Winter Pause: A Silent Retreat for Body, Mind, and Spirit

Location icon
191 Cragsmoor Road; Cragsmoor, New York 12566
Users icon
Up to 10 in group
Date
January 24 - 31, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
  • Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
  • Shamatha and guided meditations
  • 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

About this Retreat

Your Guides

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”


BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would like this program, but hasn't been to the Center? Bring them, and you both get a 10% discount on your entire program package. For the discount to apply, there must be two reservations, at least one of whom has not taken a Dharmakaya Center class previously. At checkout, apply the Discount Code: BringAFriend. 

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. Even though the holiday pressures are past, 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, and early winter can be the best time to find it here. 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.

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)

Friday, January 24




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



Saturday, January 25 - Thursday, January 30




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
Gentle Yoga Practice (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday)


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch


1:00-2:30 PM
Personal Time, Reflection, Journaling


2:30-3:30 PM
Contemplative Woods Walk, weather permitting


3:30-4:30 PM
Group Meditation led by the Teacher


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 led by the Teacher, optional



Library Fireplace, optional


10:00 PM
Lights out



Friday, January 31




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


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch


1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure

Schedule

7:00 - 7:45 AM Walking meditation
8:00 - 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 AM Morning Teaching, Q&A, and Guided Meditation
10:30 -11:30 AM Gentle Yoga Practice
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 PM Personal Time / Reflection / Journaling
2:30 - 3:30 PM Contemplative Woods Walk
3:30 - 4:30 PM 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, optional (weather permitting)
10:00 PM PM Lights Out
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing, 191 Cragsmoor Road; Cragsmoor, New York 12566

Directions

CAR. You will find a link for driving directions on our website. The parking lot is immediately to your left when you enter the Center grounds. You may drive up and drop your luggage at the Welcome Center, but may not leave your car unattended there; someone will be happy to shuttle you back down to the parking lot.

TRAIN. From Newark, La Guardia and Penn Station, you can take the Metro North train into Middletown, New York, approximately a 30-minute drive from the Center. For teachings, retreats and other special events, we will provide van service at set times. Otherwise, please take a taxi from the train station to the Center.

BUS. From New York City, you can take the Shortline Bus into Ellenville, New York, approximately a 15-minute drive from the Center. For teachings, retreats and other special events, we will provide van service at set times. Otherwise, please take a taxi from the train station to the Center.

PLANE. Newark, La Guardia and Stewart Airports all offer convenient services. From Newark or LaGuardia you can complete your trip by train; from Stewart you may rent a car or take a taxi service.

Accommodation

Our two residence halls offer a simple, peaceful environment that supports your retreat experience, with rooms for those on both personal and solitary retreats. Each room has a meditation cushion and zabuton. Rates include breakfast, lunch and dinner with the resident community, as well as towels and housekeeping. All guests are welcome, but not required, to join the daily meditation and other activities (although separate tickets are required for all ticketed events). • Our junior suites have a double bed, private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. • Our private rooms have a double bed and room for private meditation, with a shared bath. Rooms may be shared by those in a committed relationship.

Private Room: Single

Accommodation
This comfortable room has a double bed and ample room for meditation. It is outfitted with a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object; it shares a bath with one or two other rooms. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room rate includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day; in addition, there is a tea station on every hall.

Private Room: Couple

Accommodation
This registration fee is for two people. This comfortable room has one double bed, and may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. With ample room for meditation, it features a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room shares a bath with one or two other rooms. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total meals for a couple room); there is also a tea station on each hall.

Junior Suite: Single

Accommodation
These large rooms have one double bed, a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day; there is also an in-room tea station.

Junior Suite: Couple

Accommodation
This reservation fee is for two people and includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total for a couple). This large room has one double bed, which may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. In addition, it has a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire.

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Perched atop a wooded hillside in the hamlet of Cragsmoor, the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing is surrounded by 90 acres of forest. The Center opened in 2017 and was purpose built to support retreats. With only 20 bedrooms, our retreats are small, keeping the retreat experience intimate. People regularly comment both on the cleanliness of the buildings and on the total sense of peace that envelopes you when on campus.

Meals

Menu
Menu

Menu Types

Ancient wisdom describes food as a source of prana, or life force. The Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing was founded on the premise that nourishing food is integral to wellbeing. Our chefs are passionate about creating meals that are both flavorful and healthy. We use the freshest, most nutritious, least processed foods available; when possible our ingredients are organic and locally sourced. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your accommodation fee. To promote good health, we serve delicious, varied, nutritious vegetarian food, with options at every meal. All our meals are served on a buffet, with ingredients listed next to each dish, enabling guests to avoid dairy, as well as glutens, nuts and other allergens.

What's Included

  • Four nights/Five Days
  • Daily Guided Meditation
  • Daily Teaching
  • Daily one-on-one time with the Teacher
  • Daily Sitting Meditation
  • Daily Walking Meditation
  • Daily Contemplative Woods Walk
  • Fire Pit
  • Three delicious, farm-fresh vegetarian meals a day
  • Tea station and fruit bowl always available
  • Full use of grounds, including Meditation Hall, library, outdoor practice pavilion, and walking paths,

What's Not Included

  • Travel to the Center
  • Optional Massage Sessions

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Peace in a comfortable environment
From the moment I arrived I was impressed with how peaceful and immaculate the entire facility is. The rooms had exactly what I needed with a comfortable bed and pillows, meditation table and cushions, and a desk. Towels were provided as well. Vegetarian meals were delicious. I was able to immerse myself in the silent meditation retreat and focus on deepening my practice. This is a perfect place for me and I’m already planning my next retreat.

5.0
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Beautiful spot
Dharmakaya Center is a beautiful & peaceful spot. Highly recommend! The center is immaculate and well maintained. Great staff and facilities.

5.0
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Amazing place Amazing experience
If you are looking for a place to unwind and grow spiritually while eating the best food this place is for you. Brand-new beautiful facility, super friendly stuff and relaxing atmosphere - I don’t know the better way to spend a weekend. I enjoyed my stay and I’m coming back!

5.0
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fantastic experience
I was in a wonderful art work shop and it was amazing. Accommodations where beautiful. Food was delicious and fantastic.
Beautiful grounds lovely walking experience. . The staff was delightful.

5.0
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Easeful Setting
I felt at ease and at home, right from the start. The program teacher was phenomenal, the retreat center director capable and down-to-earth, and the staff was truly kind and accessible. I can't wait to come back. I wanted to give Dharmakaya a good review, though I also like that it's a small and intimate setting. -- Lucia D

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