Waking Up in the Wild: Retreat in the Temple of Nature (Residential Only)

Take your practice into the wild with Lama Liz and Lama Willa and take in the beautiful season of color in New Hampshire. We will hike and meditate amongst forests, mountains, valleys and lakes, as we explore the power of the earth, water, sun, trees and sky to open us to our deepest nature – a way of being that acknowledges and supports the flow of love that unites all beings in oneness, gratitude, and profound joy.

Spiritual traditions from all over the world honor the sacred interconnectedness between the human, non-human, and the natural world. From the shamanic traditions of South America to the Buddha and the Dzogchen yogis of Tibet, ancient masters have long relied on the power of the natural world to nurture peace and awaken insight. Following this impulse, we can deeply inhabit our lives as indigenous (“sprung from the earth”).

Through rekindling our innate interconnectedness with the natural world, we simultaneously discover the spacious, luminous, and awake qualities of our own being. Within this web of interconnectedness, we discover that liberation from suffering and the freedom to realize our aspirations are not about transcending the human condition, but about finding the inherent freedom within it.

Please join us to:

• Practice with nature as the guru
• Commune with the elements
• Ground and connect in community
• Find liberation in movement in the fresh air

We will explore and develop a repertoire of practices and contemplative approaches that allow us to take nature as a teacher. We will discover how communing with the elemental forces of fire, water, earth, air, and space can heal the body, transform the heart and liberate the mind. Our “meditation hall” will migrate from the forest to the shores of mountain lakes, from verdant valleys to rocky summits.

Mornings and evenings, we will ground in practice and teaching in Wonderwell’s historic Meditation Hall. Weather permitting, our days will be spent meditating in the temple of the brilliant autumn landscape of rural New Hampshire. We will take the principles of meditation into walking, hiking, and other forms of mindful movement.

REQUIREMENTS: All levels of meditation practice are welcome. Vigorous activity is a main practice in this retreat. Participants MUST be capable of hiking four to five miles per day over moderate mountainous terrain to join in all activities.  Please intend to participate in the daily hike. Alternative activities at Wonderwell will not be available.

Note:  If the physical requirements in this description are not a fit for you, we invite you to consider other NDF offerings on our calendar this year that will bring you into relationship with nature such as our Green Dharma Retreat or Rewilding the Soul Solstice and Equinox celebrations (found on our main schedule each season).

Typical Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern time zone)

First Day — Orientation at 6:45 pm. Opening session begins around 7:00 pm.

Full-Day Schedule — Morning meditation 7:00 am; Breakfast break 8:00-9:30 am; Lunch break 12:00-2:00 pm; Dinner break 5:30-7:00 pm. Evening session 7:00-8:30 pm

Last Day —The closing session end at 12:00 pm.

These times are just for reference. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Important Health Information

The NDF Health Committee continues to monitor evolving public health conditions and trends, as we keep the safety of our Sangha at the forefront of our decision-making. At this time, COVID-19 testing is no longer required. Masks are optional and encouraged if you are at higher risk. We encourage you to stay at home if you are symptomatic to protect others.

Scholarships

Cancellation Policy

We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away at register@naturaldharma.org. Cancellations affect our ability to offer rooms to others and create additional work for our staff, therefore we charge the following fees to help mitigate these costs.

For cancellations (based on program start date):

• > 45 days: 100% refund minus a $75 admin. fee.
• 31-45 days: 50% refund of the required deposit; or 75% refund if registration paid in full.
• 21-30 days: 50% refund of total registration cost
• < 21 days: nonrefundable

If you must cancel due to an emergency or extenuating circumstances, please contact us at register@naturaldharma.org.

Natural Dharma Fellowship Full Calendar