A Buddhist retreat is one of the best places you can go to find yourself. However, there are literally hundreds of retreats out there, so which ones are the best? This article will list the top 10 Buddhist retreats where you can meditate and find yourself.
Shambhala Mountain Center
Located in the Red Feather Lakes area of Colorado, this Buddhist center is set against a lush valley and a large bird sanctuary. This retreat offers both a week-long lesson in meditation and an intensive study that lasts for about a month. There are single-sex dorms, so be prepared for this before going.
Esalen Spiritual Retreat
Located near the Big Sur coast in California, this retreat is a self-sufficient Buddhist paradise full of workshops and a functioning gardening thriving with fruits and vegetables. The workshops here can help you find yourself through martial arts, meditation and other spiritual practices.
Middle Way Meditation Retreat
Found in Loei, Thailand, this Buddhist retreat is one of the strictest on this list. Most retreats allow visitors to talk and act like themselves, but this retreat is all about personal isolation and refraining from any malevolent behavior. Guests are not to tell lies, speak with people from the other gender or kill anything living, including insects. During the stricter times, you will not even be allowed to speak at all.
However, for all this, many people have been able to find themselves from this rigorous work.
Omega Institute
This retreat, found near the Hudson Valley in New York, is not specifically Buddhist. However, the workshops include many of the most spiritual teachings, including Buddhist, Sufism and Hinduism. Regardless, there are about 20 courses that teach students about meditation, and the retreat welcomes both novices and advanced practitioners.
White Cloud Sanctuary Retreat
Found at Santa Ana, Costa Rica, this retreat is unlike any other. Most of the retreats allow two or three people to stay in the same area, but this retreat only allows one person per room. This gives guests a great way to study the spiritual practices by themselves, without dealing with the outside world.
Holy Isle
Near Scotland’s island of Arran, this retreat is only meant for the most serious and advanced of students. This retreat helps students achieve the best in meditation and there are only 65 rooms available for guests. There are group classes, and professional Buddhists will help you learn the most advanced meditation techniques.
Osho Meditation Resort
This retreat can be found in Pune, India and it is for people who are just starting on their spiritual path. Due to this, the retreat has many uncommon activities, like a nightclub and tennis court. Despite this, the retreat has a very serious meditation time, along with power-breathing and dancing. Everyone involved in the meditation sessions is required to wear a dark red robe. This is because of the belief that wearing the same color during meditation can increase the overall energy.
Insight Mediation Society
You can find this center in Massachusetts and it is meant for people who enjoy walking meditation. The spiritual activities begin in the early morning and extend until 10 at night. Most of the day is silent, so this can be a difficult retreat for people who are new to Buddhist teachings.
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
This center is located at Muir Beach, California and it embraces Japanese Buddhism. This is only meant for intense studies, so new practitioners may want to avoid this place until they have gained some experience. Most of the practices revolve around zazen, or seated and silent meditation.
Ananda
Found in the Himalayas in India, this is a great place for both new and seasoned students. The best thing about this retreat is that there are one-on-one lessons, so everyone can learn at their own pace. There is also a tea lounge and 78 rooms.
Conclusion
There are many Buddhist retreats in the world, but these are 10 of the best. Whether you are new to Buddhism or you have done it for years, you are sure to find at least one retreat from this list that will teach you exactly what you need. So, go off and find yourself at one of these places.
Author Bio
Tom Demers the author of the “10 Buddist Retreats to Find Yourself” writes for Del-Immune V®, which is designed to strengthen immune system function with its natural probiotic supplement made from the lactobacillus rhamnosus.