Winter Solstice Retreat: Scholarships Available

Multi-Day Silent Retreats

Step Into Stillness

Multi-Day Silent Retreats at Spirit Rock

Let the land hold you. Let the silence guide you. Let the Dharma transform you.

Explore Upcoming Retreats

Retreat is a sacred invitation to step out of daily life and reconnect with your heart. For over 2,600 years, retreat has been a cornerstone of the Buddhist path—a time of silence, reflection, and inner freedom. At Spirit Rock, our silent, multi-day residential retreats offer a powerful container for deep practice and spiritual renewal. Held in the quiet beauty of the northern California hills, retreats are open to both new and experienced meditators, and guided with care by teachers rooted in the Insight Meditation tradition.

Listen to Jack Kornfield reflect on the beauty of retreat:

The Beauty of Retreat

Jack Kornfield

Testimonial

"This weekend at Spirit Rock was a reminder that while we can't avoid stress, we can choose how we respond to it. Through mind-body practices like meditation and somatic movements, we can learn how to cultivate relaxation and deep rest which are essential to our wellbeing."

Pia V.

Experience a Retreat at Spirit Rock

Each day on retreat is a quiet rhythm of sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks, mindful meals, and rest. Without conversation, screens, or distractions, we come into intimate presence with our inner life. Silence deepens awareness, and stillness invites insight.

Rooted in mindfulness (sati) and lovingkindness (mettā), our retreats provide clear instructions, structured schedules, and spaciousness—like a language immersion for the heart. Practice here draws from the same fundamental teachings offered in Theravāda monasteries across Asia: deep awareness of body and environment, meditations on the nature of feelings and sensations, and profound insight into the mind.

When you experience a Spirit Rock retreat, you'll feel the power of ancient spiritual practices held in a caring, responsive environment.

What to Expect on Retreat

Teachers & Lineage

"Retreat is a gift we give ourselves, and a gift we give to the world."

Our retreats are guided by Spirit Rock’s core and visiting teachers—practitioners known for their depth of wisdom, integrity, and compassion. Each teacher brings a wealth of experience in the Insight tradition, offering daily talks, meditation guidance, and personal support.

Meet Our Teachers For Upcoming Programs

Spirit Rock Meditation Center - Silent retreat in the upper hall during summer

Daily Life on Retreat

Retreat life is intentionally simple, creating the conditions for stillness, mindfulness, and awakening.

Accommodations

Retreatants live in modest, quiet rooms—single or shared—with clean, comfortable surroundings designed to support rest and contemplation. While we do our best to honor room requests, we invite everyone to receive their accommodations with openness and gratitude.

Vegetarian Meals

Meals are nourishing and thoughtfully prepared—ovo-lacto vegetarian with wheat-free and vegan options available. Enjoy your food in mindful silence, savoring each bite as part of the practice. Coffee, tea, and plant-based milks are provided, and a refrigerator and microwave are available for any medically necessary foods.

Retreat Lifestyle

You’ll unplug from digital devices, set aside reading and writing, and live simply—engaging fully with the rhythm of meditation and the retreat community. Mindful service, or work meditation, invites you to contribute gently to the shared environment, deepening your connection to the practice and those around you.