Ram Dass Legacy Retreat “Open Your Heart in Paradise” [In-Person & Online]

The Ram Dass Legacy Retreat, "Open Your Heart in Paradise," is a six-day spiritual retreat at the Napili Kai Beach Resort in Napili, West Maui, Hawaii. It celebrates the life and teachings of Ram Dass through meditation, teachings, satsang and kirtan, in the devotional lineage he carried. It is held by the Love Serve Remember Foundation with Krishna Das & Friends, and is led by Jack Kornfield, Trudy Goodman and Krishna Das. Long-time pilgrims, truth-seekers and newcomers are all welcome.

What to Expect

The days are built around meditation, teaching and devotional singing. Daily meditation sessions come with instruction, so people new to the practice are not left to find their way alone. Teachings look at contemporary practice and at Ram Dass's legacy. Kirtan with Krishna Das gives the week its heart, and satsang and community gatherings let participants share the practices with one another.

The retreat draws a multigenerational group from the worldwide sangha. The aim is a break from daily routines, in surroundings that suit silence, reflection, meditation, healing and celebration. The schedule does not include structured activities beyond the retreat program, so there is open time to spend as you like.

About the Teachers

Krishna Das was born Jeffrey Kagel in 1947 and is a prominent voice in devotional music and kirtan. His path began in New York City in the 1970s, where he was drawn to the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba. After a trip to India, where he immersed himself in bhakti yoga, he returned to the United States and began sharing those teachings through chant, blending traditional Indian melodies with Western musical influences.

Jack Kornfield was born in 1945 and studied Buddhism in Thailand, India and Burma after graduating from Dartmouth College. He became a monk in the Theravada tradition. Back in the United States, he co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in 1975 with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein, and later established Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He has helped bring Buddhist meditation to a Western audience.

Trudy Goodman (Trudy Goodman Kornfield, Ph.D.) is a vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. She also teaches residential retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, and at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.

Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert (1931 to 2019), was an American spiritual teacher and writer. His 1971 book Be Here Now helped popularize Eastern spirituality and yoga in the West. The retreat honors his work and the community that grew around it.

The Setting

The Napili Kai Beach Resort sits on an oceanfront property in West Maui. It offers beach access, nearby nature trails, and ocean activities such as snorkeling with reef fish and turtles. Sunsets over the water are part of the setting. The resort is comfortable and convenient, which suits a week of practice. Accommodation and all meals are at the resort.

Before You Go

The retreat is open to all levels, from experienced practitioners to those new to meditation and spiritual practice. It is taught in English, and the traditions it draws on are Hindu bhakti and vipassana.

Included are daily meditation sessions and instruction, teachings, kirtan and devotional singing with Krishna Das, satsang and community gatherings, all meals, accommodation at the resort, and access to the beach and resort facilities. Airfare to Maui is not included. The retreat is offered in person and online.