The Jhanas and Insight: A 10-day (9-Night) Residential Retreat with Leigh Brasington at Lake Tahoe

This retreat is now full and the waiting list is closed.

The jhanas are eight progressive altered states of consciousness that can be identified with the aspect of the Buddha’s Eightfold Path called right concentration. Training in concentration leads to these states, each of which yields a deeper and subtler state of awareness than the previous one. The jhanas are not in themselves awakening, but they are a skillful means for stilling the mind in a way that leads in that direction, and they are attainable by anyone who devotes the time and sincerity of practice necessary to realize them. Jhana practice is helpful for gaining the deep insights necessary for ending personal suffering. The jhanas are an advanced topic in Buddhist meditation. Learning the jhanas comes more easily for those who have previously attended at least two one-week or longer silent meditation retreats and have a daily meditation practice of 45 minutes or more.

This residential retreat will take place at scenic Camp Galilee, on the lovely eastern shore of Lake Tahoe. The retreat is offered in one 10-day (9-night) length only.

Leigh Brasington (leighb.com) is a teacher of insight meditation who was the senior American student of the late Venerable Ayya Khema, who authorized him to teach the jhanas. Leigh has taught them, along with other insight practices, at well over one hundred residential retreats throughout the United States and Europe. He is casual and warm, and is skilled at providing individualized instruction during retreats. Leigh is also the author of the excellent and helpful books Right Concentration, A Practical Guide to the Jhanas (2015), and Dependent Origination and Emptiness: Streams Of Dependently Arising Processes Interacting (2021).

COST: $895-$1,350 sliding scale registration fee, plus a voluntary donation to the teacher at the end of the retreat. The estimated actual per-person cost for this retreat (if we used a fixed rate) is $1,052. By selecting a registration fee amount above this level, your generosity supports those who need to select a lower rate to attend. A non-refundable $350 deposit is required with registration to secure a spot. Registration fee balances will be due by September 16th. The registration fee pays for shared lodging, three delicious vegetarian meals per day and teacher transportation. A limited number of single rooms may be available for an extra $350, depending on space. Partial scholarships are available; contact registrar Tom Gray tom@dharmazephyr.org to apply for one. See Dharma Zephyr Scholarship Policy HERE.

DANA (donation): Compensation for the teacher is not included in the registration fee. The teacher offers these teachings freely in the tradition of the Buddha, and will gratefully accept voluntary dana at the end of the retreat. Dana for Dharma Zephyr will also be gratefully accepted.

CANCELLATION: The $350 deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation before September 16, 2024: full refund except deposit. Cancellation between September 16 and October 7, 2024: refund one half of all payments except deposit. Cancellation after October 7, 2024: no refund.

COVID-19: In the spirit of lovingkindness and ethical behavior, Leigh and DZIMC are requiring everyone to follow this protocol from Insight Retreat Center to protect us all during the retreat: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oN7OjOvuJnyQepk3Z0NhrOad6Jgs1_dAxFr_2i46C84/edit. In summary, each person must bring two (2) Covid FDA-approved rapid tests and at least one N-95, KN-95, or KF-94 mask to the retreat. To speed up the check-in process, please self-administer your first test up to a few hours before arrival at the retreat center and bring a photo of your negative result to show the greeter. If your result is positive please do not come to the retreat. We will all self-administer our second tests 48-72 hours after arrival as directed by the retreat manager and/or Leigh. Have your mask handy when indoors in case they are required (or if you prefer to wear one even if not required). See the above link for more details.

QUESTIONS? Contact Tom Gray tom@dharmazephyr.org.

Photo: T.Gray