Clarity, Connection, and Compassion: The Liberating Path of Mindfulness (252R25) - On Land
Tara Mulay and Shelly Graf
August 17 - 21, 2025
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on February 19, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on August 16, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Looking for a scholarship? Scholarship Interest Form – Click Here
Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.
Retreat to be held on the land in the Community Meditation Center.
Description
Mindfulness is a compassionate awareness of our moment-to-moment experience, and this practice was taught by the Buddha for the purpose of freeing us from suffering (dukkha). During this Insight Meditation retreat, we will cultivate the capacity to connect directly and intimately with the felt sense of the body, heart, and mind, developing a clarity of perception that unclouds our attention. As we let go of a mistaken sense of ownership of our passing experience, we open to a deeper understanding of the truth of the way things are. In this way, we can begin to free ourselves from false notions of separateness and infuse our lives with greater joy and wisdom.
Held in noble silence, this retreat will include guided meditations, Dharma talks, Q&A, and group practice discussions. We will explore states of mind that support mindfulness, including curiosity, wise effort, lovingkindness, courage, and equanimity.
*This retreat is a parallel retreat and will be held in the Community Meditation Center while another retreat is being held in the upper Retreat Center. It’s an opportunity to practice at Spirit Rock in a more intimate size retreat setting.
Financial Details
Sliding Scale fees are for 4 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.*
Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $2400
Benefactor Rate – $1920
Sustainer Rate – $1440
Basic Rate – $960
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $380
*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.
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 2 weeks prior to the retreat start.
Scholarship offerings: Our scholarship process has changed for 2025. Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need. If you fall into that category, please complete the Scholarship Interest Form – Click Here. To be scholarship eligible, you cannot already be registered in the same retreat.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2024 – Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats have been updated..
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.
Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:
You must have attended at least one 7-night or two 5-night silent, Insight (vipassanā) meditation residential retreats 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 – $720
Basic-Commuter – $480
About the Teachers
Tara Mulay
Tara Mulay teaches and mentors Insight Meditation Practitioners to refine their mindfulness practice, both on the meditation cushion and in daily life. She was trained and authorized to teach by Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and is a Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Tara began her intensive mindfulness practice while working as […]
Learn more about Tara MulayShelly Graf
Shelly Graf has been practicing in the Insight Meditation tradition since 2003. They are a graduate of Insight Meditation Society’s four-year teacher training program and currently serve as one of the Guiding Teachers at Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis, MN. Shelly has an interest in integrating the teachings of the Buddha as deeply as […]
Learn more about Shelly GrafCategories : Multi-day, On-land, Parallel, Residential, Retreat