Mind & Life Institute Summer Research Institute

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

We’ve never been more connected and yet so divided. Just as technology brings us closer together, we are increasingly polarized, finding affirmation in online echo chambers rather than seeking common ground. Loneliness and isolation are fueling a global mental health crisis just as climate emergencies hasten hunger and the mass displacement of people.

Becoming Bodhisattvas – The Path of Confidence with Ethan Nichtern

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

Many of us are longing for an in-depth, in-person meditation retreat. This is a great opportunity to do so. Like last year, this retreat will focus on practices and teachings related to the path of the Bodhisattva, a body of teachings all about a compassionate and wise way of being in world in turmoil. This year we will focus on the theme of Confidence. 

Pathways to Planetary Health Forum with Doughnut Economics Action Lab

Join us for a conversation of Garrison Institute Co-founder Jonathan FP Rose speaking with Kate Raworth, Leonora Grcheva, and Erinch Sahan of Doughnut Economics Action Lab  for a thought provoking discussion of Doughnut Economics, which asks the question- what is the goal of economics- and answers it with a purpose: social and ecological wellbeing rather than growth or many other economic indicators that we pay too much attention to.

Spiritual Retreat with Divine Master Sri Bhramrishi Siddhguru

World Spiritual Forum is conducting a spiritual retreat in the divine presence of our Divine Master, Sri Brahmrishi Siddhguru (referred to as “Gurudev”) from July 4 to July 7, 2024 at the Garrison Institute. This retreat includes Siddhasana (yoga, meditation and other activities in silence), lectures on our ancient wisdom, singing of the divine songs (Bhajans), chanting mantras and most importantly informal discussion with Sri Siddhguru.

Contemplative Leadership and Personal Mastery

Join us for an exceptional Garrison Institute Fellowship Forum featuring renowned speaker, former business school professor, and executive coach, Dr. Srikumar Rao, in conversation with Dr. Angel Acosta. This enlightening session will explore the profound themes of creativity, personal mastery, and contemplative leadership.   About the Forum In a world filled with constant challenges and rapid changes, finding deeper meaning…

Healing-Centered Education Summit: Hope & Healing in Practice

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

This summit calls upon educators, leaders, and practitioners from diverse fields to explore healing-centered approaches to learning, development and community empowerment with a focus on actionable strategies for systemic change. Throughout this immersive event, participants will engage in enriching panel discussions, be inspired by keynote addresses, and partake in collaborative workshops.

Wholehearted Sesshin: Summer Silent Retreat 2024

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

Join us for an eight-day intensive silent retreat focusing on rediscovering our values and living life to the fullest.

Care for Educators

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

CARE is a unique evidence-based program designed to help educators reduce stress and enliven their work by promoting awareness, presence, compassion, reflection, and inspiration – the inner resources needed to help students flourish, socially, emotionally, and academically.

How to Get Over Yourself: Finding the Bliss Beyond Self-Fixation and Fear

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

In this retreat we’ll review a wide array of contemplative and somatic embodiment practices as well as contemporary psychological based tools to overcome self-fixation and gain access to a core drive to connect with the transpersonal serenity of being, getting curious with existence, and being kinder to our core beings. We will also offer yoga/movement taught by Lindsey Liberatore. This is an in-person retreat appropriate for both new and experienced practitioners.

Breaking Bias: How Contemplative Practice Builds A World of Belonging

Join author Anu Gupta and Garrison Institute's CBR Director Christa Tinari for this conversation around imagining a world without bias—and the methodologies by which we can dream it into reality. The session will feature meditation, somatic exercises, and a lively discussion, followed by an interactive Q&A session. Anu will explore what it means for us to “break bias” in our own communities.

Contemplative Care Retreat 2024: The Nobility of Imperfection

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

This retreat will offer a time of community exploration, grounded in the practice of the Six Paramitas (sometimes referred to as the Six Perfections). As we dive into the teachings of generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditative concentration, and wisdom, we uncover their relevance in our relationships with both ourselves and others.

Inner Transformation for Social Impact Leaders

This 5-week program invites social impact leaders into an exciting exploration of inner development practices through different angles and methods. Eight renowned speakers will answer your questions live and pique your interest in the varied ways that you can engage in inner transformation.

Seven-Day Retreat at Garrison Institute with Rupert Spira

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

For those of us who love to dive deeply into the heart of the non-dual understanding, retreats offer an unprecedented opportunity: seven days with Rupert and friends, nestled in a beautiful location in nature, where we steep together in the peace of our true nature. Retreats gather us in the heart of being, where we spend our days in self-abidance, friendship and creativity.

Home Is Here: Healing Racial Harm with Compassionate Care – A 3-Part Course

What does it mean to attend to our suffering in body, heart, and mind when racism has caused such intense hurt and pain; individually and collectively? In this 3-part series, we’ll begin our journey on the Path of restoration from the results of the dominant culture’s racism by examining deeply and fully individual and collective conditioning. With courageous honesty, we investigate how we may have been misled, misinformed, perhaps, even colluded in perpetuating or creating hurt and harm.

5-Night Silent Retreat with Mukti

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

This retreat will delve into the heart of our existence, as life Itself. Mukti will point participants to their essential Self, prior to personal identities, roles, history, or future. She’ll also focus on how to nurture remembrance of Self nature—free of definitions and divisions. To support this remembrance, Mukti will offer talks, periods of satsang (Q&A sessions exploring the nature of essential Truth), and guided meditations. This retreat will also provide several periods of daily, silent group meditation, as well as time to rest and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Finding Awe in Nature: Pathways to Planetary Health Forum with Kim Nolan

Kim Nolan and Stephen Posner will explore what it means to find awe in nature and to regard nature as teacher and source. This refreshing conversation will weave together insight and experience across sectors, including passion for social justice, appreciation for the power of business, and commitment to education for the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Becoming Earth: Honoring Nature as the Source of Life

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

This in-person retreat is a rare chance to immerse in a way of being that honors nature as the source of all life, promoting humanity’s right relationship with Earth. Co-Facilitated by Tiokasin Ghosthorse, and Melanie Goodchild, PhD, we will gather on sacred land on the banks of the Hudson River to engage “the precious and vanishing world behind the human-made world.”

Personality and Wholeness with Dr. Daniel J. Siegel

Please join us as we explore this unique opportunity to spend time with author Daniel Siegel, MD and gain insight into the themes of his latest work "Personality and Wholeness in Psychotherapy" . Join us in unlocking the potential for transformative change and learn how to turn perplexing patterns into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

Healing Our Way Home: A Retreat for Cis and Trans Women of Color

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

This is a retreat for women of color. Our focus will be the book Healing Our Way Home and the importance of ancestors, joy, and liberation. Join us for an exploration of how we can see ourselves in each other’s path of joy and liberation, and take refuge in our individual and collective healing.

People Who Care for People – A Retreat for Caregivers

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

Sharon Salzberg along with Ali Smith, Atman Smith and Andres Gonzalez (Co-Founders of The Holistic Life Foundation) offer this virtual retreat exploring the immense resilience of the human spirit, and how to find greater balance when serving others. Recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally in a community of caretakers from all walks of life with meditation, yoga, and contemplative practices.

SELAH: Exploring New Territories with Dr. Bayo Akomolafe and Rodney McKenzie Jr.

Join us for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Bayo Akomolafe, a visionary thinker at the forefront of reimagining our relationship with the world and each other. Dr. Akomolafe will sit down with Rodney McKenzie, Jr., Vice President of Ally Development at Fetzer and veteran community organizer.

Voice as Practice with Meredith Monk & Ellen Fisher

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

Meredith Monk and Ellen Fisher return to the Garrison Institute for this in-person workshop where voice, movement, and image intersect to create an opportunity for us each to discover our own personal richness.

A Transformative Conversation on Moral Economies

The Garrison Institute's Moral Economies Project brings together thought leaders of this movement, to identify the common elements among these global transformative initiatives. Together, we are charting new pathways toward a more just, regenerative, and sustainable future. Through our ongoing mapping of these distinct efforts, we are uncovering and exploring commonalities that tie together diverse efforts to foster wellbeing and economic change.

Village Zendo Annual Winter Retreat

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

The Village Zendo’s year-end retreat is a chance to step out of ordinary life and enjoy deep silence and contemplation at the turning of the year. Our schedule is serious (with plenty of zazen meditation) but also spacious, with time to enjoy the beautiful grounds and nearby trails. Dharma talks are given daily, and there is opportunity to meet individually with teachers. Full Retreat: December 26 to January 1
Half Retreat: December 26 to December 29

A Conversation on Father Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic

Please join us for this interactive online Forum hosted by Jonathan F.P. Rose, Co-founder of the Garrison Institute, in conversation with the Reverend Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault. This event promises to peel back the layers of one of the most innovative contemplative thinkers of our time. In "Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mythic", Cynthia Bourgeault offers an intimate and groundbreaking portrait of a spiritual master who transcended traditional boundaries and reimagined the contemplative landscape.

Beginner’s Mind Sesshin: A Winter Silent Retreat

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

Through the practice of sitting and walking meditation, engaging dharma talks, and intimate dokusan sessions with a teacher, join the New York Zen Center in immersing oneself in the transformative power of Noble Silence. Let us come together, here and now, embracing this five-day, four-night journey of discovery and growth. This retreat will complete with a lay Hossen Shiki led by Koshin Sensei and Shishin Falk will serve in the role of Shuso, as a completion of her two years of training.

Garrison Institute Fellowship Forum: The State of the Fellowship

Join us for an illuminating evening exploring State of the Garrison Institute Fellowship. Led by the Dr. Angel Acosta, this engaging forum will dive into the profound impact of the fellowship program, the groundbreaking work of its fellows and its future.

From the Calm Seat to the Hot Seat – Cultivating a Meditation Practice Which Spans Both Worlds

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

The retreat will be jointly led by Judy Lief, senior teacher in the tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and master editor of his works, and the senior teachers of the Westchester Meditation Center (WMC) - Derek and Jane Kolleeny, and Gene Bobker. This mostly silent retreat will be primarily focused on sitting meditation, but the daily schedule will also include walking meditation, talks, guided meditations, yoga, and free time, with two individual meetings with a meditation instructor and discussion groups on two evenings.

Selah: An Awkward Grace – An Online Course Exploration and In-Person Retreat

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

In collaboration with Dr. Bayo Akomolafe / Dancing with Mountains and Ayin Press, we offer a short course exploration, and an in-person retreat called ‘Selah’. Selah is a series of retreats crafted around Dr. Akomolafe’s thesis that contemporary times call for something more than healing, justice, resolution, or solution.

“A Rising Tide of Oneness”: Unity Consciousness for a World in Bits and Pieces

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

A day-long symposium to explore and celebrate the spiritual legacy of Fr. Thomas Keating: Trappist monk, enlightened spiritual master, founder of the Centering Prayer movement, and a pillar of contemplative inter-spiritual dialogue. The symposium will weave together teaching, practice, panel discussions, and provocative immersion sessions as we dive deeply into Fr. Thomas’s prophetic vision of Oneness as both an inner state of consciousness and an outer pathway of planetary healing.

5-Day Silent Retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault and David Frenette

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

In this five-day silent retreat, Cynthia will be teaching from her newly published book, Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic, in a deep dive into Thomas Keating’s final visionary insights on Christian nonduality and planetary Oneness. Joining her will be longtime Centering Prayer colleague David Frenette, bringing his own complementary insights into Unity Consciousness and contemplative service.

SAVE THE DATE: The Heart of Devotion Retreat with Krishna Das (March 2025)

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

Join Krishna Das and friends for a weekend retreat of yoga, chanting, and devotional heart-opening practices. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with a group of dedicated seekers and immerse yourself in practices, teachings, and discussions. Over this retreat weekend, Krishna Das will lead nightly kirtan with accompanying musicians, and guide us during afternoon workshops with discussions and Q&A. Special guest teacher Nina Rao will lead morning chant sessions.

Seven-Day Retreat at Garrison Institute with Rupert Spira

For those of us who love to dive deeply into the heart of the non-dual understanding, retreats offer an unprecedented opportunity: seven days with Rupert and friends, nestled in a beautiful location in nature, where we steep together in the peace of our true nature. Retreats gather us in the heart of being, where we spend our days in self-abidance, friendship and creativity.

SAVE THE DATE: Annual Retreat for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (June 2025)

Garrison Institute 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, New York, United States

In a time of increasing disruption and loss of cohesion, it is more important than ever before to have a place of refuge that is stable, especially for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities. In this retreat, mindfulness will be at the heart of all we do. In addition to daily dharma teachings, we will practice daily mindful walking, or moving, sitting (or stationary) meditation, mindful eating, singing, dharma writing, and dharma sharing.