The "Still Here" Sangha (Silent) Retreat - The Dharma Centre of Canada, Kinmount, ON

Starts: Thursday 9th November. Check-in begins at 4:00 pm. The retreat itself begins at 7:00pm
Ends: Sunday 12th November. Participants will depart early afternoon, after a mid-day meal.
Arrival: You are encouraged to arrive between 4pm and 5pm so that you will have time to take your bags to your room and familiarize yourself with the Dharma Centre. There will be a light meal offered between 5pm and 6pm, followed by clean up and an orientation.
About the Program:  Evening meditation will begin at 7pm on Thursday. Noble silence will then also begin and remain in effect until the end of formal practice on Sunday morning, at which point there will be an opportunity to reflect and share experiences. During the retreat, the schedule will alternate between sitting and walking meditation, and there will be talks and instruction given by members of the Sangha. There will be a work period of one hour each day which might involve food preparation as well as indoor and outdoor cleaning tasks.
Noble Silence and Sense Restraint: Noble Silence offers the opportunity to deepen our practice. In the context of a retreat, Noble Silence includes not communicating with each other, either directly or by gesture, and limiting distraction by not reading or listening to music. To foster the spirit of sense restraint, please leave your phone in your car and refrain from wearing perfumes, noisy jewelry and beeping watches.
Food: All meals will be vegetarian. If you have food allergies or any specific food requirements, please let us know when you register for the retreat. We will do our best to accommodate you but, depending on the issue, you may be asked to bring some of your own food.
Mobility: The Dharma Centre is located in a rural area. Please let us know of any mobility issues in your registration form.
What to bring: We recommend the following items.
  • Mats and cushions are available, but you may bring your own.
  • ​Loose comfortable clothing for meditation.
  • Indoor slippers or shoes for the dining area.
  • Warm outdoor wear, and rain wear (sleeping quarters are some distance from the main buildings).
  • Toiletries and towel.
  • Sleeping bag, or blankets, sheets and a pillowcase.
  • Alarm clock (there is no wake-up bell in some of the cabins).
  • Flashlight.
  • Kleenex.
  • Water bottle.
  • Sturdy walking shoes maybe winter/rubber boots (depending on weather forecast).
Rides: We will be coordinating rides, so please let us know when you apply if you need a ride or if you are able to offer a ride to the retreat centre. Directions can be found on the Dharma Centre website.
How to Apply:
Cost: The total cost for the 3-day retreat is $330.
  • Our intention is to make the teachings as accessible as possible. You may indicate whether the fee would cause you financial hardship and what you may be able to offer towards the cost. In such cases, we will make every attempt to accommodate you.
  • If you are able to support retreatants by contributing funds to a Buddhist Place bursary, please indicate this on your application. We will issue a tax receipt for any contributions of this kind.