Cameron's Staff Pick
What’s Love Got To Do With It? The Path of the Bodhisattva
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
April 30 - May 4, 2025
About this Retreat
David Nichtern is the founder and CEO of Dharma Moon - a mindfulness-based education platform and global community. He is a senior teacher in the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. This tradition combines a contemporary, secular approach to meditation with the ancient practices and philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism. David is also a four-time Emmy winner and two-time Grammy nominee, and a successful entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience integrating spiritual practice and everyday living. He is the author of Awakening From The Daydream: Reimagining The Buddha’s Wheel of Life and Creativity, Spirituality & Making A Buck on Wisdom Publications. To learn more, visit: https://www.dharmamoon.com
Ethan Nichtern is the author of Confidence: Holding Your Seat through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds and several other titles, including the widely acclaimed The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path. A renowned contemporary Buddhist teacher and the host of The Road Home Podcast, Nichtern has offered meditation and Buddhist psychology classes at conferences, meditation centers, yoga studios, and universities, including Brown, Yale, and NYU. He has been featured by CNN, NPR, the New York Times, Vogue, and Business Insider and has written for the Huffington Post, Beliefnet, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, Buddhadharma, and more. He lives in Brooklyn. Visit him online at http://www.EthanNichtern.com
Rebecca D’Onofrio is the Programming and Operations Director of Dharma Moon. She also serves as a senior teacher, providing training and mentoring support to the teaching team, and is the co-presenter of the Metta (Loving-Kindness) Meditation Teacher Training. Rebecca has been a dedicated practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism since 2013 and is a certified meditation teacher and trauma-informed yoga instructor with over 15 years of experience. Additionally, Rebecca is the director of RDYoga, LLC a company she founded in 2014 that creates tailored wellness programming for a variety of organizations to help transform workplace culture and work-life balance by integrating mindfulness-based practices. Rebecca supports her community by serving as a hospice volunteer and providing Buddhist end-of-life services. Her teaching philosophy centers on aligning and merging spiritual principles with everyday life.
René is the Community Director for Dharma Moon. They are a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and death doula, they studied comparative religion and gender studies, and they earned their black belt at 17. René’s career has a long and extensive history of advocacy, with a focus on collaboration with, support of, and focus on: at-risk youth; queer communities and people; intimate partner violence/sexual assault prevention and intervention; and grief and crisis counseling. René is passionate about making meditation and dharma teachings radically accessible and has personally used meditation to transform their relationship with their own anxiety and chronic health issues. Outside of work, they're likely to be knitting while trapped under a cat listening to podcasts.
Susan Layden is a senior teacher with Dharma Moon, serving as the coordinator of the 100 hr Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training program. She has been a close senior student of David Nichtern for over 10 years. She received her 100 hr meditation certificate from David Nichtern and Kaia Yoga. She is an experienced yoga and meditation teacher. She is a 500hr E-RYT and a YACEP (continuing education provider with Yoga Alliance) and holds a 100 hr certification from Little Flower Yoga to teach mindfulness and yoga to children. Susan is a 4th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. She has studied and taught under Grandmaster Ik Jo Kang for over 20 years. She is registered under Tae Kwon Do Jidokwan in Korea. She is the mother to three precious adult daughters. Susan is committed to her practices, her family, and giving back to her community. She has been in recovery for over 30 years.
Brittaney Valentino is an E-RYT 500, YACEP and mindfulness meditation teacher and owner of Rooted Nest LLC, a yoga and meditation company based in Wilmington, DE. She is also the co-founder of Embodied Mind LLC, a mindfulness-based consulting company. Along with offering online and in-person classes nationwide, she also moonlights as a senior teacher and the Programs Coordinator at Dharma Moon Incorporated, an online mindfulness-based learning platform and global community under the direction of her mentor, senior Buddhist teacher David Nichtern. When not teaching or practicing, she enjoys making memories with her family by traveling, being in the woods, hanging out by lakes, cooking, and gardening.
Noel Coakley is a psychotherapist, meditation teacher and former elementary school special educator. He has studied Tibetan Buddhism since 1997 and the Bön tradition since 2013. He is a father, husband, and friend to a dog named Clementine. Noel is the director of the Boston Center of Contemplative Practice, a senior teacher of Dharma Moon, and co-presenter of the Metta (Loving-Kindness) Meditation Teacher Training. Noel is dedicated to the accessibility of the dharma and its application in modern culture.
Seth Freedman is Dharma Moon's Marketing and Communications Director. A long time student of meditation, he has worked in the field of mindfulness and meditation for over a decade and has built online platforms, created programming, and run marketing for many of the leading teachers and organizations today. His past clients include Calm, Google, Open Meditation, New York Insight, Institute for Mindful Leadership, New York Zen Center, Lama Rod Owens, and many others.
Duncan Trussell is a comedian, the host of the Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast, and co-creator of The Midnight Gospel series on Netflix.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
Standard Double Twin - 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.
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.
Economy Queen
Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom
Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available
Private Queen Rooms are Available in Gangtok Cottage
* Please note that rates include meals and accommodations
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Cameron's Staff Pick
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