Retreat Information

The Buddha taught that the causes of our stress and suffering can be understood and released through meditative insight, a natural, spontaneous process of intuitive knowing that begins with the clear seeing of a steadily aware mind. More than just paying attention, the wise mindfulness practice that uproots and releases patterns of suffering is based on an attitude of friendliness, non-resistance, compassion, and forgiveness, qualities that in themselves are wonderfully beneficial, but can sometimes be hard to find.

In this 5 day, mostly silent meditation retreat, we’ll practice sustained mindfulness emphasizing wise attitude. We’ll learn a relaxed, effective meditation technique that lets go of expectation and turns toward whatever’s happening with curiosity and an attitude of learning. We’ll experiment with reflections and practices that incline our hearts and minds to compassion, goodwill, balance, and forgiveness. We’ll practice continuity of mindfulness through all activities, with periods of sitting and walking meditation, dharma teachings and instructions, interviews and some group work. In the process, we’ll create the conditions for meditative insight and a relaxed, clear and loving mind.

This retreat is suitable for both new and experienced practitioners.

Retreat Instructor

Cheryl Slean

Cheryl Slean has been practicing insight meditation intensively since 1995, including hundreds of days of silent retreat. She was authorized to teach meditiation retreats in 2007 and is currently serving on the Teachers’ Councils at Against the Stream and Insight Community of the Desert. She teaches classes and residential retreats at these centers and at spiritual and secular venues worldwide including Seattle Insight, Vallecitos Retreat Center, Mindful Schools, Refuge Recovery, Foundations Recovery Network, Santa Monica Hospital, Google LA, and many other health and wellness and business settings. She has a Certification in Mindfulness Facilitation (CMF) from the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. Cheryl is also a writer, filmmaker, and educator working in the arts and sustainability, and is executive producer of VisionLA Climate Action Arts.