skillful (samādhi), contemplation naturally grows stronger and more refined. The four foundations of mindfulness are developed through these sixteen trainings, and in turn they give rise to the seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga). This practice matures into true knowing (vijjā) and liberation (vimutti).

Each day will include guided meditation designed to support a full exploration of ānāpānasati and its many possibilities. Teachings will illuminate the healing and contemplative dimensions of the practice, while Dhamma talks will reflect on the essential principles of the Buddha-Dhamma that help loosen suffering and release us from affliction. Qigong will bring movement and healing energy into the body-mind, complementing the breath practice. Cloud Mountain’s safe, welcoming, and beautiful setting also supports mindfulness and clear seeing. Participants will enjoy wholesome living, healthy food, noble silence, and the shared energy of community practice. Santikaro will be available for one-on-one and small-group practice interviews.

Suggested reading:

• Mindfulness with Breathing: a manual for serious beginners, Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu (Wisdom, 1988)

Experience Requirement: Prior experience with breath-based meditation is required, along with completion of at least one 6-day silent residential Buddhist meditation retreat, or several shorter retreats.

Partial attendance is not available. Please also consider joining only if your current life circumstances allow you to take part in an important modern renunciation practice: remaining offline and avoiding phone and text communication for the full duration of the retreat, with limited exceptions for urgent family matters.

CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS:

Cloud Mountain continues to maintain public health and safety measures. Requirements vary by season, though some level of masking remains part of the retreat protocol.

SCHOLARSHIP INFO

Scholarship funds are available for all retreats to support participants facing financial difficulty. Please refer to the Scholarship section of the overview information for details.

SPECIAL NOTES

This retreat is intended for experienced students.

RETREAT COST

Generosity Tier : $ plus dana offerings to teacher(s) and staff

Base Tier : $ plus dana offerings to teacher(s) and staff

Subsidized Tier : $ plus dana offerings to teacher(s) and staff

In keeping with Buddhist tradition, none of the registration fee goes to the teacher(s). Participants are encouraged to offer teacher dāna at the event to support their livelihood. Dāna means generosity, or freely offered giving, and more information about this gift-based economy is available on the Donation page.