Cameron's Staff Pick iconCameron's Staff Pick
Top Rated iconTop Rated

Wake Up Sleepy Buddha: The Buddhist Path in Practice

Location icon
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Date
February 4 - 7, 2027

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

This retreat introduces core Buddhist practices beyond mindfulness in a way that is accessible, experiential, and rooted in traditional wisdom. It is welcome to both newer meditators and those with an established practiced who are looking for a  clear orientation or refresher.

The retreat offers a grounded, experiential introduction to the broader Buddhist path, emphasizing direct practice, integration into daily life, and trust in our innate capacity for awareness and compassion - our buddha nature. Rather than focusing on doctrine, scholarship, or religious identity, the teaching remain rooted in traditional sources while meeting the realities of contemporary life.

Participants will explore a survey of integrated practices drawn from across the Buddhist spectrum, including contemplation, concentration, compassion, and insight. These practices are presented in contemporary language while honoring their traditional roots and interrelationship.

This retreat offers a clear, grounded bridge between introductory mindfulness and the living heart of Buddhist practice.

This retreat is well-suited for meditators, therapists, helpers, and anyone seeking depth without dogma, and a clear bridge between mindfulness and the living heart of Buddhist practice.



Schedule:

Thursday, February 4

3 - 6 pm Arrival & Check In
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Welcome Session -Brief overview of Buddhist Path

Motivation/Intention & Precious Opportunity Contemplations
Discussion and direct practice
Dedication of Merit discussion



Friday, February 5

7 - 7:30 am Optional Early Practice Session: Introduction to Tsa Lung Trulkhor (optional morning practice)
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am -12 pm - Morning Session: Elaborate overview of Buddhist Path and Practices

Introduction of Refuge, Generating Bodhicitta
Introduce concept of Unconditional Love via cross section of Modern Attachment


12:30 -1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 5:30 pm - Afternoon Session: Basic Mindfulness

Advances Concentration through the Stages of Asanga’s Elephant Path


6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm - Evening Session: Introduction of Tantric Visualization Practices

Introduction of Guru Yoga & direct practice



Saturday, February 6

7 - 7:30 am Optional Early Practice Session: Tsa Lung Trulkhor Practice Session (optional morning practice)
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am -12 pm - Morning Session: Introduction of Emptiness/Insight Practices

Contemplations Meditations
Emptiness of Self Direct Investigation Practice
Revisit Mindfulness


12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 - 5:30 pm - Afternoon Session: Emptiness of Thought

Emptiness of Sensory Experiences
Emptiness of Emotional Experiences
Practicing Mindfulness with the Field of Awareness itself as the object)
All phenomena as empty practice


6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm - Evening Session: Revisit afternoon insight practices

Sunday, February 7

7 - 7:30 am Optional Early Practice Session

Tsa Lung Trulkhor Practice Session (optional morning practice)


7 - 11 am Check out of rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am -12 pm - Closing Session: Review of program

Bringing all practices together
Program closing


12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note this schedule is subject to change.

Getting Here

Location icon Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Accommodation

Deluxe Queen

Accommodation
Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Economy Single - Shared Bath

Accommodation
Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor. A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note rates include meals and accommodations.

Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Accommodation
Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor. High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others

Customer Reviews

4.84 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
Verified logo
Such a beautiful setting
Menla is the best retreat location I have been to. (Others are Garrison Institute, Omega, Art of Living in N.C., and Insight Meditation in Barre, MA) It's beautiful, peaceful, has great walking trails. It's beautiful campus to walk across. The lodging is excellent-- great beds, linens, rooms, artwork on wall. And the food is the best I've had-- all vegetarian but with lots of flavor.

5.0
Verified logo
Retreat
The facilities and food at Menla was outstanding. The beauty of the land, the clean and comfortable beds and rooms added to the beautiful experience.
When I go on retreats, having delicious meals is import ant and the cleanliness of the room and facilities is important. Menla did a great job. Loved being able to enjoy the Dewa spa too. All people I interacted with with kind and easy to communicate with. Grateful.

5.0
Verified logo
Beautiful and Nourishing
The grounds are breathtaking, the staff is kind, the food is so healthy and fresh. What a fantastic time I had at a recent retreat here. It is a little more casual that Kripalu, with a ton of heart and depth to their offerings.

5.0
Verified logo
Life Changing
I was so nervous going to Menla but what a beautiful place where real transformation can occur. So grateful for my time there.

5.0
Verified logo
Vajra Yoga Mahasiddha Reunion 2026
The retreat was transformative. Menla has a strong emphasis on a scholarly teachers and balances that with spiritual practice. On the other hand some of the lectures were hard to follow. A little like galloping horses. I enjoyed the discussions as much as I could follow. I think setting an intention for the course material and lectures would be helpful. Add to that a reminder or translation of what is being said for those of us not well versed in Sanskrit. Nightly Kirtan with Krishna Das was wonderful. Meals were delicious.

Similar retreats

You might also like