Retreat at the CCR:
Frequently Asked Questions

Adapting the time-tested teachings and methods for achieving śamatha to our twenty-first century bodies, minds, and environments

Since the CCR’s founding in 2020, we have learned a great deal about what it takes to create and maintain the conducive conditions for retreatants to cultivate the extraordinary mental stability characterized by śamatha in the Buddhist context. Through the series of short video explainers below, CCR co-founder and resident teacher Dr. Eva Natanya details these learnings and the innovations in the CCR’s approach to retreat that have emerged from them. All are welcome to watch these videos to learn more about retreat at the CCR, and we especially we encourage aspiring retreatants to watch them before submitting a retreat application.

Śamatha in the 21st Century

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: What would it look like to achieve śamatha in the 21st century?

Part 3: How are the inner conditions for śamatha different today?

Part 4: When is one ready for long term retreat?

Part 5: What are the different phases of a śamatha retreat at the CCR?

Part 6: How long does it take to fully achieve śamatha in retreat?

Part 7: What kind of ethical discipline does one need during śamatha retreat?

Part 8: How has retreatant support changed at the CCR?

Part 9: What if you disagree with your teacher while in retreat?

Part 10: What is the role of in-person meetings in retreat?

Part 11: How is meditation retreat different from professional athletic training?

Part 12: How does someone become a qualified teacher or retreat guide?

Part 13: What happens when one expects too much from one's teacher?

Part 14: Is silent retreat really healthy?

Part 15: How does one apply for long-term retreat at the CCR?

Return to the Retreat page to access more retreat-preparation resources.