Deep Time: Slowing Down as a Revolutionary Act

In a world that measures worth in productivity and time in minutes, what if slowing down could be your most radical act? Deep Time: Slowing Down as a Revolutionary Act is a five-day meditation retreat at the iconic Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, designed to rewire your relationship with time itself. Led by contemplative teacher Deborah Eden Tull, this workshop guides you beyond the relentless acceleration of modern life into Uji—a spacious, non-dual awareness rooted in Zen Buddhism and grounded in geological time. You'll emerge with a lived understanding that stillness and action are not opposites, but expressions of interdependence and emergence.

This is not an escape into passivity. Rather, it's an invitation to attune yourself to the rhythms of your body, heart, earth, and the more-than-human world—discovering how genuine presence becomes an act of resistance to a culture obsessed with optimization. Set against Big Sur's dramatic cliffs and ancient redwoods, you'll explore what it means to live in alignment with natural cycles and geological scales, far from the tyranny of the clock.

Whether you're a seasoned meditator seeking deeper insight or a contemplative newcomer curious about Zen philosophy, this retreat welcomes practitioners of all backgrounds. Through daily meditation, dharma discourse, compassionate inquiry, conscious movement, embodied ritual, and direct engagement with the landscape itself, you'll access a way of being that transforms not just your retreat week, but your entire relationship with time.

What to Expect

Each day unfolds at a gentle, intentional pace. Mornings begin with meditation and dharma teaching from Deborah Eden Tull, who draws on Buddhist philosophy while remaining grounded and accessible. You'll participate in guided explorations of Uji—being-time—and examine how acceleration culture shapes your nervous system and choices. Afternoons weave in conscious movement, embodied ritual, and direct time spent in Big Sur's landscape, where the earth itself becomes your teacher. Compassionate inquiry circles create space for integration and honest reflection.

By the end of five days, you'll carry a tangible, embodied shift: a slower heartbeat, a quieter mind, and a clearer sense of your place within larger rhythms. You'll leave with practical tools to resist productivity culture and practical wisdom for living more attuned to what truly matters.

Venue & Logistics

Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA | Monday, August 24–28, 2026

Esalen's clifftop setting—with ocean views, natural hot springs, and redwood groves—provides the perfect container for deep contemplative work. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for meditation and movement; the Big Sur coast can be cool in the mornings and evenings. Please arrive by Sunday evening if possible. For specific accessibility accommodations, contact Esalen directly or reach out to BrightStar Events.