About this Retreat
Michael G. Burbank has been a student of Robert Thurman and HH the XIV Dalai Lama for over 25 years, since his undergraduate years studying Eastern religions and cultures at Columbia University in the 90s. In February of 2002, he was invited to help the Thurmans and Tibet House start the newly acquired Menla retreat. Over the years, he worked variously as Menla's dishwasher, housekeeper, maintenance assistant, Front of House Manager, and Assistant Director, and since 2013 he has served as Menla's Director.
Michael received the Kalachakra Tantra initiation from His Holiness the Dalai Lama twice--in 2003 and 2017--in Bodh Gaya, India. An avid life-long student and practitioner of Buddhism, Michael teaches classes at Menla and occasionally co-leads retreats. He is working in conjunction with a team of entrepreneurs and mindfulness teachers to launch Mindwell Labs, a for-profit mindfulness tech company intended to further the efforts of Tibet House US/Menla nationwide through a cutting edge health app that monitors anxiety. In his spare time, he works on spiritually-based screenplays and graphic novels, including most recently as letterer and co-author of Man of Peace: the Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama with William Meyers and Robert Thurman.
Details of this retreat
Long before Tibet House was gifted the 330-acre Menla property, an extensive web of hiking trails allowed guests to experience the magic, serenity, and natural splendor of our enchanted forest. With the help of intrepid volunteers over the years, we have restored several of the old trails on our property completely, and each year we tend those trails in the spring, clearing away leaves and storm debris and grooming them for guests to use the rest of the year. Any extra time we have after the annual maintenance is finished is used to remove invasive plants, build bridges, further restore old trails, create new trails, or complete other special outdoor projects.
We need help from people like you! The work is very rewarding, knowing that a wide range of people will benefit from safer, more inviting, and more enjoyable trails. This is a terrific opportunity to experience Menla for very little money and in a way that few people get to experience it. Join Menla's Executive Director Michael Burbank and some of the Menla staff for a weekend out in the woods, experiencing the healing dimensions of the land, while getting great exercise working and enjoying the company of others. With loppers, snips, rakes, and our hands, you'll be surprised how much we can accomplish in just one weekend!
Volunteers for this retreat must be able to lift 50lbs and be in good enough physical condition to be out hiking on the trails for much of the day. Work includes hiking several miles up hill as well as carrying needed equipment in and out from work sites. (apprx. 9am-4pm each full day, with breaks for yummy bagged lunches, and 9:15 am-12:30 pm on the final day, followed by lunch buffet). This retreat is not recommended for those looking for a relaxation experience. This is a work focused event.
Schedule
Friday, May 24
3 - 8 pm Check-In
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 pm Evening for Relaxation
Saturday, May 25
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9 am Trailwork (meet at Lhasa Inn deck for orientation)
12:30 pm Bagged Lunch on the Trails
1 - 4 pm Trailwork
4 - 6 pm Complimentary Steam/Sauna Session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Bonfire
Sunday, May 26
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 am - 12:30 pm Trailwork
12:30 pm Bagged Lunch on the Trails
1 - 4 pm Trailwork
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Bonfire
Monday, May 27
7 - 9 am Check-out of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast & Check-Out
9:15 am - 12:30 pm Trailwork & Clean-up
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
* Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time
Verified
