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Beneath the Noise: A Journey into the Mind’s Quiet Power (338R26) - On Land

Amana Brembry Johnson and Bhante Buddharakkhita

July 1 - 7, 2026

Date and Time Details:
Wednesday to Tuesday
July 1-7, 2026 (6 nights)
Arrival Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm PT
Departure Time: 11:00am PT

On Land - Upper Retreat Hall

Contact: Spirit Rock Registration
registration@spiritrock.org

  • Supporter-guaranteed single. – $3,600.00
  • Benefactor-residential. – $2,880.00
  • Sustainer-residential. – $2,160.00
  • Basic Rate-residential. – $1,440.00

Cancellation Policy (Residential Retreats):*

Standard Cancellation Fees:
  • $50: On or before 12 weeks
  • $100: 8-12 weeks before
  • $175: 4-8 weeks before
  • $300: 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before
*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family

Registration opens: Jul 15, 2025
Registration opens: Jul 15, 2025

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on June 30, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.

In need of a scholarship? – see “Scholarship offerings” information below.


Designed to support the BIPOC community

Description

The most courageous journeys are often those for which we are least prepared—those that unfold beyond definition and expectation. Dharma practice is such a journey: mysterious, revealing, and profoundly transformative. The mind is limitless in its power and often misunderstood. Left untrained, it clings, distorts, and generates suffering. When met with awareness, it becomes a gateway to clarity, compassion, and liberation. During this retreat, we will be invited to quiet the noise of striving, meet ourselves fully, discover the peace that arises when the mind is steady, and enter a space where truth is felt rather than defined. We will explore how thoughts shape our reality and learn to work skillfully with the mind rather than against it. The retreat will open with community sharing, then drop into stillness and movement practices. There will be talks and time to meet with teachers.

This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

Full Teaching Team is TBD.


Financial Details

Sliding Scale fees are for 6 nights including food and lodging. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock’s efforts in offering lower sliding scale rates and supporting the large number of scholarship requests.

Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $3600
Benefactor Rate – $2880
Sustainer Rate – $2160
Basic Rate – $1440
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $570

Scholarship offerings: Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need. If you need a scholarship to attend, do not continue registering now as this will disqualify you from a scholarship opportunity in this retreat. We encourage you to complete the Scholarship Interest Form – Click Here. Scholarship allocation dates are included in the form.

Pay in full or Payment plan: You can either pay in full or pay a deposit when you register. Payment plans are available to everyone! If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged to your payment card in equal installments on a monthly basis. Full payment is due two weeks prior to the retreat start.

Cancellation Policy (Residential Retreats):*
Standard Cancellation Fees:

  • $50: On or before 12 weeks
  • $100: 8-12 weeks before
  • $175: 4-8 weeks before
  • $300: 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:

  • Full refund: On or before 12 weeks
  • $75: 8-12 weeks before
  • $100: 4-8 weeks before
  • $200: 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before

*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family


Retreat Commuter Option

The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is FULL with a waitlist. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (e.g. staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you.

Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation PRIOR to attending this retreat.

What is a Retreat Commuter?
A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are listed below for retreat commuters.

If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org

Commuter Sliding Scale:
Sustainer-Commuter – $1080
Basic-Commuter – $720

Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats


About the Teachers

Amana Brembry Johnson

Amana Brembry Johnson is a dedicated meditation teacher and community leader with over four decades of contemplative practice across multiple spiritual traditions. She serves as a Core Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland, California, and is a coordinating teacher for residential retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Amana is one of […]

Learn more about Amana Brembry Johnson

Bhante Buddharakkhita

Ven. Bhikkhu Buddharakkhita was born and raised in Uganda, Africa. He first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while living in India, and he began practicing meditation in 1993. In June 2001, he started formal monastic training, and in November 2002 he received higher ordination under the late Venerable U Silananda at the Tathagata Meditation Center in […]

Learn more about Bhante Buddharakkhita

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