Nowhere To Go, Nothing To Do: A Buddhist Silent Retreat

Name: Nowhere To Go, Nothing To Do: A Buddhist Silent Retreat
Start: 2026-11-20
End: 2026-11-22
Location: Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing
Rating: 5

5.0015 reviews

191 Cragsmoor Rd, Cragsmoor, NY 12420, USA

November 20 - 22, 2026

Retreat Highlights

Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
Shamatha and guided meditations
Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
Extensive library of dharma books
Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Gary

Details of this retreat

A DHARMAKAYA CENTER RETREAT
“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear” ~ Rumi
As you prepare for the holiday season, ground yourself with a weekend of silence. No insistent beeps and buzzes demanding immediate attention. No distracting debates about the state of the world. No pressure to be witty or wise. Only the opportunity to be present with yourself, and the opening to mindfully observe and release the thoughts and emotions that arise. Silence serves as a way to gain equanimity—setting a solid foundation for the coming days.

"Gary was wonderful and provided me with many skills for finding inner peace. I am so happy to have arrived at this comforting and supportive place."

BRING A FRIEND DISCOUNT: Do you know someone who would like this program, but hasn't been to the Center? Bring them, and you both get a 10% discount on your entire program package. For the discount to apply, there must be two reservations, at least one of whom has not taken a Dharmakaya Center class previously. At checkout, apply the Discount Code: BringAFriend. May not be combined with other discounts.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Partial scholarships may be available for this program. Please write retreats@dharmakayacenter.org for more information.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Life has been quite insistent recently—and the holiday season only amplifies that pressure.

Seize a moment for yourself, before the onslaught of the holiday season. No devices. No conversations. No scattered inputs demanding your attention. Create space for your mind to calm, space to harness the power of meditation, protected from the distractions and stressors of daily life. By centering yourself, you will replenish your inner strength.

After dinner Friday night, you will be asked to relinquish your cell phone*, and the silence begins. Between group meditation sessions—both sitting and walking—you will take contemplative walks around the property, meditate on your own, or use a journal to explore your inner landscape. Group walks on our woods trails will help you experience the natural environment through all your senses; a session of gentle yoga will help incorporate mindful movement into your practice. There will be an opportunity each day for group discussions to identify goals and uncover roadblocks.

Group silence creates an atmosphere of deep tranquility, and with it the ability to rest in the present moment. Together, you collectively deepen your meditation practices, and enjoy a rare chance for self-inquiry, insight, and the possibility of inner transformation.

*Please give loved ones the Dharmakaya Center main number as an emergency contact.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
Personal and guided meditation sessions, sitting and walking meditation
Gentle yoga
Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
Extensive library of dharma books
Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna

OPEN TO ALL
The teachings and guided meditations in the retreat are for beginner-to-intermediate practitioners and for experienced meditators who want a refresher.

SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

Friday, November 20

3:00 PM
Check in begins

6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner

7:15-8:30 PM
Welcome and Introduction

Discussion on Retreat Mind

Opening Ceremony

10:00 PM
Lights Out

Saturday, November 21

7:30-8:00 AM
Morning Salutations and Meditation

8:00-8:45 AM
Breakfast

9:00-10:15 AM
Morning Teaching, Q&A, and Guided Meditation

10:45 AM-12:00 PM
Gentle Yoga Practice

12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch

1:30-2:15 PM
Outdoor Group Meditation (weather permitting, otherwise in the Hall)

2:15-5:00 PM
Personal Practice, Reflection, and Rest

5:00-6:00 PM
Walking Meditation: Instruction and Practice

6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner

7:15-8:00 PM
Evening Meditation, optional

10:00 PM
Lights out

Sunday, November 22

7:00-8:00 AM
Group Forest Walk

8:00-8:45 AM
Breakfast

9:00-10:00 AM
Morning Teaching and Guided Meditation

10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Sitting Meditation

Walking Meditation

Closing Ceremony

12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch

1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure

Schedule

Friday, November 19
3:00 PM Check in begins
6:00-7:00 PM Dinner
7:15-8:15 PM Welcome and Introduction
Discussion on Retreat Mind
Opening Ceremony

Saturday, November 20
7:00-8:00 AM Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional
8:00-8:45 AM Breakfast
9:00-10:30 AM Introduction to Calm-Abiding Meditation and its Application
11:00-11:45 AM Meditation
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:30-2:30 PM Introduction to Walking Meditation and its Application
2:30-4:30 PM Personal Practice, Reflection, and Rest
4:30-5:15 PM Meditation
6:00-7:00 PM Dinner
7:15-8:00 PM Evening Meditation, optional

Sunday, November 21
7:00-8:00 AM Morning Salutations and Meditation, optional
8:00-8:45 AM Breakfast
9:00-10:30 AM Discussion on “Right Speech”
Meditation
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Walking Meditation
Closing Ceremony
Group Discussion on Experience
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Checkout and Departure

Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing, 191 Cragsmoor Rd, Cragsmoor, NY 12420, USA

Directions

CAR. You will find a link for driving directions on our website. The parking lot is immediately to your left when you enter the Center grounds. You may drive up and drop your luggage at the Welcome Center, but may not leave your car unattended there; someone will be happy to shuttle you back down to the parking lot.

TRAIN. From Newark, La Guardia and Penn Station, you can take the Metro North train into Middletown, New York, approximately a 30-minute drive from the Center. For teachings, retreats and other special events, we will provide van service at set times. Otherwise, please take a taxi from the train station to the Center.

BUS. From New York City, you can take the Shortline Bus into Ellenville, New York, approximately a 15-minute drive from the Center. For teachings, retreats and other special events, we will provide van service at set times. Otherwise, please take a taxi from the train station to the Center.

PLANE. Newark, La Guardia and Stewart Airports all offer convenient services. From Newark or LaGuardia you can complete your trip by train; from Stewart you may rent a car or take a taxi service.

Accommodation

Our two residence halls offer a simple, peaceful environment that supports your retreat experience, with rooms for those on both personal and solitary retreats. Each room has a meditation cushion and zabuton. Rates include breakfast, lunch and dinner with the resident community, as well as towels and housekeeping. All guests are welcome, but not required, to join the daily meditation and other activities (although separate tickets are required for all ticketed events). • Our junior suites have a double bed, private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. • Our private rooms have a double bed and room for private meditation, with a shared bath. Rooms may be shared by those in a committed relationship.

Private Room: Single

This comfortable room has a double bed and ample room for meditation. It is outfitted with a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object; it shares a bath with one or two other rooms. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room rate includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day; in addition, there is a tea station on every hall.

Private Room: Couple

This registration fee is for two people. This comfortable room has one double bed, and may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. With ample room for meditation, it features a desk and small table suitable for a meditation object. All rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, coverlets, and towels, as well as a meditation cushion and zabuton. The room shares a bath with one or two other rooms. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total meals for a couple room); there is also a tea station on each hall.

Junior Suite: Single

These large rooms have one double bed, a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire. Room rates include three delicious vegetarian meals each day; there is also an in-room tea station.

Junior Suite: Couple

This reservation fee is for two people and includes three delicious vegetarian meals each day (6 total for a couple). This large room has one double bed, which may be shared by couples in a committed relationship. In addition, it has a private bath, private terrace, a refrigerator and ample room for practice. Each room has a small table suitable for a meditation object and a meditation cushion and zabaton, as well as a desk and an armoire.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

Perched atop a wooded hillside in the hamlet of Cragsmoor, the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing is surrounded by 90 acres of forest. The Center opened in 2017 and was purpose built to support retreats. With only 20 bedrooms, our retreats are small, keeping the retreat experience intimate. People regularly comment both on the cleanliness of the buildings and on the total sense of peace that envelopes you when on campus.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Ancient wisdom describes food as a source of prana, or life force. The Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing was founded on the premise that nourishing food is integral to wellbeing. Our chefs are passionate about creating meals that are both flavorful and healthy. We use the freshest, most nutritious, least processed foods available; when possible our ingredients are organic and locally sourced. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your accommodation fee. To promote good health, we serve delicious, varied, nutritious vegetarian food, with options at every meal. All our meals are served on a buffet, with ingredients listed next to each dish, enabling guests to avoid dairy, as well as glutens, nuts and other allergens.

What's Included

Time to seize a moment of peace for yourself. No devices. No conversations. No scattered inputs demanding your attention. Create space for your mind to calm, space to harness the power of meditation, protected from the distractions and stressors of daily life. By centering yourself, you will be better prepared for the coming weeks.
After dinner Friday night, you will be asked to relinquish your cell phone*, and the silence begins. Between group meditation sessions—both sitting and walking—you can take contemplative walks around the property, meditate on your own, or use a journal to explore your inner landscape. There will be an opportunity each day for group or one-on-one conversations with the teacher to discuss goals and uncover roadblocks.
Group silence creates an atmosphere of deep tranquility, and with it the ability to rest in the present moment. Together, you collectively deepen your meditation practices, and enjoy a rare chance for self-inquiry, insight, and the possibility of inner transformation.

What's Not Included

Airfare
Transport
Massage (optional add on)

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

Tina • Oct 17, 2026

5.0

Verified

A place like no other.

I experienced true presence amongst nature, my fellow beings, the staff and volunteers who are incredibly kind and generous of spirit.

The landscape is very special. The woods, the attention to detail in evert single space and I experienced a gentle, loving energy that sweeps the entire centre and its surroundings.

The food is the best food i have ever had on retreat, coupled with the impeccable cleanliness. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Anonymous • Dec 01, 2025

5.0

Verified

Above and beyond

I was amazed how much care and effort the people who work/volunteer there put into what they do. Food was delicious and healthy, accommodations and facilities sparkling clean, the area is so beautiful and you can enjoy it by doing small hikes on the trails. I've learned a few new things about mediation techniques that I look forward to applying to my practice.

Thank you so much for this incredible experience of peace and tranquility.

Catherine • Dec 14, 2024

5.0

Verified

thanhgiving retreat

hello

My retreat was great met alot of interesting people from everywhere as far as Brazil and China most people were from New Jersey. The food was great. I was in the yoga class on a chair and then decided I wanted to sit on the mat i miss and landed on the floor. There was so many people that just jumped out to help me. The place is very peaceful it feels like one big family. Catherine Asaro

Laura • Feb 01, 2023

5.0

Verified

Peace in a comfortable environment

From the moment I arrived I was impressed with how peaceful and immaculate the entire facility is. The rooms had exactly what I needed with a comfortable bed and pillows, meditation table and cushions, and a desk. Towels were provided as well. Vegetarian meals were delicious. I was able to immerse myself in the silent meditation retreat and focus on deepening my practice. This is a perfect place for me and I’m already planning my next retreat.

Anonymous • May 18, 2022

5.0

Verified

Beautiful spot

Dharmakaya Center is a beautiful & peaceful spot. Highly recommend! The center is immaculate and well maintained. Great staff and facilities.

Nowhere To Go, Nothing To Do: A Buddhist Silent Retreat

Retreat Highlights

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Gary Wheaton

Details of this retreat

Schedule

Getting Here

Directions