Releasing into Presence: A New Year’s Meditation and Music Retreat

Bring in the New Year with a rejuvenating weekend filled with meditation, music, and the time and space to release the old and welcome in the new. We’ll slow down and experience the benefits that meditation and music have to offer our body, mind, and soul.  

Buddhist teacher and scholar Lopön Chandra will offer expert guidance in meditation to help you release into grounded presence with ease and comfort.  You will learn techniques for developing shamatha, “calm abiding,” meditation including the practice of mindfulness of breathing which is an especially effective approach to soothing the body and calming the discursive mind and the more advanced techniques for “settling the mind in its natural state.” We will also explore the meditative benefits of mantra recitation, another form of shamatha. 

On Saturday night (New Years Day), Adrienne Shamszad, Iranian-American singer-songwriter, culture preserver and teacher, will serenade us with her inspired music, singing us into the new year and setting our hearts on fire with longing and devotion. She will perform original pieces in English and traditional music in Farsi, evoking the spirits of the Iranian master poets such as Hafez and Rumi while accompanying herself on guitar and setar. She will also guide us through a meditative musical experience in one of our sessions.

In this weekend retreat, you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn shamatha shamatha meditation for cultivating relaxation, concentration, and clarity
• Practice meditation inside and out in nature, gazing over the Pacific ocean. Chances are you will spot whales migrating south for the winter
• Learn gentle and accessible therapeutic exercises and movements to bring more comfort and ease to your meditation and your life
• Learn the “gentle vase breath,” jamlung, for developing greater levels of comfort and concentration
• Enjoy live musical performances and instruction with Adrienne Shamszad, Iranian-American singer-songwriter

This will be a weekend of fun, relaxation, and rejuvenation to get you recharged for the year to come. Esalen is a truly magical experience this time of year, one that you will never forget. Whatever your spiritual path or meditation experience, you will benefit from the development of a more concentrated, relaxed, and clear mind. All are welcome.

People with mobility issues are welcome to sit in chairs and modify the yoga portions. Most of the yoga will be like gentle floor work on our backs and feet, and is accessible to almost anyone. Please let us know if you need additional assistance due to mobility issues.