191 Cragsmoor Road; Cragsmoor, New York 12566
Up to 10 in group
October 13 - 17, 2025
About this Retreat
John Henderson has studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced meditation for nearly 30 years. Since 2003 he has been a senior student of the Dharmakaya Center’s founder, Rimay master Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche.
John has applied the teachings in his professional life as a serial entrepreneur, leading both healthcare and real estate businesses, and as a board member of numerous not-for-profit organizations in the Northeast. He has been teaching at the Center since it opened in 2017, offering dozens of programs in person and online, as well as providing individual meditation guidance to our retreatants and our volunteers.
COMMENTS FROM FORMER STUDENTS
- "John models the attributes that I am always working on developing. Graciousness, patience, compassion. It's one thing to teach it, another to live it."
- “John was fantastic. His teaching has changed my life for the better.”
- “I absorbed more from John’s teachings than from any other Buddhist materials I’ve seen.”
- “I really enjoyed this experience – a weekend I will never forget which may have changed my view on a few things.”
- “John’s teachings were excellent. He provided very clear explanations and was generous with his time with answering questions.”
- “The balance of teaching/questions, contemplation and meditation practice was optimal. I have a much better understanding of the practice and its relevance in my life.”
- “John was wonderful. Full of warmth, wisdom and patience”
- “I feel calm and re-energized. I am excited to restart my personal practice and feel inspired to apply a number of new techniques that enrich my daily life.”
- “John is an excellent teacher. I really appreciated how he adjusted his planned presentation to accommodate our many questions”
GUIDED MEDITATIONS
(please click to link to the meditation)
Details of this retreat
A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
What happens when you enter a sanctuary of quiet? Your mind settles. Your awareness deepens. And as the days pass, you open to unexpected personal insights, the release of unwanted emotional attachments, and true inner transformation. In the deep quiet of winter days, with the holidays safely behind you, join us for a week of quiet and profound peace. You’ll return to your life more grounded, more centered, more wise—filled with an inner ease that is unshaken by outer circumstances.
"I had never done a silent retreat and only dabbled in meditation. This experience reinforced my belief that meditation can open me to so much more. It will undoubtedly become a more constant part of my wellbeing."
“Wonderful, good, wise teachings, and a well-developed program. It’s hard to limit to just one thing I am grateful for the entire experience”
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
You are besieged by noise. The outside world is filled with the clatter of phones, television, news, conversations, traffic, machines. And sometimes your internal world is even louder, as you ruminate about an email you sent ten minutes ago, an argument you had ten days ago, a bad financial decision you made ten years ago. Yet, quieting your mind is a challenge.
Let us provide the container—the ideal conditions—for you to sink deep within and break free from your mental chatter. With guided meditations and teachings, group practice, yoga, journaling, time in nature, and plenty of "down time," we provide a relaxing, supportive, distraction-free atmosphere for your inner journey—which will foster a more present, calm, and balanced approach to life.
These days of silence offer many benefits, including:
Deepening your meditation practice: Whether you are just beginning your meditation journey or hoping to go deeper, these few days can help. Scheduled meditation sessions—with instruction—explore a range of practices, while the pervasive silence encourages a continuous mindful awareness that can lead to lasting changes in the way you relate to your thoughts.
Taking a digital detox: This is a rare and valuable opportunity to set aside your smartphone, computer, and other electronic devices, break free from the incessant pull of notifications, social media, and email, and refocus on your own thoughts, feelings, and the beauty of your surroundings. As your appreciation for direct, unmediated experiences grows you may also gain healthier digital habits.
Connecting with nature: Our 90-acre campus naturally fosters tranquility. As you walk our woods trails—or stop to meditate in nature—you become more grounded, soaking in the resilience, interconnection, and inherent beauty of the natural world. This retreat should coincide with the height of fall foliage, adding to the glory of time spent outdoors.
Fostering self-reflection and releasing negative emotions: Stripped of your usual distractions, you have the bandwidth to look inward, confronting thoughts, emotions, and patterns that you may overlook or ignore in the hustle of daily life. This can be a rare chance to process and release long-held negative emotions—and a precious opportunity for healing.
Being supported by community and a structured schedule: The shared journey of silence and reflection create a unique connection among participants, an unspoken bond that can be quite profound and deeply supportive. That is bolstered by the carefully crafted schedule, balancing meditation, movement, meals, and free time that enables you to immerse yourself without the distractions of planning or decision-making.
BONUS: We will also explore the Three-Moment Method™, designed by Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche, a practical tool that can be deployed in real time recognize harmful emotions and let them go.
As you deepen your meditation practice and calm your mind, you will rediscover the gifts of the present moment, creating lasting changes in how you relate to your thoughts and emotions. When the retreat ends, you will feel recharged and refreshed, ready to take on all your responsibilities with greater focus and joy.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
Shamatha and guided meditations
Daily gentle yoga sessions
Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
Extensive library of dharma books
Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna
OPTIONAL MASSAGE
Please email retreats@dharmakayacenter.org if you would like to book a massage during your free time.
OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for meditators at all levels and those simply interested in exploring the teachings.
SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
Monday, October 13
3:00 PM
Check in begins
6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner
7:15-9:00 PM
Welcome and Introduction
Discussion on Retreat Mind
Opening Meditation
10:00 PM
Lights Out
Tuesday, October 14 - Thursday, October 16
7:00-7:45 AM
Walking Meditation
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:30-10:30 AM
Morning Teaching, Q&A, and Meditation led by the Teacher
10:30 AM-11:30 PM
Contemplative Woods Walk (Tuesday, Thursday)
Gentle Yoga Practice (Wednesday)
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00-2:30 PM
Personal Time, Reflection, Journaling
2:30-3:30 PM
Gentle Yoga Practice (Tuesday)
Contemplative Woods Walk (Wednesday)
3:30-4:30 PM
Group Meditation
4:30-6:00 PM
Personal Time, Reflection, Journaling
Open Time with Teacher for Questions
6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner
7:00-9:00 PM
Evening Meditation, optional
Fire Pit (weather permitting) or Fireplace, optional
10:00 PM
Lights out
Friday, October 17
7:00-7:45 AM
Walking Meditation
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:30-10:30 AM
Morning Teaching and Meditation led by the Teacher
10:30-11:30 AM
Q&A
Group Discussion
Closing Ceremony
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure
Verified
