Join Hawah Kasat for an inspiring, interdisciplinary retreat program taking place at the breathtaking Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California (about 3 hours from San Francisco). This one-of-a-kind retreat experience is cradled on ocean cliffs, immersed in hot springs, and humbled by the canopy of Redwood trees.

A RETREAT WITH PERIODS OF OBSERVING SILENCE

Know from the rivers in clefts and in crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever’s not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet. — Buddha

We treasure this life, and yet we rarely can hear ourselves think. We are constantly being bombarded and absorbing information at a dizzying pace. In the 21st century, where stillness and silence are scarce, fast-paced living keeps us bouncing from one task to the next. What might happen if you simply sat and allowed yourself to be? What would arise in the spaces between your thoughts, your breath, and your heartbeat?

Join celebrated teacher, author, and documentary filmmaker Hawah Kasat to explore the depths of silence and solitude. Hawah will guide you with a culturally sensitive soft touch and a compassionate heart toward a deepening spiritual practice.

Through asana, pranayama, meditation, dharma talks, and more, you will:

• Still the “monkey mind” through pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses.
• Experience the profound connection between physical stillness and silence.
• Sit with what comes up in the spaces between your thoughts, breath, and heartbeat.
• Explore the subtle nuances between Yogic and Buddhist meditation traditions.
• Unravel the mystery of Vipassana Meditation.

This retreat is suitable for those who have never taken a vow of silence and want to explore what it feels like to observe it, as well as veteran silent retreaters who want to tune up their senses of awareness and perception.

NOTE: Noble silence will be observed intermittently throughout the retreat days, sometimes for hours at a time; however, this is not a traditional silent meditation retreat. During noble silence periods, participants will be encouraged not to engage in writing, reading, or talking.

This in-person retreat takes place in Big Sur, California at the Esalen Institute.