Month-long Retreat on Joy of Living 1, 2 and 3

“While all beings have great wisdom and compassion, this is not always apparent. This is simply because they have not recognized what they already have. Thus, aside from merely recognizing our own true nature, there isn’t the slightest thing to meditate on. Recognizing the importance of this, I have passed my days feeling joyful and content, wandering through the mountains and valleys and staying here and there. From my heart, I sincerely encourage all of you to practice diligently in this manner as well.”
— Mingyur Rinpoche, while on retreat

Retreat gives us the time and space to explore our experience and discover aspects of your being that are difficult to connect with in everyday life. It allows you to focus on meditation practice throughout the day, both on and off the cushion. A community retreat has the additional benefit of being supported by the practice of others.

This is the first time that the entire Joy of Living Program is being offered in its entirety as a one-month retreat program. At Mingyur Rinpoche’s idea and request, this retreat will offer participants the opportunity to receive the Joy of Living 1, 2 and 3 teachings, and complete the homework simultaneously in a retreat context. Near the end of the retreat, there will also be a few days of teaching on how to integrate the three Joy of Living levels as a lifelong practice. 

If you are new to the Joy of Living, you can learn more about this path of meditation practice, including what each of the three levels is about, here. You may also want to read The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, or check out the online Joy of Living course.

By the end of this retreat, all participants who participate fully in the retreat will complete all the homework for Joy of Living 1 and 2 (50 hours of meditation practice per level), and at least half of the 75 hours of homework required for Joy of Living 3. 

During the retreat, all days except Saturdays will be Teaching Days. Teaching Days will include awareness yoga, meditation practice sessions and two teaching sessions per day. During the teachings sessions, the Joy of Living courses will be shared by Tergar International Guides Myoshin Kelley and Jess McNally, supported by video teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche. Teaching sessions will also include Q&A and group discussion, small group activities, and guided meditation sessions.

Each Saturday during the retreat will be a Practice Day (September 21, 28 and October 5). Practice days will be focused on formal meditation practice, and offer an opportunity to integrate and deepen your experience of the practice of each Joy of Living level. (See more schedule details below.)

Myoshin Kelley and Jess McNally will offer private and group interviews to participants throughout the program to discuss anything that might come up in your practice or questions you may have.

We will maintain silence for most of the retreat, starting on the evening of Tuesday, September 17 and continuing until Thursday, October 10. During silence there will still be talking during the teaching sessions and private interviews, but silence will be kept at all other times. Please do your best to communicate to your workplace and family that you will be offline during the retreat. If there is a situation where you need to contact someone during the retreat, this will be allowed, but please discuss this with the guides when you arrive.

If you have completed the Joy of Living program before or are a Path of Liberation student, you are still welcome to apply to this retreat. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore all the Joy of Living levels again with a whole new perspective, and to have an extended time to deepen your experience of these essential practices.

For Path of Liberation students, we will expect you to attend all teaching sessions, and you are welcome to practice what you like during the group meditation sessions, however all meditation practice in the meditation hall must be silent sitting, including no malas (prayer beads). If you need to read a text such as Nectar of the Path you may do so silently. If you have a specific daily practice such as ngöndro or a deity practice that is not a silent practice, you will have the option to practice in your room during one of the group meditation sessions each day. If you have any specific questions about this, please mention it in your application or email Jess at jess@tergar.org.

This retreat is offered in-person only (there is no online/hybrid option).

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this retreat. However, a well developed daily meditation practice is strongly recommended.

Before being allowed to register, all participants must complete the application. The guides will review these applications and may reach out if they have any questions or concerns. It is at the guides discretion if they feel that this retreat may not be the right fit for you at this time.

It is not required but highly recommended that participants at least start the Joy of Living 1 program online before participating in retreat, and start accumulating the practice hours. This will make it easier to complete all the practice requirements for Joy of Living 1, 2, and 3 during the monthlong retreat.

We also encourage you to complete the Retreat Course offered by Tergar’s Vajrayana Online program, especially if you have not done long retreat before.

Language & Translation

This retreat will be offered in English, with translation into both Portuguese and Spanish. Translation will be provided by offsite translators using the LiveVoice app (internet based).

For the teaching sessions those needing translation will need to bring a smart phone and headphones.

For private interviews translation will be provided via Zoom.

The meditation sessions will only have minimal simple instructions and be mainly silent so there will be no translation.

A minimum of three participants requiring Portuguese or Spanish translation will be required to offer translation into that language. If we do not receive enough participants to offer translation in the language you require, you will be offered a full refund.

Arrival and Departure Times

Arrival and registration will be held from 14:00 – 17:00 on Sunday, September 15, with dinner at 18:30, and the first session at 19:30. Please plan to arrive by 17:00 if possible so there is time to help you register and find your room before dinner. 

Departure will be after lunch on Saturday, October 12, from 13:00-15:00. 

Application Procedure

Please submit your application to join this retreat by clicking “Apply Now” above. The applications will be reviewed in the order they are received. If the Tergar Guides have any questions or concerns they will reach out to you. Admission to the retreat will be offered on a rolling basis. If and when you are admitted, you will be sent a registration link to complete your registration and payment.

Retreat Cost and Cancellation Policy

The full pricing and payment policy can be found here. If you have any questions or require alternate payment arrangements please contact us at retreats@tergar-retreats.org

Retreat Program Overview

• September 15: Arrival Day 
• September 16-20: Joy of Living 1 Teaching Days
• September 21: Joy of Living 1 Practice Day
• September 22-27: Joy of Living 2 Teaching Days
• September 28: Joy of Living 2 Practice Day
• September 29-October 4: Joy of Living 3 Teaching Days 
• October 5: Joy of Living 3 Practice Day
• October 6-8: Joy of Living 3 Teaching Days
• October 9-11: Integrating the Joy of Living Teaching Days
• October 12: Departure Day

Daily Schedule

Please note this schedule is subject to change.
Silence begins Tuesday, September 17 at 19:30 and ends Thursday, October 10 at 12:30
All meditation practice sessions will include periods of sitting and walking.

Sunday, September 15

14:00 – 17:00 Arrival and Registration
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner
19:30 – 21:00 Introductions and Orientation

Teaching Day Schedule (every day except Saturdays)

6:30 – 8:00 Awareness Yoga & Meditation Practice
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Break
9:00 – 11:00 Teaching Session 
11:00 – 11:30 Break
11:30 – 12:30 Meditation Practice
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Break
14:00 – 15:00 Meditation Practice
15:00 – 15:30 Break
15:30 – 17:30 Teaching Session
17:30 – 18:30 Break
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00- 19:30 Break
19:30 – 21:00 Meditation Practice

Practice Day Schedule (Saturdays September 21, 28, and October 5)

6:30 – 8:00 Awareness Yoga & Meditation Practice
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Break
9:00 – 10:30 Meditation Practice
10:30 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 12:30 Meditation Practice
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Break
14:00 – 15:30 Meditation Practice
15:30 – 16:00 Break
16:00 – 17:30 Meditation Practice
17:30 – 18:30 Break
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00- 19:30 Break
19:30 – 21:00 Meditation Practice

Saturday, October 12

6:30 – 8:00 Awareness Yoga & Meditation Practice
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Break
9:00 – 10:00 Meditation Practice
10:00 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:30 Concluding Session
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 Departure

About the Karuna Retreat Center / Centro de Retiros Karuna

Karuna Retreat Center is located in the green mountains of Serra de Monchique in the Algarve. Serra the Monchique is known for its healing thermal water, medicinal plants, pure air and lush green landscapes. The Retreat Center offers a stunning view over Portugal’s southern coast and the Atlantic Ocean and is just 20 minutes away from pristine beaches and less than 10 minutes away from the picturesque village of Monchique. Karuna is amongst one of the most secluded and silent places in this area and is home to a variety of local flora and fauna. The Retreat Center’s property is isolated and perfect for those in search of silence, seclusion and peace.

Karuna Retreat Center is beginning a new partnership with Tergar Retreats, with a shared vision that it will become a place for year-round practice managed by Tergar Retreats in the future.

Meals

Karuna Retreat Center prepares 3 vegetarian meals per day. They can also prepare vegan meals for those who request it in advance. They only use local products and whenever it is possible they try to use fresh products from their vegetable garden at Karuna.

Travel to and from Karuna Retreat Center

You can view the location of Karuna Retreat Center on Google Maps here. 

The closest airport is  the Faro International Airport, which is approximately 1.5 hours away by car.Uber is available from the Faro International Airport to Karuna, and costs about €50.The Lisbon Airport is approximately 3 hours away by car. (Uber is not available directly from Lisbon.) 

There are also public transportation options available from either the Faro Airport or Lisbon Airport to the town of Monchique. From Monchique it is a 20 minute drive to Karuna Retreat Center. Uber is available from Monchique to Karuna and costs about €6. 

About Tergar Retreats

Tergar Retreats is a non-profit organization specifically focused on supporting in-person meditation retreats in the Tergar lineage as taught by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.