Silent Meditation Retreat

Join us for a one-day silent meditation retreat!

If you've already discovered the power of meditation, this retreat is a perfect way to take your practice to the next level. Get away for the day to beautiful Green Gulch Farm - just 45 minutes from San Francisco - and soak in the stillness. 

What to Expect

We'll gather at 8am to begin our practice and step into silence together. We’ll alternate periods of sitting and walking meditation throughout the morning and afternoon. Two talks on the topic “Fearlessness,” given by Infinite Smile's Michael McAlister, will help guide your silent practice.

You'll also have the opportunity to walk on the beautiful grounds at Green Gulch Farm, and meet one-on-one with Michael to discuss your practice. You'll enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch, and tea will be available throughout the day.

At the end, we’ll come out of silence to connect with one another, and share about the experience of being in silence.

Meet Your Retreat Host

Beginning in 1987, Michael McAlister began his practice and study with the Zen community at Green Gulch Farm in Sausalito, California. Over the years his journey led him to study abroad with teachers in both Thailand and Nepal, where, in addition to broadening his exposure to Buddhist teachings, he also experienced different ways of walking the Path to Spirit. While his most significant training was with San Francisco Zen Center, his approach evolved into a decidedly secular orientation. Spend a little time with Michael’s podcasts and videos and you see that he continually works to integrate several of the Nondual teachings from the contemplative traditions of Vedanta Hinduism, Christianity, Kabbalah, and Sufiism.

His journey onto the path began after college, when he become frustrated with what he regarded as the basic superficiality of his life and began looking for spiritual meaning that had depth and integrity. He was anxious to contextualize the deep spiritual longing that was arising in him, and despite his reservations, he looked into several religious practices, hoping to find deeper balance and peace in a tradition. Over time, however, he became increasingly discouraged with the hypocrisy and the exclusivity of traditional versions of faith.

Shortly hereafter a friend introduced him to Zen meditation and things began to shift. “I initially viewed Zen like every other tradition: trapped by its own sense of self-worth, he said. But the more I sat still and simply watched my experience, just as the priests trained me to do, the more that things began to make sense in a way that went past any intellectual understanding or physical sensation. Plus my ego liked the fact that wearing a priest’s robe didn’t mean that you were any closer to God than the next person,” Michael explains. “Women were also seen as equals,” he added, “and the teaching, rather than the teacher, fueled the journey for each of us on the Path to Awakening. And enlightenment, or Christ consciousness, or God sense, or Atman, or whatever you want to call it, is right here in this very moment, waiting to be uncovered with each and every other person.”

McAlister’s active participation in the Zen community lasted for many years. Also, his studies with other Buddhist traditions and teachers in different countries rounded out an approach to contemplative practice that incorporated Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravadan schools of Buddhism. After his travels, he had a series of profound realizations that nearly made him decide to ordain as a Buddhist priest. Yet “all things change,” as Michael consistently reminds us. Instead of ordaining, Michael went back into the world teaching psychology to high school students. Shortly thereafter he was asked to begin teaching a class on meditation at the Lafayette Community Center. Within months, the class evolved into the Infinite Smile Sangha and a community had begun to take root. Currently, technology allows Infinite Smile to extend its offering to a global audience. Michael has also just completed his dissertation for his doctoral studies in international education. In this study, he examines the integration of mindfulness practices in US high schools.

Who Should Come

If you've been building a meditation practice for just a few weeks, for several years, or anything in-between, you'll appreciate the depth of stillness that comes with this day-long silent meditation retreat. We recommend that you take an online class with us at WITHIN Meditation, or sit with a meditation group near you, at least once before you go.

Doing a day-long silent meditation retreat can seem daunting, if you've only sat for brief periods of meditation before - but it’s totally do-able! To help you get the most out of the experience, and put you at ease, WITHIN Meditation Cofounder Hannah Knapp will offer guidance and advice in an orientation conference call the week before. She'll also check in with you after the retreat, to talk about your experience and help you integrate what you learn into your regular life.

This retreat is not recommended if you have never practiced with guidance from a teacher in the mindfulness traditions (Zen or Vipassana), or if you've never meditated with a group (in person or online).

Registration

Retreat registration ($159) includes a delicious vegetarian lunch the day of the retreat, plus support from WITHIN Meditation Cofounder Hannah Knapp before and after the retreat.

WITHIN Members can register with a 10% discount! Please email sit@withinmeditation.com for the promo code, or for information on how to become a member.

COVID Safety

The zen monks who live at Green Gulch farm continue to do their best to protect their community from COVID. So, we'll be implementing the following procedures to help keep everyone safe:

• All participants may be required to provide a negative COVID test prior to joining the retreat
• The doors and windows of our meeting space will be kept open to increase air flow, weather permitting.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at sit@withinmeditation.com so we can address them before your register.

Refund Policy

Registering for the retreat secures your spot. If you cancel up to a week in advance, we will give you a full refund. No refunds are given after that point except in the case of illness.

Please contact us at sit@withinmeditation.com with any questions - we're happy to help you decide if this retreat is right for you!