Retreat Information

This 5-day meditation retreat focuses on the combination of Resting in the Body and Looking in the Mind. By entering this retreat, one can expect to learn and practice very deeply the meditation technique of insight to heal the divide between psyche and soma, mind/body and environment, mind/ body and emotion/body, self and Self.

Using the book I have written, “Such Sweet Thunder” as a curriculum for the retreat. Appropriate for all levels, beginners and advanced.

Retreat Highlights

According to many of the perennial wisdom traditions, the I/Other boundary is an illusion. This illusion is said to be the cause of suffering. Using a secular, mindfulness based meditation technique we investigate this illusion, allowing for a deep recognition that all perceived boundaries, divisions, and labels are indeed a fiction created by our own mind.

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.

Windy Gancayco

Windy Gancayco is the founder and owner of the Gassho Center for Healing Arts in Cebu City, Philippines, which opened its doors in September 2017. A yoga instructor and Reiki master-teacher, she teaches and practices mindfulness, energy and shamanic healing, as well as tarot reading and cacao ceremony, both at her center and at different retreat locations. She is also the organizer or Om Fest, the Philippines’ first healing and wellness festival. Windy’s vision is to connect everyone to their own inner healer.

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.

Workshop Program

Arrival and departure

• The program will begin on Monday, July 8, 2019 with check-in at 9:30am.

• At 2pm, there will be an introduction talk and then the retreat will enter Noble Silence.

• The retreat will end on Friday, before dinner, at 6:30pm.

Daily Schedule

06:00 – Wake-Up Bell

06:30 – Open Meditation Sitting

07:30 – Breakfast

08:30 – Retreat Morning Session

12:00 – Lunch

14:00 – Retreat Afternoon Session

18:00 – Dinner

19:30 – Dharma Talk

21:30 – Noble silence