Open Practice Retreat
Apartado 1 8550 Monchique, Portugal / GPS location: 37.301188, -8.520400
Up to 40 in group
May 19 - 25, 2024
About this Retreat
Jess McNally has devoted much of her adult life to practicing and studying Buddhism. After completing both a Bachelor and a Master of Science degree in Earth Systems at Stanford University, she moved to Zen Mountain Monastery near New York, where she lived and trained for over three years. During that time she completed over forty week-long silent retreats (sesshins).
In 2015, she decided to pursue Tibetan Buddhism and was ordained as a monastic by Thrangu Rinpoche. She met Mingyur Rinpoche shortly afterward at Tergar Monastery in Bodhgaya, India. Under his guidance, she completed a series of solitary retreats in Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s cave in the Himalayas, including a 5-month retreat over winter. Since 2016, Jess has also been a student of Tsoknyi Rinpoche. In 2018, Jess chose to return to lay life and her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jess serves as a Senior Tergar Facilitator and host for online Tergar retreats and workshops. She also runs her own web design business. In her downtime, she loves to go on adventures outside with her dog Pema, sing and cook.
Kell Julliard has a master’s degree in Expressive Therapy from the University of Louisville and a Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Direction from the University of Arizona. With academic appointments at several universities including New York University School of Medicine, for twenty-five years he mentored medical and dental residents in learning about, designing, and implementing clinical research. He is certified as a mindfulness teacher through the International Mindfulness Teachers Association.
Kell has studied intensively and done retreats with Mingyur Rinpoche since the founding of Tergar International in 2009. Over the course of his life, he has practiced deeply in other meditation traditions, including Sufism, Qabalah, shamanism, and Christianity.
Kell has served as a practice leader for Tergar since 2009, as a facilitator for Joy of Living programs since 2013, and as a mentor for Tergar groups in the northeastern US. He also teaches meditation regularly for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
Kell lives with his husband in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. He enjoys playing classical chamber music on pipe organ and flute, painting icons, and spending time in nature.
Details of this retreat
Retreat gives us the time and space to explore our experience and discover aspects of our own being that are difficult to connect with in everyday life. It allows us to focus on practice and meditation throughout the day, both on and off the cushion. A community retreat has the additional benefit of being supported by the practice of others.
This week-long residential practice retreat is open to anyone with a stable meditation practice. Kell and Jess will support each participant in developing a plan for their formal practice each day, and will offer private interviews throughout the week. Either Jess or Kell will also offer a talk each afternoon.
An emphasis of the retreat will be on developing confidence and trust in your personal practice. This will support your daily practice at home, and allow you to explore individual retreat practice in the future if that is of interest.
For those who are completing their Joy of Living or Nectar of the Path homework for any level, this will provide a wonderful opportunity to complete many hours of formal practice in a supported setting. And for those who have completed all the Joy of Living levels or practice other meditation path, this will be an opportunity to deepen your experience with the many meditation techniques you have learned.
This retreat is offered in-person only (there is no online/hybrid option).
Prerequisites
This program is open to those who have at minimum attended a Joy of Living Level 1 workshop or completed the online Joy of Living 1 course (having completed the homework is not required). If you come from another tradition and feel you meet the prerequisite meditation study and practice requirements in other ways, please contact jess@tergar.org.
Language & Translation
This retreat will be offered in English, with translation into Portuguese. Translation will be provided by offsite translators using the LiveVoice app (internet based).
For the teaching sessions those needing translation will need to bring a smart phone and headphones.
For private interviews translation will be provided via Zoom.
The meditation sessions will only have minimal simple instructions and be mainly silent so there will be no translation.
A minimum of three participants requiring Portuguese translation will be required to offer translation into that language. If we do not receive enough participants to offer translation in the language you require, you will be offered a full refund.
Arrival and Departure Times
Arrival and registration will be held from 14:00 - 17:00 on Sunday, May 19, with dinner at 18:30, and the first session at 19:30. Please plan to arrive by 17:00 if possible so there is time to help you register and find your room before dinner.
Departure will be after lunch on Saturday, May 25, from 13:00-15:00.
Retreat Cost
The retreat cost consists of two parts:
1) Room & Board Fee
This fee covers your lodging and food at Karuna Retreat Center. Based on your room selection, the room and board fee ranges from €240 - €480 for the retreat period.
2) Program Fee
The program fee covers all the costs to run the event, in addition to your room and board. This includes operating costs as well as stipends for the guides, translators and retreat managers. There will be no expectation or request for donations at the end of the event.
The program fee is on a sliding scale. Our costs to run this event, in addition to your room and board, are about €500 per person. For some people that’s an easy amount to pay. For others it’s impossible. If you are one of the lucky few who can afford to pay more, please do so. You make it financially possible for us to make these retreats available to everyone regardless of income.
All funds for these retreats are being managed by Tergar Institute, which is a 501c(3) non-profit in the USA. There is no tax charged. Any profits from the retreat, if there are any, will go towards future Tergar Retreats activities and also be partially shared with Tergar International.
Cancellation Policy
If you should need to cancel your registration, the cancellation policy is as follows: If you cancel more than 30 days prior to the first day of the program start date, you will receive a refund less a €50 cancellation fee. If you cancel between 15 and 29 days prior to the program start date, you will receive a refund less a €100 cancellation fee.
No refunds will be given two weeks before the retreat begins.
Retreat Schedule
Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Sunday, May 19
14:00 - 17:00 Arrival and Registration
18:30 - 19:00 Dinner
19:30 - 21:00 Introductory Talk and Meditation
Monday to Friday, May 20-24
Silence begins at 19:30 on Monday, and ends at 17:30 on Friday
All meditation practice sessions will include periods of sitting and walking.
6:45 - 8:00 Awareness Yoga and Meditation Practice
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 Break
9:00 - 10:30 Meditation Practice
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Meditation Practice
12:30 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 14:30 Break
14:30 - 16:00 Awareness Yoga and Meditation Practice
16:00 - 16:30 Break
16:30 - 17:30 Meditation Practice
17:30 - 18:30 Break
18:30 - 19:00 Dinner
19:00- 19:30 Break
19:30 - 21:00 Practice Talk and Meditation
Saturday, May 25
6:45 - 8:00 Awareness Yoga and Meditation Practice
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 Break
9:00 - 10:30 Meditation Practice
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Concluding Discussion
12:30 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 15:00 Departure
About the Karuna Retreat Center / Centro de Retiros Karuna
Karuna Retreat Center is located in the green mountains of Serra de Monchique in the Algarve. Serra the Monchique is known for its healing thermal water, medicinal plants, pure air and lush green landscapes. The Retreat Center offers a stunning view over Portugal's southern coast and the Atlantic Ocean and is just 20 minutes away from pristine beaches and less than 10 minutes away from the picturesque village of Monchique. Karuna is amongst one of the most secluded and silent places in this area and is home to a variety of local flora and fauna. The Retreat Center’s property is isolated and perfect for those in search of silence, seclusion and peace.
Karuna Retreat Center is beginning a new partnership with Tergar Retreats, with a shared vision that it will become a place for year-round practice managed by Tergar Retreats in the future.
Meals
Karuna Retreat Center prepares 3 vegetarian meals per day. They can also prepare vegan meals for those who request it in advance. They only use local products and whenever it is possible they try to use fresh products from their vegetable garden at Karuna.
Travel to and from Karuna Retreat Center
You can view the location of Karuna Retreat Center on Google Maps here.
The closest airport is the Faro International Airport, which is approximately 1.5 hours away by car.Uber is available from the Faro International Airport to Karuna, and costs about €50.The Lisbon Airport is approximately 3 hours away by car. (Uber is not available directly from Lisbon.)
There are also public transportation options available from either the Faro Airport or Lisbon Airport to the town of Monchique. From Monchique it is a 20 minute drive to Karuna Retreat Center. Uber is available from Monchique to Karuna and costs about €6.
About Tergar Retreats
Tergar Retreats is a non-profit organization specifically focused on supporting in-person meditation retreats in the Tergar lineage as taught by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
This week-long residential practice retreat is open to anyone with a stable meditation practice. Kell and Jess will support each participant in developing a plan for their formal practice each day, and will offer private interviews throughout the week. Either Jess or Kell will also offer a talk each afternoon.
An emphasis of the retreat will be on developing confidence and trust in your personal practice. This will support your daily practice at home, and allow you to explore individual retreat practice in the future if that is of interest.
For those who are completing their Joy of Living or Nectar of the Path homework for any level, this will provide a wonderful opportunity to complete many hours of formal practice in a supported setting. And for those who have completed all the Joy of Living levels or practice other meditation path, this will be an opportunity to deepen your experience with the many meditation techniques you have learned.
This retreat is offered in-person only (there is no online/hybrid option).
Prerequisites
This program is open to those who have at minimum attended a Joy of Living Level 1 workshop or completed the online Joy of Living 1 course (having completed the homework is not required). If you come from another tradition and feel you meet the prerequisite meditation study and practice requirements in other ways, please contact jess@tergar.org.
Language & Translation
This retreat will be offered in English, with translation into Portuguese. Translation will be provided by offsite translators using the LiveVoice app (internet based).
For the teaching sessions those needing translation will need to bring a smart phone and headphones.
For private interviews translation will be provided via Zoom.
The meditation sessions will only have minimal simple instructions and be mainly silent so there will be no translation.
A minimum of three participants requiring Portuguese translation will be required to offer translation into that language. If we do not receive enough participants to offer translation in the language you require, you will be offered a full refund.
Arrival and Departure Times
Arrival and registration will be held from 14:00 - 17:00 on Sunday, May 19, with dinner at 18:30, and the first session at 19:30. Please plan to arrive by 17:00 if possible so there is time to help you register and find your room before dinner.
Departure will be after lunch on Saturday, May 25, from 13:00-15:00.
Retreat Cost
The retreat cost consists of two parts:
1) Room & Board Fee
This fee covers your lodging and food at Karuna Retreat Center. Based on your room selection, the room and board fee ranges from €240 - €480 for the retreat period.
2) Program Fee
The program fee covers all the costs to run the event, in addition to your room and board. This includes operating costs as well as stipends for the guides, translators and retreat managers. There will be no expectation or request for donations at the end of the event.
The program fee is on a sliding scale. Our costs to run this event, in addition to your room and board, are about €500 per person. For some people that’s an easy amount to pay. For others it’s impossible. If you are one of the lucky few who can afford to pay more, please do so. You make it financially possible for us to make these retreats available to everyone regardless of income.
All funds for these retreats are being managed by Tergar Institute, which is a 501c(3) non-profit in the USA. There is no tax charged. Any profits from the retreat, if there are any, will go towards future Tergar Retreats activities and also be partially shared with Tergar International.
Cancellation Policy
If you should need to cancel your registration, the cancellation policy is as follows: If you cancel more than 30 days prior to the first day of the program start date, you will receive a refund less a €50 cancellation fee. If you cancel between 15 and 29 days prior to the program start date, you will receive a refund less a €100 cancellation fee.
No refunds will be given two weeks before the retreat begins.
Retreat Schedule
Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Sunday, May 19
14:00 - 17:00 Arrival and Registration
18:30 - 19:00 Dinner
19:30 - 21:00 Introductory Talk and Meditation
Monday to Friday, May 20-24
Silence begins at 19:30 on Monday, and ends at 17:30 on Friday
All meditation practice sessions will include periods of sitting and walking.
6:45 - 8:00 Awareness Yoga and Meditation Practice
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 Break
9:00 - 10:30 Meditation Practice
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Meditation Practice
12:30 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 14:30 Break
14:30 - 16:00 Awareness Yoga and Meditation Practice
16:00 - 16:30 Break
16:30 - 17:30 Meditation Practice
17:30 - 18:30 Break
18:30 - 19:00 Dinner
19:00- 19:30 Break
19:30 - 21:00 Practice Talk and Meditation
Saturday, May 25
6:45 - 8:00 Awareness Yoga and Meditation Practice
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 Break
9:00 - 10:30 Meditation Practice
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Concluding Discussion
12:30 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 15:00 Departure
About the Karuna Retreat Center / Centro de Retiros Karuna
Karuna Retreat Center is located in the green mountains of Serra de Monchique in the Algarve. Serra the Monchique is known for its healing thermal water, medicinal plants, pure air and lush green landscapes. The Retreat Center offers a stunning view over Portugal's southern coast and the Atlantic Ocean and is just 20 minutes away from pristine beaches and less than 10 minutes away from the picturesque village of Monchique. Karuna is amongst one of the most secluded and silent places in this area and is home to a variety of local flora and fauna. The Retreat Center’s property is isolated and perfect for those in search of silence, seclusion and peace.
Karuna Retreat Center is beginning a new partnership with Tergar Retreats, with a shared vision that it will become a place for year-round practice managed by Tergar Retreats in the future.
Meals
Karuna Retreat Center prepares 3 vegetarian meals per day. They can also prepare vegan meals for those who request it in advance. They only use local products and whenever it is possible they try to use fresh products from their vegetable garden at Karuna.
Travel to and from Karuna Retreat Center
You can view the location of Karuna Retreat Center on Google Maps here.
The closest airport is the Faro International Airport, which is approximately 1.5 hours away by car.Uber is available from the Faro International Airport to Karuna, and costs about €50.The Lisbon Airport is approximately 3 hours away by car. (Uber is not available directly from Lisbon.)
There are also public transportation options available from either the Faro Airport or Lisbon Airport to the town of Monchique. From Monchique it is a 20 minute drive to Karuna Retreat Center. Uber is available from Monchique to Karuna and costs about €6.
About Tergar Retreats
Tergar Retreats is a non-profit organization specifically focused on supporting in-person meditation retreats in the Tergar lineage as taught by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
Getting Here
Tergar Retreats, Apartado 1 8550 Monchique, Portugal / GPS location: 37.301188, -8.520400
Accommodation
Quarto Room
These rooms are 2-person bedrooms, with communal bathroom shared with 4 rooms. Those staying the cabins also share the showers. These rooms are in the main retreat building.
Standard Retreat Room
These standard retreat rooms have 2 or 3 beds each, and are located in the retreat building. The bathroom is shared with one other standard retreat room.
Retreat Cabin
Each retreat cabin has two single-person bed, which share a bathroom (open-air toilet and sink) with another cabin. Showers are in the main building and shared with the quarto rooms.
The walk to the retreat cabins is uneven and a bit of a distance from the main building. Please do not select the cabin option if you have mobility issues.
Private Room Shared Bath
This is a private bedroom in the main retreat building. The bathroom is shared with one 2-person bedroom.
Shared Room Private Bath
These 2-person bedrooms have a private attached bathroom. Located in the main retreat building.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Last Chance
