Application for Affectionate Awareness as a Path to Liberation

During this intensive silent retreat, participants will learn to develop their heart’s capacity for liberatory clarity and pervasive tenderness with a unique integration of Vipassana (insight) and Metta (lovingkindness) practices. Michele and Jesse are enthusiastic about supporting practitioners with a depth of both technical rigor and spacious ease.

Guests will be supported by daily instruction periods with time for questions and answers, individual interviews with both teachers, nightly dhamma talks, a vigorous schedule of sitting and walking meditation, as well as free time in the afternoons to silently explore the beauty of the landscape on their own.

Come experience the richness of quietude in the beautiful Vallecitos wilderness while cultivating the wisdom of Vipassana and the tenderness of the four Brahma Viharas: Unconditional Love, Compassion, Appreciative Joy, and Equanimity.

Prerequisite:  Practitioners must have done at least three separate 9-day retreats of silent Vipassana meditation to be eligible. If you do not meet this criteria, we would be happy to help you find another Vallecitos retreat.

APPLICATION PROCESS: This retreat has an application-based process to ensure familiarity with retreat experience. Please note, this retreat is now full and has a waitlist. We will continue to review applications and send invitations to register as spaces become available. For those who are invited to attend, we will email you a registration link to sign up for the retreat. If you are in need of financial assistance to attend, you will complete a scholarship application once you have been accepted AND completed your registration.

COVID Safety Measures: Please review our current COVID Safety Measures, which are subject to change. We are creating this web page in January and retreats will not begin until late May. We very much understand how much things can change between now and the start of our retreat season.  Our Medical Committee is actively and regularly updating our protocols.