Cameron's Staff Pick

What’s Love Got To Do With It? The Path of the Bodhisattva

Name: What’s Love Got To Do With It? The Path of the Bodhisattva
Start: 2025-04-30
End: 2025-05-04
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.5

4.502 reviews

375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

April 30 - May 4, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

David

Duncan

Ethan

Rebecca

René

Susan

Brittaney

Noel

Seth

Details of this retreat

Sometimes the concept of compassion evokes images of passivity or over-accommodating kindness. In reality, compassion encompasses a dynamic spectrum, including the courage to confront challenges and make difficult decisions for ourselves and the greater good.

True compassion can also begin with connecting to ourselves—recognizing and meeting our own needs so that we can approach others from a place of wholeness. It’s about cultivating emotional self-regulation and learning to drop out of the constant churn of the mind and into the wisdom of the heart.

Join us for Dharma Moon’s 2nd Annual Meditation Retreat - where we’ll explore practical tools and Buddhist teachings on the bodhisattva path - to help awaken our hearts and lay the ground for personal and social transformation.

This 5-day in-person or online retreat will explore what it actually means to be a bodhisattva, bridging the ancient wisdom of these teachings to make them accessible, relevant, and applicable to our modern lives. Through talks, group discussions, extended meditation practice, and community, we’ll unpack what it really means to embody the bodhisattva path today.

Comedian Duncan Trussell and meditation teacher Ethan Nichtern will join David Nichtern and the Dharma Moon teaching team for engaging talks and thought-provoking panel discussions.

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Catskill Mountains, this retreat will be an opportune chance to step away from the busyness of daily life and immerse yourself in practice, amazing food, and community.

During this retreat, we will lay the groundwork for and introduce the practice of tonglen, a meditation practice that dials down our sense of self importance and dials up our concern and empathy for others.

We will also address the notion of “compassion fatigue” and ways in which we can create a sustainable practice that feels energizing rather than heavy-handed and depleting.

Topics Covered During the Retreat:

Cultivating the Bodhisattva Mentality
Discovering a World Beyond Ego
Understanding Emptiness & Compassion
Qualities of an Awakened Heart
Exploring Our True Nature
Introduction to Tonglen Practice
Introduction to the Six Paramitas
Creating a Sustainable Practice
How to be a Bodhisattva in the World

This is an open program and all levels of practice and study are welcome - whether you are an aspiring beginner or a well-seasoned practitioner, just bring your tender heart and beginner’s mind.

Schedule

Wednesday, April 30

3 - 6 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Welcome Session with Presenters & Support Staff

Thursday, May 1

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Meditation Session with Presenter Talk
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Meditation Session with Presenter Talk
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Meditation Session with Presenter Talk

Friday, May 2

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Meditation Session with Presenter Talk
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Meditation Session with Presenter Talk
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Meditation Session with Presenter Talk

Saturday, May 3

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12 pm Morning Meditation Session with Presenter Talk
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm Afternoon Meditation Session with Presenter Talk
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Evening Meditation Session with Presenter Talk

Sunday, May 4

7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Morning Meditation Session and Panel Discussion
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change. Read More

Getting Here

Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Accommodation

Deluxe King

Deluxe King Room with King Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This Space is not ADA compliant. Deluxe King Rooms are Available only in Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations Read More

Deluxe Queen

Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations Read More

Deluxe Double (Shared Room)

Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Size Beds and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Double Rooms with Private Bathrooms are Located in the Lhasa Inn * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One. Read More

Standard Single - Shared Bath

Menla Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Shared Bathroom Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available This lodging type is not ADA Compliant Private Queen Rooms with Shared Bathroom are Available in Thimpu House, Panther Cottage and Potala House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations Read More

Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room)

Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations. Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One. Read More

Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room)

Deluxe Double Room with Two Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations. Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One. Read More

Economy Premium Single - Shared Bath

Standard Premium Single Room with a Queen or Full Bed and Shared Bathroom Up to 10 guests share two large bathrooms. Each bathroom has two shower stalls and two toilets. A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room Phone Access Available in Upper Level Of Conference Center. All calls are free of charge This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. Read More

Economy Single - Shared Bath

Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor. A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. Read More

Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor. High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others Read More

Economy Triple - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Triple Room with Three Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a triple shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others. Read More

Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Quad Room with Quad Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a quad shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others. Read More

Commuter

Commuters Menla Encourages Members of the Community to Participate in Our Wonderful Programs! Includes Meals, Public Phone, Public Computer, and Wi-Fi Internet Available in Lhasa Inn. Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. Read More

Customer Reviews

4.50 out of 5.0 average rating

Anonymous • Oct 03, 2023

4.0

Verified

Weekend retreat stay

The property is on a beautiful, peaceful location.
Nature is all around and sometimes a little too close but you are literally surrounded by woods.

The food was really good and I liked the buffet style and fruit basket.

The gift shop although small had a nice selection of items and I purchased a few fun items.

Since the dining area was on the opposite side of the site from the convention center, a lot of students drove back and forth on the property. I chose the walking paths to get around.

Read More

Marie • Apr 18, 2022

5.0

Verified

Lovely

I had a fascinating and enlightening experience during an “Energy squared Reiki,” class at Menlo this past week. The grounds, rooms, facilities amenities and spa at Menla were all beautiful, clean, and peaceful. The food was delicious and nourishing. I can say only good things about both Menla and the program I attended, and would wholeheartedly recommend both. Read More

What’s Love Got To Do With It? The Path of the Bodhisattva

About this Retreat

Your Guides

David Nichtern

Duncan Trussell

Ethan Nichtern

Rebecca D’Onofrio

René Fay

Susan Layden

Brittaney Valentino

Noel Coakley

Seth Freedman

Details of this retreat

Getting Here