Five-Day Retreat
This five-day online retreat will explore the practice of Insight Meditation and the liberating effect of moment-to-moment mindfulness. This retreat provides a valuable opportunity to deepen the skills of awareness and to cultivate a resilient heart. Together, we will seek balance and freedom within the flow of change. The teachers will offer guidance in developing attitudes of mind that support relaxation, courageous inquiry, and an authentic encounter with one’s own heart.
This silent online retreat is open to all levels of experience and will include periods of sitting and walking meditation, Qi Gong, small group interviews, dharma talks and question/answer sessions.
Participation: You are invited to join this online retreat as a full-time or flexible-time participant.
Full-time participants are asked to join all required sessions (indicated by an asterisk in the schedule below), and receive two small group meetings with the teachers.
Flexible-time participants may choose to attend fewer sessions, may have work or other responsibilities happening during the retreat, and will have the opportunity for one large-group Q&A with the teachers.
Retreat times:
Retreat begins: Wednesday, June 19th, 5:00pm PT
Retreat ends: Sunday, June 23rd, 11:00am PT
All sessions will be recorded in case participants are in other time zones. See sample schedule below. If you have questions please see our FAQ below.
About Registration Fees and Donations
Our registration fees are intended to make the retreat accessible to as many people as possible while covering our costs for putting on the retreat (includes retreat management). There will be an opportunity to offer a donation to the teachers at the end of the retreat. You can read more about this practice here.
You are invited to join Full-time or Flexible-time.
Full-time participants: commit to join all required sessions (indicated by an asterisk in the schedule below), and receive two small group meetings with the teachers.
Flexible-time participants: may choose to attend fewer sessions, may have work or other responsibilities happening during the retreat, and will have the opportunity for one large-group Q&A with the teachers. (Also referred to as “auditing” the retreat.)
Please read before registering: There are limited spaces in this retreat. We ask that you register as Full-time only if you can commit to attending all of the required sessions. Registering Full-time and not participating fully will prevent someone else from joining the retreat. Thank you for taking the time to carefully consider your ability to participate fully before registering.
NOTE: Registration closes at 9am on June 17. Please register by June 17 to secure your place.
About the Teachers
Oren Jay Sofer
Oren Jay Sofer, a CNVC Certified Nonviolent Communication Trainer, teaches workshops and retreats on meditation and communication internationally. His teaching emphasizes how awareness practice and communication training deepen one another in a synergistic manner. He holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University and is certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for healing trauma. Oren is a husband, a father, and the author of several books including Your Heart Was Made For This, and the best-selling title, Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication.
Matthew Brensilver
Matthew Brensilver, PhD, is a member of the Guiding Teachers Executive Group and Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. For more than a decade, he taught for Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. He lectures at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center about the intersections between mindfulness and mental health. Matthew has a background in research on addiction pharmacotherapy and is interested in the unfolding dialogue between dharma and science. He is the co-author, with Oren, of two books on mindfulness for adolescents.
Sample Retreat Schedule
We ask that Full-time participants attend all or nearly all of the sessions marked with an asterisk * (as long as it’s reasonable for your time zone).
All Times Pacific Standard Time
June 19th – Opening Night
5:00 p.m. Orientation *
5:30 p.m. Welcome & Opening Session *
7:00 p.m. Break
7:45 p.m. Lovingkindness Practice *
8:15 p.m. End of Day
June 20-22nd
6:30 a.m. Sitting Meditation *
7:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:25 a.m. Arrive and Settle *
8:30 a.m. Morning Instructions and Sitting Meditation *
9:30 a.m. Walking Meditation *
10:00 a.m. Sitting Meditation *
10:45 a.m. Walking Meditation (OR Practice Meeting if assigned) *
11:15 a.m. Sitting Meditation *
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Practice/Take care of life as you see fit
3:00 p.m. Arrive and Settle
3:05 p.m. Sit
3:35 p.m. Stretch Break
3:45 p.m. Dharma Talk
4:30 p.m. Dinner / Practice as you see fit
7:30 p.m. Lovingkindness Practice *
8:15 p.m. End of Day
June 21st, 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Q&A for Flex-time Participants
June 23rd
6:30 a.m. Sitting Meditation *
7:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Closing Session *
10:00 a.m. End of Retreat
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I need to miss part of the retreat. Can I still attend?
Yes. Full-time participants are asked to join all required sessions (indicated by an asterisk in the schedule above). Flexible-time participants can attend whichever sessions work with their schedules.
I’m not sure if I will be able to come to all the sessions, but don’t want to miss out on anything. Can I sign up Full-time?
There are limited spaces in this retreat. We ask that you register as Full-time only if you can commit to attending all of the required sessions. If you’re not sure about your availability, Flexible-time participants still have access to all of the whole-group sessions – the only difference is that Full-time participants have two small group meetings with the teachers, and Flexible-time participants will have one large-group Q&A with the teachers.
I live in a time zone where some of the sessions are in the middle of the night for me. Can I still come to the parts of the retreat that sync up with my time zone?
Yes. Flexible-time participants can attend whichever sessions work with their schedules. If you would only need to miss a couple sessions due to time zone differences but can come to the small-group practice meetings, you can register as Full-time and watch the missed content via recording. Note that the small group sessions with the teachers are NOT recorded; if you can’t be available during these times please register as Flexible-time instead.
I signed up for Flexible-time, can I switch to Full-time? (or vice versa)
There are limited numbers of Full-time spaces and also limited numbers of Flexible-time spaces. As long as there is an open space, it’s fine for you to switch categories and pay / be refunded the difference. We ask that you make any requests to switch no later than June 12th, one week prior to the retreat. (Also, note that no refunds are possible after June 5, 2024.)
It is extra work for us to switch your participation, and we also incur transaction fees for every change, so we ask that you take the time to carefully consider your ability to participate before registering, and only switch once if something unexpected comes up after you have already registered. If you need to switch, please email admin@orenjaysofer.com to discuss.
What is your cancellation policy?
Space on this retreat is limited. A full refund (less a $35 administrative fee) is available if you cancel by June 5, 2024 – two weeks before the retreat starts. No refund is possible after June 5 but your cancellation will free up a space for someone else to participate, so please do get in touch with us at admin@orenjaysofer.com if you aren’t able to participate.
I won’t know my schedule till June, what’s the deadline to register?
Registration closes at 9am PT on June 17. Spaces are limited, and we can’t guarantee that spaces will still be available up to June 17, so to secure a space please register as soon as you can. If the retreat sells out, there will be a chance to sign up for our waitlist, in case a spot opens up.
Are there prerequisites? I’ve never attended a silent meditation. Is this appropriate for me?
There are no prerequisites to attend this retreat and meditators of all levels/experience are welcome.
I’ve never done a retreat before practice. Is this retreat appropriate?
Yes. This retreat will introduce you to the basics of Insight Meditation.
I’ve never done an online retreat before, how is this different than an in-person retreat?
Sitting a retreat at home is a unique and special experience, with its own challenges and gifts. We ask that you review these guidelines carefully before our retreat begins and make appropriate arrangements with your housemates, family, and/or employer for the duration of the retreat.
I can’t afford the registration fee. Do you provide scholarships?
We deeply value making this retreat and these practices accessible to everyone regardless of financial means. We are able to provide a limited number of scholarships on a case-by-case basis (with consideration of whether you have previously received a scholarship from Oren, and priority to BIPOCs, people who are LGBTQ+, and youth under 25). If you are unable to afford the registration fee, please email admin@orenjaysofer.com to discuss further.
What are the donations? Why doesn’t my registration fee go to the teachers?
These teachings have been shared freely for generations. In keeping with the Buddhist tradition, we do not charge money for spiritual teachings. The registration fees cover only the basic expenses for running the retreat (including retreat management). Those who would like are welcome to offer an additional contribution to support the teachers directly at the end of the retreat. We will talk more about this practice at the retreat and be available to answer any questions you have, and you can read more about it here: www.orenjaysofer.com/support
I have a question not answered here, who can I contact for more information?
Please email Oren’s assistant at admin@orenjaysofer.com.