Retreat Information

This 56-day intensive retreat is for individuals who desire an extended and in-depth period of meditation practice and study while being immersed in the total New Life experience. A variety of secular authors, both Eastern and Western, will be used for our study time. Opportunities for service, cultural outings and community work are all part of this amazing intensive. We are happy to have our meditation teacher Chris offer bring this extra offering to our New Life guests.

Retreat Highlights

• Participants will join two 5-day traditional silent meditation retreats.

• Participants will join a 90-minute study group once a week in which we will discuss various texts from numerous traditions, to give a broad foundation in mindfulness, including authors such as:

  • Stephen Batchelor

  • Ken Wilber

  • Ken McLeod

  • Thich Nhat Nhan

• Participants will have the opportunity to meet with Chris once a week in a one on one session format to discuss any challenges, obstacles, or insights arising as a result of the meditation practice.

• 1 counselling session per week

• Multiple off-site excursions to cultural points of interest to our studies (transport, meals and entrances are not covered by retreat fee)

Participants will be immersed in a residential group in which mindfulness will be the way of life during the intensive. As such, one will have the opportunity to learn how mindfulness may enrich our lives not only in meditation but while eating, working, walking, reading, and communicating with others.

Retreat Instructors

Christopher Luard

Having witnessed the Sept 11th incident in New York City, Christopher has dedicated his life to the wisdom teachings of mindfulness with the intention of bringing about a new, more peaceful, loving and compassionate worldview.

Christopher has received formal training in Japanese Zen, Mahamudra, Dzochen from the Tibetan traditions, Vipassana and Vedanta from the Indian traditions, and Mindfulness and Shambhala from the relatively modern American traditions. He has attended numerous training retreats, taking on the life of a monk in monasteries in Nepal, California, and New York.

About the Retreat

This is a traditional 5-day silent residential meditation retreat, that will include sitting and walking meditation periods during the day, with breaks for meals and 30 minutes of yoga practice (in the morning). After dinner, it will include a daily dharma talk.

Retreat Program

Arrival and departure

• Chris will give a dharma talk the evening of Friday, June 28th titled ‘Entering into Mindfulness' at 7:45 pm to launch the program

• Participants will identify a community need and work together, in a service project, as part of the meditation intensive retreat

• Participants will have one counselling session per week, with one of our trained counsellors

• Participants will engage in 2 hours of daily morning working meditation shifts (6 shifts per week)

• The program will end on Friday, August 23rd with a dharma talk at 7:45pm.

Daily Schedule

*Please note that the schedule will vary from time to time and will be explained at the introductory talk.

06:00 – Wake-Up Bell

06:30 – Community Yoga or Meditation

07:30 – Breakfast

08:30 – Community Morning Meeting

09:30 – Retreat Workshop / Working Meditation / Counselling

12:30 – Lunch

14:00 – Book Study / Individual Sessions with Teacher or Counsellor / Free Time

16:30 – Yoga or Meditation

18:30 – Dinner

19:30 – Optional Community Evening Activity

21:30 – Noble Silence