Order Retreat with Jayachitta
Movement within Emptiness, Jan 23 to 25, 2026
As part of the SFBC Rainy Season Retreat Jayachitta is offering this weekend at Dharmadhara for Order Members only.
To follow the middle way means practicing with the understanding that, yes, the sense of self arises — but no, it is not separate. It co-arises with the world, freshly and contextually, unique in every moment. It’s always part of this moment, with self and world participating equally: a pattern, continuously in flow.
We often try to make sense of ourselves, our actions, others, and the world through definitions. We rely on a sense of agency and define ourselves as someone who succeeds or fails. We draw conclusions about others — and this habit becomes the very basis of division and conflict in the world.
To wish all sentient beings freedom from suffering and the root of suffering is to wish them the true relaxation that comes from ceasing to carry the burden of ‘self’. The root of suffering is the erroneous belief that we exist, that we are the enduring reference point for all our experience. Having forgotten our ever-open ground we grasp at inner and outer arisings and classify them as self or other, mine or yours and so on.
James Low, The Delusion of Duality is the Basis for War, Oct’23
Can we notice the tightening, the fixing, the reification in this habit? It seems to offer certainty and clarity, yet it confines us.
The emptiness of self doesn’t deny that the sense of self arises — only its supposed independence and continuity. Can we experience ourselves directly, noticing how “me” comes into being as part of the flow, a constantly changing, non-dual expression of what is unfolding?
We’ll explore this in meditation practice, supported by some improvisational movement and short readings from the Dzogchen tradition.
This is a rare opportunity for us to simply practice together. Hope you can join us!
HEALTH AND SAFETY
We highly recommend being vaccinated and boosted against COVID 19 but this is no longer required.
Please check all our requirements here.
FOOD AND WORK PERIODS
We will share shopping, cooking and cleaning. More information will follow when we have an idea of numbers.
ACCOMMODATION
As most of you know, Dharmadhara is a rustic residence with a very beautiful shrine room, located in Lake County – about 2.5 to 3 hours North of San Francisco. The main building has a kitchen, dining room, sitting room with wood burning stove, 7 small dorms, some with 2 beds, some with 3 beds, 3 indoor toilets and 2 showers. We ask that you come prepared with good earplugs and a willingness to practice forbearance towards your roommate/s. If you do not feel comfortable sharing a room with others we may be able to find space for one or two people, but this is not guaranteed, so please get in touch about this before you register. There is also the option to camp, although it will be cold, and possibly raining or snowing.
TRAVEL AND CARPOOLING
We encourage carpooling. If you need help organizing a ride please let us know and we will do our best to get you there. If you are driving and can offer rides, please also let us know. Thank you!
I’m sorry that we cannot arrange airport or train station pickups.
TIMING AND COST
The retreat is two nights, beginning Friday Jan 23, and ending Sunday Jan 25 by noon.
The cost of rent and food will be around $110. Please consider paying $150 to $200 to support the SFBC’s capacity to offer Rainy Season events. Thank you!