Taste of Chan, One-Day Meditation

Taste of Chan is a one-day silent meditation retreat at the Chan Center Hartovski Vrh in Hartje, near Kostanjevac, outside Zagreb, Croatia. It offers a gentle introduction to the ways and spirit of extended Chan practice, and it is meant for people who have already attended a meditation course and have a well-established practice of their own.

You can take part in person at the retreat center or online. The organizers highly recommend being there in person for a more holistic experience.

What to Expect

The day is built around continuous application of meditation methods. You sit, but you also practice in walking, in exercise and while doing simple tasks, so that attention carries through the whole day rather than staying on the cushion.

The organizers describe a day of meditation as something other than individual practice done alongside others. It is a silent communion, in which mutual help and support are an essential part of the practice.

The schedule runs like this:

- Arrival by 8:30 am
- Opening from 9:00 to 9:30 am
- Morning meditation in stillness and motion, until 12:45 pm
- Lunch
- Work period and rest
- Afternoon meditation in stillness and movement, from 2:45 to 4:30 pm, including a walk through the woods if the weather permits
- Sharing
- Tea and cakes
- Departure by 5:30 pm

The Setting

The Chan Center Hartovski Vrh sits in Hartje, in the Kostanjevac area, in the countryside beyond Zagreb. The afternoon walk through the woods, weather allowing, makes use of the surroundings. The center also provides information on arrival and stay for those planning their trip.

Before You Go

This day is open to people who have already been to a meditation course and have a well-established meditation practice. It is not an introduction to meditation for complete beginners.

Places are limited, and a spot is reserved once the suggested donation is paid. The donation is set at different levels for patrons, full members, associate members and non-members. It covers organizational expenses and a carefully prepared vegetarian lunch. A teaching donation is not included.

If you join online, English translation is provided through Zoom. Online participants are asked to take part actively with their camera on.