Finding Peace Retreats

 

At the World Peace Temple

What are Finding Peace Weekend Retreats?

Spend a relaxing weekend meditation retreat in the peaceful environment of the Catskills. Whether you’re a beginner or simply want to enjoy retreat in ideal conditions, every aspect of these retreats are structured to help you refresh your mind through meditation.

Includes teachings and guided meditation. During the breaks enjoy meaningful conversation and the beauty and tranquility of the Temple grounds.

Blue Sky Mind

June 9-11, 2023 with Gen Samten

REGISTRATION OPENS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH @2PM EST

Discover the inner clarity of your mind. You do not have to look outside yourself for purpose, meaning, and value. Simply by exploring the nature of your own mind, understanding its blissful, clear nature, and absorbing into meditation on this, you will find incredible happiness from within. This experiential, beginner-friendly weekend is an excellent introduction to the practice of meditation in general, and the famous and beloved meditations on clarity of mind in particular. So much stress, anxiety, and frustration arise in life because of a disconnect between you and your own mind. The solution is to quiet the internal busy-ness of your mental activity and absorb into the practice of meditation on the mind itself. Through this, you will gain the confidence that you can control uncomfortable emotions like these and take charge of your life.

Retreat cost: 
Entire retreat: $60 | Friday: $10 Saturday: $40 Sunday: $10

Gen Samten Kelsang

Gen Samten Kelsang

Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center New York

Gen Samten Kelsang, the Resident Teacher at KMC New York. With over 30 years of study and practice of Buddha’s teachings, he presents Buddha’s most profound teachings in a practical and accessible way. As one of Venerable Geshe-la’s senior disciples, Gen Samten has had the unique opportunity to engage in a three-year retreat and carries with him a wealth of experience in skillfully guiding sincere practitioners to profound meditative insights on retreat.

Finding Fearlessness

August 25-27, 2023 with Kadam Donna Campanelli

REGISTRATION OPENS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH @2PM EST

Fear and anxiety plague our world. As we deal with everything from minor insecurities and anxiety to concerns about major world events, it’s hard to find a sense of security and tranquility. Our fears often stop us from doing what’s right for ourselves and others. What is our solution? Through learning Buddhist meditation and understanding how our mind works will help us cultivate happiness and inner strength. In this retreat, we can experience deep inner peace in order to become the strong, fearless and helpful person we truly want to be.

Kadam Donna Campanelli

Kadam Donna Campanelli

Resident Teacher at Vajra Light Kadampa Buddhist Center, Westchester NY

Kadam Donna is the Resident Teacher at Vajra Light Center.  She has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism for over 25 years and is a close disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. As a wife and mother of three, Kadam delights in applying Dharma wisdom to her own challenges as a suburban mom. She is a wonderful example of Modern Buddhism – Dharma integrated into daily life.  With skill and enthusiasm, humor and kindness, Kadam Donna shows her students how to transform day-to-day difficulties into a meaningful life.

Developing Concentration

September 15-17, 2023 with Gen Demo

REGISTRATION OPENS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19TH @2PM EST

“From concentration comes peace”. These famous words uttered by the Buddhist master Nagarjuna over 1,500 years ago ring potently true and important in these modern, busy times. Between various notifications, e-mails, devices, and images, our minds can feel uncontrolled or agitated almost all of the time! Many of us live on the surface level of our mind, constantly being battered by these distractions, trivial worries, and nagging anxieties. The Buddhist teachings on developing mindfulness and concentration allow one to learn to embrace the depths of peace inside a calm and quiet mind. This weekend event will present some explanations on how to train in concentration in a structured, effective way so we can begin this journey to a strong, stable disposition even amidst our busy lives.

Gen Kelsang Demo

Gen Kelsang Demo

Resident Teacher at KMC DC

Gen Kelsang Demo is the Midwestern US National Spiritual Director and the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Washington DC. She has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for more than 25 years and has been teaching Kadampa Buddhism since 1998.

Gen Demo is deeply respected as a teacher and practitioner. She demonstrates a wealth of practical knowledge and provides clear and inspiring teachings for people of all levels of interest.

Letting Go of the Past

October 13-15, 2023 with Kadam Kyle

REGISTRATION OPENS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH @2PM EST

Learn how to let go of the past and experience our innate freedom to change that comes from living fully in the present. In reality we are not fixed, or defined by our past experiences or present limiting beliefs and we all have an extraordinary potential for positive change and good qualities. Through cultivating that potential we can redirect our lives, free of the past and focused on creating the truly happy and meaningful life we want, moment to moment.

Kadam Kyle Davis

Kadam Kyle Davis

Resident Teacher at Vajradhara Meditation Center in Brooklyn and Second Resident Teacher at KMC New York

Kadam Kyle has engaged in in-depth study at both the Temple in New York and on the Special Teacher Training Program at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre. His joyful and sincere example in daily life, and his clear and practical approach in teachings, have inspired many people in their spiritual life.

Healing Ourselves and Others

December 1-3, 2023 with Neil Toyota

REGISTRATION OPENS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH @2PM EST

Heal yourself through meditation. We hold many wounds– from the past, broken relationships, failures, and disappointments that have occurred throughout life. These cannot be healed from the outside through ordinary medicine. Fortunately, Buddhist teachings are medicine for the mind–carefully crafted and presented to resolve the pain and hurt that we carry in your mind.

Additionally, these meditations function in a preventative way also. By instilling healthy mental habit patterns, meditative practices create inner protection that helps one stay strong and inwardly peaceful even in the face of difficulties and challenges of life.

Neil Toyota

Neil Toyota

Resident Teacher at KMC Long Island & KMC The Hamptons

Neil has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism and meditation for many years as a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Neil is known for his clear, direct teaching with warmth and sincerity, showing how to practically and easily integrate Buddha’s teachings into busy, modern daily life. His teachings are inspired by his deep love of Dharma and his many years of practice. 

Retreat Sessions

There are four sessions each day, each for approximately 75 minutes. The sessions combine practical instruction and guided meditation that will allow you to:

  • connect with an experience of true inner peace
  • develop basic techniques that can help you to create a consistent habit of meditation
  • leave with practical inner tools to apply what you have learned to your daily life

Schedule

FRIDAY
2pm-7:30pm  |  Check-in

7:30-9pm  |  Introduction

SATURDAY
9-10:15am  |  Guided Meditation

11:30am-1pm | Teaching & Guided Meditation
4:30-6:00pm | Teaching & Guided Meditation
7:30-9pm | Teaching/Q&A

SUNDAY
9-10am  |  Guided Meditation

11am-12:30pm  |  Final Session with Prayers for World Peace.

 

During the breaks

Between retreat sessions take time to relax and carry your experience of peace in the following ways:

  • enjoy the tranquility of our 82 acres of grounds
  • connect and discuss with like-minded people
  • nourish yourself with a refreshing drink and healthy snack in the World Peace Café
  • explore our bookstore and giftshop
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Contact Us

Phone

(845) 856-9000
9am-5pm Monday - Friday

Location

47 Sweeney Rd
Glen Spey, NY 12737