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Concentration (Samādhi) Retreat: Cultivating Joy and Contentment (368R26) - On Land

Tuere Sala, Tempel Smith, Brian Lesage, devon hase and Vance Pryor

October 2 - 11, 2026

Date and Time Details:
Friday to Sunday
October 2 - 11, 2026 (9 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. – $5,490.00
  • Benefactor-residential. – $4,410.00
  • Sustainer-residential. – $3,330.00
  • Basic Rate-residential. – $2,205.00

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: Oct 7, 2025
Registration opens: Oct 7, 2025

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on October 7, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on October 1, 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.


Description

Concentration (samādhi)—the steady unification of the mind—is a powerful support for deepening meditation. The Buddha emphasized it as both a key part of the Eightfold Path and a factor leading to awakening. When cultivated, concentration brings joy, calm, and clarity, enriching both our Insight (vipassanā) practice and daily life.

This retreat offers practical techniques to strengthen your ability to stay present with your meditation object over time. Whether you’re newer to practice or an experienced meditator, you’ll learn how to develop stability and focus, explore the qualities that support deep states of absorption (jhanas), and receive guidance on how to integrate concentration into Insight Meditation. With consistent support from teachers, you’ll build the foundation for more ease, depth, and transformation on the cushion and beyond.

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


Financial Details

Sliding Scale fees are for 9 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 – $5490
Benefactor Rate – $4410
Sustainer Rate – $3330
Basic Rate – $2205
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $855

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 (Jul 10)
  • $100: 8-12 weeks before (Jul 11 – Aug 7)
  • $175: 4-8 weeks before (Aug 8 – Sep 4)
  • $300: 2-4 weeks before (Sep 5 – Sep 18)
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before (Sep 19)

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:

  • Full refund: On or before 12 weeks (Jul 10)
  • $75: 8-12 weeks before (Jul 11 – Aug 7)
  • $100: 4-8 weeks before (Aug 8 – Sep 4)
  • $200: 2-4 weeks before (Sep 5 – Sep 18)
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before (Sep 19)

*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 – $1665
Basic-Commuter – $1125

Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats


About the Teachers

Tuere Sala

Tuere Sala

Tuere Sala is a Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock Retreat Center and Seattle Insight. She is a retired prosecuting attorney who has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years. Tuere is committed to lay practice and inspired by bringing the Dharma to nontraditional places. She is a strong advocate for practitioners living with high stress, […]

Learn more about Tuere Sala

Tempel Smith

Tempel Smith teaches Mindfulness, Insight and Metta meditation with an emphasis on Buddhist psychology and mind-body awareness. He spent a year as a monk in Burma with Sayadaw U Pandita and Pa Auk Sayadaw. Tempel serves on the Spirit Rock Teachers Council, organizes the Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP) and Living Dharma retreats for Spirit Rock […]

Learn more about Tempel Smith

Brian Lesage

Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation since 1988 and has taught meditation since 2000. He has studied in the Zen, Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and India as well as numerous […]

Learn more about Brian Lesage

devon hase

devon hase is empowered to teach in the Insight and Vajrayana traditions of western Buddhism. Since discovering meditation in 2000, she has put Dharma and community at the center of her life: she spent a decade bringing mindfulness to high school and college classrooms before entering several years of silent, solitary retreat in the mountains […]

Learn more about devon hase

Vance Pryor

Vance Pryor has practiced insight meditation since 1999 in both the United States and Myanmar. He has been influenced by the teachings of Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. He is a graduate of The Insight Meditation Society's 2017-2021 Teacher Training Program.

Learn more about Vance Pryor

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