Just Be: A Springtime Personal Retreat
191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566
Up to 10 in group
May 23 - 26, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- • Intimate setting
- • Personal access to a teacher for guidance or Q&A
- • Group shamatha and guided meditations
- • Yoga sessions
- • Massage
- • Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
- • Extensive library of dharma books
- • Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna
- • Ample time to relax and decompress in a peaceful environment
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
Now, on the cusp of summer, leave the pressures of your normal life and immerse yourself in the tranquil environment of our Center. This is a time to focus on yourself and your practice.
Meditate in Milarepa Hall, in the privacy of your room, or in one of our many mediation spots around campus—including our outdoor practice pavilion and along our woods trails. Spend afternoons in the library, perusing our extensive collection of dharma and other books. Hike Bear Mountain or Sam's Point. Spend evenings around our firepit. Contemplate the stars.
With a teacher on hand to lead group meditations, help you design a course of practice for your stay, guide your practice, and answer your questions, you can use it as a time for study. Or you can simply follow your own rhythms, to just be.
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. May not be combined with other discounts.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We are pleased to be able to offer partial scholarships for this program. Please apply here.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Intimate setting
Daily program of salutations and meditation with Center community
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 all.
SCHEDULE
Friday, May 23
3:00-6:00 PM
Check in
6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner
7:30-8:00 PM
Sunset Meditation, optional
7:30-9:30 PM
Fire pit (weather permitting), optional
10:00 PM
Lights out on campus
Saturday, May 24-Sunday, May 25
7:30-8:00 AM
Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
10:30-11:45 AM
Gentle Yoga
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
Afternoon Group Meditation, optional
6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner
7:30-8:00 PM
Sunset Meditation, optional
7:30-9:30 PM
Fire pit (weather permitting), optional
10:00 PM
Lights out on campus
Monday, May 26
7:30-8:00 AM
Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional
8:00-9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:30-10:30 AM
Group Meditation
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure
Getting Here
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
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
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
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
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.
Meals
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.
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