Inner Transformation: Be Present at Every Moment

Location icon
191 Cragsmoor Rd, Cragsmoor, NY 12420, USA
Date
Apr 15 - 20, 2027

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 paths, flora and fauna

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

RETREAT BY INVITED PRESENTER

 

Beloved meditation teacher Anne Sussman returns to the Dharmakaya Center with two sequential programs:
APRIL 15-18: Journey Within Silent Retreat
APRIL 18-20: Changing Aging for Women 50ish and Beyond
Attending both provides a rare opportunity to spend six days under Anne's loving guidance, learning how to shed stress and self-judgement, and be present with every moment of joy in life.

Get a $190 Early-Bird Discount when you take both programs!

"This was a unique and profound experience. I like my uncluttered self!"
"This retreat allowed me to set aside all the distractions and numbing devices and truly tune in to myself. Anne is a thoughtful, wise, authentic and a kind teacher. She makes meditation accessible with loving support. Practicing with her as my teacher has been life changing in the most positive way." 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
JOURNEY WITHIN SILENT RETREAT

Designed for both serious meditators and those new to silent retreats, these four days incorporate a range of meditation techniques. You will have the opportunity to go deeply inward, strengthen your connection to the deepest part of who you are—which is the greatest gift of spending time in silence, away from the distractions of the world and the bombardment of the news and stress of living in our current climate.

CHANGING AGING FOR WOMEN 50ish and BEYOND

As Women, we are often defined by our roles in relation to others: mother, wife, daughter. But many of those roles begin to change as we age. When these external ways of defining ourselves begin to shift, spiritual practice can help uncover what we know to be true, that our soul is eternal. Let’s age with grace, joy and resilience, even in the face of the change that inevitably comes. These three days are an opportunity to connect, dive deep, and find that the best is yet to come.

Find the peace and stillness that you may be searching for outside yourself and realize it is and always has been within!


EVENT 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 paths, flora and fauna


OPEN TO ALL
There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for all women 50 years and beyond (men may attend the Silent Retreat). Come alone or bring a friend.

 
SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

Thursday, April 15




3:00 PM
Check in begins


4:30 PM
Welcome and Introduction


6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner With Conversation


7:15-9:15 PM
Discussion prior to entering Noble Silence



Silence Begins



Guided Meditation



Gentle and Restorative Yoga



Friday, April 16 - Saturday, April 17




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


8:00-8:45 AM
Breakfast, Eating Meditation


9:00-10:30 AM
Morning Learning and Meditation


10:30 AM-12:00 PM
Personal Reflection Time


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch


1:30-3:00 PM
Afternoon Learning and Meditation


3:30-4:45 PM
Gentle and Restorative Yoga


4:45-6:00 PM
Personal Reflection


6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner


7:30-8:30PM
Evening Learning and Meditation



Sunday, April 18



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


8:00-8:45 AM
Breakfast


9:00-10:30 AM
Silence Ends, Sharing Circle


10:30-11:00 AM
Yoga


11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Q&A



Closing Circle


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch with conversation


1:00-4:00 PM
Free Time


4:00 PM
Changing Aging Introduction



Initial Discussion


6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner


7:15-9:15 PM
Evening Program



Guided Meditation



Gentle Yoga



Monday, April 19




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


8:00-8:45 AM
Breakfast


9:00-11:00 AM
Morning Learning and Meditation


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch


1:30-3:00 PM
Afternoon Learning and Meditation


3:30-4:45 PM
Gentle Yoga


4:45-6:00 PM
Personal Reflection


6:00-7:00 PM
Dinner


7:30-8:15 PM
Evening Learning and Meditation



Tuesday, April 20




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


8:00-8:45 AM
Breakfast


9:00-10:30 AM
Vision Boards


10:30-11:00 AM
Gentle Yoga


11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Sharing Circle



Closing Circle


12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch






1:00 PM
Checkout and Departure



 

 

Schedule

7:30-8:00 AM: Morning Mediation and Salutations
8:00-9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM-12:00 PM: Program or free time
12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00-6:00 PM: Program or free time
6:00-7:00 PM: Dinner
10:00 PM Lights Out
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon 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

Accommodation
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.

Junior Suite: Single

Accommodation
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.

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon 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
Menu

Menu Types

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

  • Comfortable accommodations with queen bed in every room
  • All linens
  • Three delicious, farm-fresh vegetarian meals a day
  • Tea station and fruit bowl always available
  • Large Meditation Hall and private Meditation Room
  • Extensive library of dharma books
  • Cozy chairs and fireplace
  • 90-acre campus with walking trails and outdoor meditation spots
  • Fire pit
  • Outdoor practice pavilion

What's Not Included

  • Travel to the Center

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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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.

5.0
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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

5.0
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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.

5.0
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Beautiful spot
Dharmakaya Center is a beautiful & peaceful spot. Highly recommend! The center is immaculate and well maintained. Great staff and facilities.

5.0
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Amazing place Amazing experience
If you are looking for a place to unwind and grow spiritually while eating the best food this place is for you. Brand-new beautiful facility, super friendly stuff and relaxing atmosphere - I don’t know the better way to spend a weekend. I enjoyed my stay and I’m coming back!

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