Self-Guided Retreat

Join other experienced practitioners for self-guided practice in Noble Silence, with the support of a resident teacher (Donald Rothberg). Participants must have taken part in at least two 5-day silent meditation retreats (or one 10-day retreat) and have experience with regular, self-supported daily meditation practice.

Retreatants are invited to join up to five regularly scheduled daily group meditation sessions. Participants may be further supported by two evening dharma talks – one at the beginning of the retreat and one in the middle of the retreat – a closing session the last morning, as well as a one-on-one session with the teacher upon request. The daily schedule will also include 60 minutes of required working meditation, primarily on outdoor groundskeeping, housekeeping tasks, and food preparation.

Please feel free to bring your own cushions, benches, zabutons, or other meditation and/or yoga props if you choose to. Yogis also have access to our on-site lending library of dharma books.

Important: A self-guided retreat can be a rewarding and meaningful experience for meditators who are seeking to deepen their practice. However, this type of program can also be demanding and requires some stability of physical and psychological health. If you have recently experienced considerable trauma, significant depression or anxiety, or are currently experiencing strong PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), a self-guided retreat may not be appropriate for you at this time. To help you assess this, we urge you to discuss your situation with a therapist or your meditation teacher.

Note: If you choose to register for the retreat with Donald Rothberg taking place September 18-25, you can request to stay at the retreat center and volunteer (4 hours/day) between the two programs. Staff will not be observing noble silence during that time, but group practice periods will continue each day. You will have access to the kitchen to prepare your own meals during this time. If you are interested in this option, please email registrar@southerndharma.org prior to registering for both programs to make sure we still have volunteer spaces available.

We no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations to attend our programs, but do still require testing. We require all registered participants to present negative results from a Covid test performed in the 3 days prior to the start of your retreat AND that you consent to being tested upon your arrival at Southern Dharma. Any rapid antigen test is acceptable for testing, including over-the-counter at-home tests.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure the safety of our staff, teachers, retreatants, and larger community!

NEW IN 2024: First-time retreatants at Southern Dharma must arrive by 5pm ET on the first day of retreat. Check-in begins at 3pm. Returning yogis can check-in between 3 and 6pm.

Departures will take place by 2:00pm on the last day of retreat. Please make sure that you can attend the full program before registering.

All registrations are subject to our new 2024 cancellation policy. All retreatants must review and agree to this policy upon registration.

For our 2024 retreats, three fee tiers are offered. Please choose the option that best fits your ability to give in this time. Any amount paid above the Base rate is a tax deductible contribution to Southern Dharma Retreat Center. Your confirmation email is your receipt for tax purposes.

We are deeply grateful for your support.

Note that registration fees do not include dana for the teacher(s). In the Buddhist tradition the teachings are offered freely and teachers are not paid for their offerings. They rely on dana contributions from students. Similarly, Southern Dharma keeps registration fees low to ensure the Dharma is accessible to all. Fees cover only a fraction of Southern Dharma’s operating expenses. We appreciate your practice of generosity to continue the dissemination of the Dharma.

Housing and all meals are included in the program fee. We are currently offering six housing options:

1. Bed in Lodge, shared double room (2nd floor)
2. Bed in Lodge, dorm with privacy partitions (3rd floor)
3. Unheated kuti (single cabin, outdoor bathroom)
4. Heated kuti (single cabin, outdoor bathroom)
5. Canvas Tent (furnished, outdoor bathroom)
6. Basic Tent Platform (camping with your own gear)

Please use the appropriate field in the registration process to let us know your preferences in regards to housing, if any, and also specify if you insist on or prefer being housed with others of the same gender. All housing options are priced the same except for the Basic Tent Platform.

Southern Dharma is offers 50% scholarship awards for BIPOC and Young Adults, in addition to those with financial need. Indicate your interest in a Southern Dharma in-house scholarship during the registration process.

This program is also eligible for Hemera Contemplative Fellowships. Please note that you must apply for the Fellowship prior to registering for any program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.