Regional Sangha Retreat 2025: Transforming our Lives with Mindfulness

Regional Sangha Retreat 2025: Transforming our Lives with Mindfulness
Jan 17, 6pm to Jan 20, 2:30pm

This retreat is open to all sangha members from Aryaloka, Boston, Lubec, Portland, Portsmouth, New York and New Jersey. Born from a desire to bring our east coast sanghas together, the Regional Retreat has been running for 16 years! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Buddhists from across the region and make new friends.

Looking for a way to go deeper in your practice of mindfulness? 

There are many dimensions of mindfulness practice that open up a rich world of connection and appreciation. Mindfulness practice and meditation can create a sense of calm and integration that is pleasurable, clarifying and spiritually transformative. 

On this retreat we will explore the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (satipatthana) , Mindfulness of Breathing (anapanasati) and Bhante Sangharakshita’s ‘Levels of Awareness.’ Each of these teachings helps to fill out the different areas of mindfulness practice.

Aryaloka is a magical place for winter retreat. The winter landscape in Aryaloka’s forest and along the Piscassic river allows for contemplative walking and the appreciation of nature. Being together as a region in such a pleasing environment is a celebration of sangha and Dharma practice that satisfies our need for community and our need for the inner work of mindful meditation. 

There is a Zoom option for some sessions of the retreat if you would prefer to attend from home. 

Led by Dharmacharins Cittavan, Satyada, Sravaniya, Sunada and Suddhayu

Image detail: Herons in the Snow Nakabayashi Chikutō Japanese ca. 1840; Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, NY
 

This retreat is residential and meals/housing are included in the price. Please see the note below about donations for teachers. You can access helpful information about attending retreats at Aryaloka here.
 

A Culture of Generosity and Support
In the tradition of passing on the Dharma freely, our Dharma retreat and workshop facilitators offer their work without charge and are not paid. We recognize the value in what they do and want to thank them for their time, energy and wisdom. A financial gift can help support our facilitators to afford them the opportunity to lead. Please consider making a donation towards their support. There is often a cash collection and a thank you card that is passed on the retreat, though one can also make a donation directly to facilitators with a check, and some use money transfer services such as PayPal or Venmo. Thank you for your generosity.
 

How are we coming together safely?

• Please take a Covid-19 rapid test on the day of the event (Aryaloka does not provide this test). A negative rapid test is required for entry; please take a photo of your test results and present at the door. 
• If you know you have been exposed to Covid-19 or if you have had Covid-19 within a five day period of the event’s start-time, we ask that you not attend in-person.
• Masks are optional unless otherwise stated. Please wear a mask if you have recovered from Covid-19 and are still between days 6 and 10 from your first positive test.
• If you have cold or flu symptoms, we ask that you do not attend in-person. 
• We have installed new air purifiers with virus-destroying technology!

Zoom options are available for some events. Transfer of fees or refunds are also available for illness or illness-preventative related absence. Please email info@aryaloka.org if you have any questions about our safety protocols.
 

At Aryaloka, we strive to make our programs available to everyone regardless of their financial circumstances. Our fee structure allows you to pay according to your means. 

The Event Rate is our actual fee for the event. It is for people paying their rent or mortgage, and who can afford occasional or regular leisure expenses such as dining out. Any payment above the advertised fee is a tax-deductible donation. 

The Mid-Level Reduced Rate is for those who are paying their mortgage or rent, though experience a consistent tightness in budget that makes extras like leisure activities or unexpected expenses difficult or impossible. 

The Base-Level Reduced Rate is for those without an income or with an income low enough that making ends meet is a challenge. 

Those whose circumstances are not included above can email the office to make other arrangements. info@aryaloka.org