Entering the Silence

Participation in silent residential meditation retreats represents a unique opportunity to deepen our practice. Without the busyness of day-to-day responsibilities, the mind naturally moves toward a more quiet, spacious state. This spaciousness allows us to see more clearly truths that can be obscured in our daily lives. Retreat is fertile ground for gaining deeper understandings of the teachings of insight meditation.

During the Covid pandemic, silent residential retreats were largely discontinued. Now that circumstances have changed, we are excited to again offer members this important opportunity. In recognition of the continued presence of Covid, appropriate pandemic protocols will be followed.

The retreat will be from supper on Thursday night, 9/29, through noon on Sunday, 10/2. Check-in is between 3 – 5 PM on Thursday. The location is the St. Francis Springs Retreat Center near Stoneville, NC, about 2 hours from Charlotte. The registration fee includes lodging and all meals (vegetarian). The retreat will be held in Noble Silence. Previous meditation experience will be helpful, but not required. Please dress in layers and for comfort. Chairs and a limited number of meditation cushions and mats will be available. If you have your own, please bring them, along with a yoga mat if you would like to participate in gentle yoga. Please bring proof of COVID vaccination and booster or proof of a negative COVID PCR test taken within 48 hours of the retreat.

Costs (3 nights accommodations):
Single retreat room: $405
Double retreat room: $212.50
Triple retreat room: $191.68

For additional information or questions, contact us at retreat@imccharlotte.org.

In our Insight Meditation tradition, your teachers are not paid and offer their time freely, out of a love of the Dharma. Dana (generosity) from the participants – out of gratitude for the teachings and the teachers – is optional. Your registration fees are utilized for facility rentals, scholarships and other sangha related expenses.