New Year's Day Silent Retreat

This New Year's Day silent retreat in Baltimore, Maryland is a single day of guided Buddhist meditation at Kadampa Meditation Center Maryland. It is open to anyone who wants to begin the year with mental peace and rest, and it is led by Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Chogden, an American Buddhist nun in the Kadampa tradition. Participants stay silent throughout while the teacher guides three meditation sessions, with a vegetarian lunch in the middle of the day.

What to Expect

The day is built around three sessions and a shared lunch, running from late morning to late afternoon. Participants remain silent, while the teacher guides each meditation and offers practical instruction on how to nourish both mind and body.

- 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: the first meditation, a chance to settle in.
- 12:00 to 1:15 PM: a healthy vegetarian lunch.
- 1:15 to 2:15 PM: the second guided meditation.
- 3:00 to 4:15 PM: the third guided meditation, which includes 15 minutes of Q&A.

The aim, as the organizers put it, is to refresh body and mind with a day of silence and to fortify yourself for the year ahead. Because the retreat is silent, the registration desk closes at 11:20 AM, and everyone needs to arrive before then.

About Gen Kelsang Chogden

Gen Kelsang Chogden is an American Buddhist nun and the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Maryland. She has practiced Kadampa Buddhism since 1998 under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who gave her the title "Gen," marking her as a senior ordained teacher of the Kadampa Tradition. She is well loved for her warmth, kindness and wisdom, which grow from many years of sincere practice of Kadam Dharma. Her teachings are practical and easy to apply to everyday life, and she is known for a gentle, joyful approach and a peaceful example.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Kadampa Meditation Center Maryland, 900 E. Northern Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21212. Lunch is served as part of the day, and it is vegetarian.

Before You Go

Advance registration is part of the plan, and arrival before the desk closes is essential for a silent day. Lunch is included in the cost. Early registration, students, seniors aged 62 and over, and people who are unemployed are offered a reduced rate, and members at the Supporter and Benefactor levels attend free. The material names no prerequisites, so the day is presented as an open invitation to anyone who would like to spend the first day of the year in quiet, guided practice.