17-Night Retreat: Concentration (Samādhi) & Fall Insight Retreat

Imagine two weeks of uninterrupted practice—your mind settling into crystalline clarity, your heart opening to depths you've only glimpsed. This 17-night residential retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, offers exactly that: a rare opportunity to journey through both the stabilizing power of deep concentration and the liberating insight of vipassanā practice, guided by seven seasoned teachers including Tuere Sala, Tempel Smith, Eugene Cash, Brian Lesage, devon hase, Vance Pryor, and movement teacher Hakim Tafari.

The retreat unfolds in two complementary phases. The first 10 nights focus on samādhi—the steady unification of mind that forms the foundation of all deep practice. Here, you'll cultivate the stability, focus, and inner conditions that lead to absorption states (jhanas), experiencing firsthand the profound peace available when the mind settles completely. The second week transitions into insight practice rooted in the Thai Forest Tradition, where clarity emerges naturally from a grounded, open heart. Through seated and walking meditation, Dharma talks, and individual teacher meetings, you'll explore the subtle movements of mind and body that reveal the nature of reality itself.

This is not a retreat for beginners—it's designed for practitioners ready to commit deeply to their liberation. The silence, the structure, the skilled guidance of experienced teachers: all create conditions where genuine transformation becomes possible.

What to Expect

Complete silence (except for Dharma talks, teacher guidance, and small group meetings) creates a container where your mind can finally rest from the constant churn of daily life. Your days follow a gentle rhythm: early morning sits, walking meditation, Dharma talks that illuminate your direct experience, time for individual meetings with teachers, and ample periods for self-directed practice. The integration of concentration work followed by insight practice means you're building genuine stability before diving into investigation—a progression that deepens both qualities.

You'll sit alongside practitioners from around the world, all committed to the same intention. Teachers meet with you individually to offer guidance tailored to your practice. By retreat's end, you leave not just with peaceful glimpses, but with embodied understanding and the tools to continue deepening your practice at home.

Venue & Logistics

This retreat takes place at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, October 3–19, 2026. Participants stay on-site in residential accommodations and receive vegetarian meals. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for meditation; the center provides meditation cushions and benches. Note: This retreat requires that you have completed at least one prior silent residential insight retreat of 9 nights or more. Please contact Spirit Rock directly regarding accessibility needs.