July 10-17th, 2027 (7-Day Retreat)
Mindful Path to Wisdom
July 10-17th, 2027 | Metta Meditation Center, Janesville, MN
A Vipassana Retreat in Mindfulness, Insight, and Inner Freedom
Vipassana means seeing deeply and clearly into our experience.
During this seven-day silent retreat, participants will have an opportunity to step away from ordinary distractions and devote themselves more fully to meditation and mindful awareness.
Through sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful daily activities, teachings, and periods of silence, we will learn to observe the changing nature of body, feelings, thoughts, and mental states.
Rather than immediately reacting to what arises, we practice seeing experience with greater clarity and balance.
As the mind becomes quieter and more attentive, we begin to recognize patterns that are easily overlooked in everyday life. With understanding comes the possibility of responding differently—and with that comes greater freedom.
The purpose of Vipassana is not to escape life, but to learn to see life more clearly.
Highlights:
Guided Meditation: Throughout the retreat, you'll engage in daily guided meditation sessions specifically designed for processing grief and cultivating healing, led by experienced meditation instructors. These sessions will help you develop mindful awareness of loss, enhance emotional resilience, and discover the heart's infinite capacity for love and letting go.
Dharma Talks: Learn from seasoned Buddhist teachers as they share profound insights on love, loss, and liberation, including teachings on impermanence, the nature of attachment, the Four Noble Truths as applied to grief, and the path to freedom through acceptance. Gain deeper understanding of how these teachings can transform suffering into wisdom and compassion.
Mindful Activities: Explore healing-focused mindfulness through various activities, such as memorial walking meditation, conscious grieving practices, and loving-kindness for those we've lost. These practical experiences will help you integrate Buddhist approaches to loss into your ongoing healing journey.
Silent Contemplation: Embrace the power of silence as you partake in periods of silent contemplation focused on honoring memory and finding peace. Silence provides a sacred space for deep processing, emotional release, and connection with the eternal love that transcends physical presence.
Noble Silence: Experience the profound practice of Noble Silence during specific segments of the retreat, creating space for intimate communion with your grief and the wisdom it carries, away from external distractions and demands.
Mindful Movement (Yoga or Tai Chi): Complement your meditation practice with gentle yoga and mindful movement sessions designed to support emotional processing and physical release. These practices promote healing integration while honoring the body's wisdom in processing loss.
Liberation Through Insight: Discover the path to freedom as you delve into specialized meditation practices for working with grief and impermanence. Learn to observe sorrow, attachment, and longing with compassionate awareness, leading to genuine liberation that honors love while releasing suffering.
Vegan Meals: Savor nourishing and delicious vegetarian meals prepared with love and mindfulness, creating opportunities for contemplative eating and honoring the preciousness of life and nourishment.
Community and Support: Connect with fellow practitioners navigating their own journeys through love and loss in a safe, understanding, and deeply compassionate environment. Share experiences and insights within a sangha that holds space for both sorrow and healing.
Breathtaking Natural Setting: Immerse yourself in the peaceful and healing natural surroundings of our retreat center, providing an ideal environment for processing grief while being held by the beauty and continuity of the natural world.
Teacher: Bhante Sathi has been practicing meditation for more than 35 years and teaching for 25 years. Sathi has traveled throughout the United States and Europe, leading meditation retreats and workshops. Sathi is the founder and leading teacher at the Metta Meditation Center and author of "The Mind Workout," bringing profound wisdom and gentle guidance to the sacred territory of love, loss, and the liberation found through Buddhist understanding of impermanence.
Retreat Format: In-person only
Limit: Space is limited to 25 participants. Secure your spot for this retreat by completing full registration.
Register before: June 20th, 2027
Fee Details:
General Fee: $840 (Sharing a room with another person)
Discounted Rate: $790 for sponsors of the Triple Gem
Sponsors: Individuals who contribute monthly donations of $100 or more
Private Room Option: Add $140 for a private room
Dāna (Pali, Generosity): A customary practice at the end of a retreat is to consider the Buddhist practice of Dāna, which includes making an additional financial donation. Your generous contribution enables us to continue sharing the teachings (one donation to the Teacher) and another donation to support the programs and operations of Triple Gem of the North and the Metta Meditation Center. Thank you for your kindness and support! Your generosity truly makes a difference.
We use the Zeffy platform to collect donations and card payments. When you reach the payment page, Zeffy will invite you to add a percentage to support their service. The default amount is 11%, but you are free to change it, including setting it to 0% if you wish.
Click here to register and complete your payment
Food: Vegan breakfast, lunch, and Dinner will be provided.
Accommodation:
The retreat will take place at the serene Metta Meditation Center. Your room assignment will be provided upon registration. While the accommodations are not luxurious, they are comfortable and well-suited for the retreat’s purpose. The center also provides a beautiful view of the lake, and the meditation hall is both quiet and spacious. Bedrooms are easily accessible. If you have any specific requests or preferences, please let us know in advance.
Attendance: Retreat participants are asked and strongly encouraged to start and end the retreat with the entire group. Any exceptions to this are only made by the teacher with special permission granted.
Clothing and Other Details: Clothing worn during the retreat should cover the entire body (for example, long pants are preferred over shorts). Short-sleeved shirts are acceptable, though sleeveless shirts should be avoided. Clothing should be comfortable. Also, heavily scented perfumes/products should be avoided. There are members of the community who are sensitive to certain scents.
Click here to register and complete your payment
Retreat Itinerary
Saturday (Arrival Day)
- 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM: Check-in
- 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM: Teaching
- 06:00 PM – 07:00 PM: Dinner
- 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM: Group Practice
Sunday to Friday (Daily Schedule)
- 06:00 AM – 07:00 AM: Mindful movements
- 07:00 AM – 08:00 AM: Breakfast
- 08:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Morning Practice
- 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Tea/Coffee
- 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Teachings
- 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Mindful moments
- 12:00 PM – 02:00 PM: Lunch and independent practice
- 02:00 PM – 03:30 PM: Q&A
- 03:30 PM – 05:00 PM: Group sitting
- 05:00 PM – 06:00 PM: Mindful motion with Yoga or Qigong
- 06:00 PM – 07:00 PM: Dinner
- 07:00 PM – 08:30 PM: Guided discussion
- 08:30 PM – 09:00 PM: Sitting Practice
Closing Day (Saturday)
- 06:00 AM – 07:00 AM: Mindful movements
- 07:00 AM – 08:00 AM: Meal and Independent Practice
- 08:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Practice
- 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Closing
- 11:30 AM: Lunch and Cleaning
Logistics
- Location: Google Maps has been known to take our guests to the main house rather than the center. When you arrive, you’ll pull into a gravel road on the highway, simply keep driving until you see a large yellow building on your left-hand side next to a large white cross. That is where the Center is.
- Accommodations: The registration fee is inclusive of a room and meals. Rooms are dorm-style with shared bathrooms.
- Clothing: Try to bring comfortable clothing as you will be spending a lot of time conducting various types of meditation and mindfulness practices.
- Toiletries: Try to avoid bringing heavily scented items as some individuals are sensitive to such products.
- Food: We provide food for you. If you need to bring your own food for whatever reason, we encourage you to put your name on the food and place it in the fridge located on the main floor. We can show you where that is when you check in.
- Towels and sheets: Now we provide bedding and two towels for each.
