Monthlong Joy of Living 1, 2 and 3 Retreat in Portugal

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 our second year offering the Joy of Living Program in its entirety as a one-month retreat program. This program was developed at Mingyur Rinpoche’s request, and offers participants the opportunity to receive the Joy of Living 1, 2 and 3 teachings, and complete the homework simultaneously in a retreat context. These introduce the foundations of meditation practice, focusing on awareness, loving-kindness and compassion and wisdom. Learning the Joy of Living in this way allows for profound experiential learning, deepening of one’s personal practice, and the opportunity to see how each of these levels integrate and support one another.

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 Happinessby Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, or check out the online Joy of Living course.

By the end of this retreat, all attendees who participate fully in the retreat will complete all the homework for Joy of Living 1, 2 and 3, and be prepared to move on to the Path of Liberation programs if and when they would like.

During the retreat, there will be a mix of Teaching Days and Practice 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 Edwin Kelley, supported by video teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche. Teaching sessions will also include Q&A and group discussion, and guided meditation sessions.

During Practice Days the focus will be on formal meditation practice. One of the guides will also offer a talk on this day to support your practice. This will offer an opportunity to integrate and deepen your experience of the practice of each Joy of Living level.

Myoshin Kelley and Edwin Kelley 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 September 22 and continuing until October 16. 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.

While this retreat is open to those who are new to the Joy of Living, if you have completed the Joy of Living program before or are a Path of Liberation student, we invite you to join us. 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. Many participants at the monthlong retreat last year who had completed the Joy of Living courses before described developing a deeper conceptual understanding, experience and ability to apply the teachings in their daily life.

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

Testimonials from 2024 Monthlong Retreat Participants

“Receiving Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings with the support of the amazing guides and surrounded by a safe and welcoming community was life-changing. I am so grateful for the opportunity to practice this way.”

“It was the most wonderful spiritual journey I have undertaken. The teachings and guidance were extraordinary. It is a blessing to be part of the Tergar Community.”

“This retreat was exactly what I was looking for. Mind, body and soul reset. Absolutely brilliant and time flew. Keeping silence was an additional benefit to the overall teachings and meditations.”

“The retreat was a wonderful opportunity to practise meditation within a serene and supportive environment, guided by highly experienced instructors.”

Prerequisites

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

When you register, you will be asked to complete several questions – please take the time to respond fully and honestly. 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. If so, you will be offered a full refund.

If you have any questions or concerns about your preparedness or suitability for participating in the monthlong retreat, please reach out by email to Myoshin Kelley at myoshin@tergar.org before registering.

It is not required but highly recommended that participants at least start the Joy of Living 1 program online and start completing the homework before participating in retreat. This will help create a strong foundation for your meditation practice during the retreat.

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

Arrival and Departure Times

Arrival and registration will be held from 14:00 – 17:00 on Saturday, September 20, 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. 

It is essential that you aim to arrive on the first day and attend the orientation session on the first evening. This session conveys critical information that sets the foundation for our time together.

Departure will be after lunch on Saturday, October 18, from 13:00-15:00.

For those traveling across many time zones, we highly recommend that you plan to arrive in Portugal at least one or two days in advance to allow yourself time to recover and adjust to the time change. There are many hotels in the area, either in the Algarve coastline, or in and around Monchique (the closest town to Karuna).

Due to other commitments at the retreat centre, it is not possible to arrive a day early or stay beyond the dates of our program.

Retreat Cost

The retreat cost is all-inclusive, including all costs for the program, room and board at Karuna.

In order to make this program accessible to as many people as possible, we are offering three price options (all prices are in Euros):

1. Sponsor Rate – €4000: This rate allows us to offer reduced rates to those who need financial assistance. Please consider choosing this option, or making an additional donation to Tergar Retreats if it is within your means.
2. Base Rate – €3500: This is the standard rate that covers all costs for your attendance.
3. Reduced Rate – €3000: This rate is for those who are on a limited budget. Please only select this option if it is necessary for you to attend. While we do our best to make the retreat accessible to all, we may need to limit the number of reduced rate spots based on funding.

Should the reduced rate still be beyond your financial means, please email retreats@tergar-retreats.org to explore further scholarship options.

All funds for these retreats are being managed by Tergar Retreats, which is a 501c(3) non-profit in the USA. There is no tax charged. Any profits from the retreat, if there are any, will go towards future Tergar Retreats and also be partially shared with Tergar International.

Payment Schedule

For those that would prefer not to pay the full cost up front, we offer the following payment plan.

• Deposit: Minimum of €250  due at registration.
• Payment #1 of 3: 30% of total cost  – due by July 18, 2025 
• Payment #2 of 3: next 30% of total cost  (60% of total  paid) – due by August 15, 2024 
• Payment #3 of 3: Remaining balance due by September 12, 2024 

Payments will be charged to the card on file you used for your deposit unless otherwise requested. We will remind you at least 2 days before each payment is due.

Alternate payment plans are also possible on a case-by-case basis. Please contact retreats@tergar-retreats.org  to discuss.  

Retreat Program Overview

Please note this schedule is subject to change.

• September 20: Arrival Day 
• September 21-25: Joy of Living 1 Teaching Days (5 days)
• September 26-27: Joy of Living 1 Practice Days (2 days)
• September 28-Oct 2: Joy of Living 2 Teaching Days (5 days)
• October 3-4: Joy of Living 2 Practice Days (2 days)
• October 5-October 9: Joy of Living 3 Teaching Days (5 days)
• October 10-11: Joy of Living 3 Practice Days (2 days)
• October 12-15: Joy of Living 3 AdditionalTeaching Days (4 days)
• October 16: Joy of Living 3 Practice Day (1 day)
• October 17: Exploration of Practice in Daily Life and Concluding Session
• October 18: Retreat Conclusion and Departure Day 

Daily Schedule

Please note this schedule is subject to change.
All meditation practice sessions will include periods of sitting and walking.

Saturday, September 20

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

Teaching Day Schedule

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 Break
13:00 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 14:30 Break
14:30 – 15:30 Meditation Practice
15:30 – 16:00 Break
16:00 – 18:00 Teaching Session
18:00 – 18:30 Break
18:30 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00- 19:30 Break
19:30 – 21:00 Meditation Practice

Practice Day Schedule

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 Break
13:00 – 13:30 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 Guide Talk + Meditation Practice

Saturday, October 18

6:30 – 8:00 Awareness Yoga & Meditation Practice
8:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Break
9:00 – 10:30 Concluding Session
10:30 – 12:30 Packing and Clean Up
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:30 – 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.

Meals

Karuna Retreat Center prepares three vegetarian meals per day, with vegan options.  They only use fresh local produce and whenever possible try to use vegetables and fruits from the garden at Karuna. The meals are very nourishing and healthy.

Here is a brief description of the typical daily menu:

1. Breakfast: The main offering for breakfast is oatmeal, with bread, peanut butter, tahini, jam, honey, and fresh fruit offered on the side. Coffee is served at breakfast only.
2. Lunch: Is the biggest meal of the day and the menu varies. Generally it includes a vegetarian protein (beans, lentils, tofu), a starch (rice, couscous, potatoes), and salad.
3. Dinner: Consists of a simple vegetable soup, bread, sliced cheese, butter, olives, and a bean tamponade or hummus.

Fresh fruit and tea is available on a self-serve basis throughout the day.

Karuna will do their best to accommodate requests for gluten-free or food allergies by speaking with the Karuna manager Ana upon arrival. However, there may be limited options. If you have specific dietary needs or feel that this diet may not be sufficient for your needs, you may want to consider bringing snacks you can store in your room such as protein bars, nuts, or other supplements (there is no refrigeration space available for private food). If you have any questions or concerns please email us.

Accommodation and Accessibility

Almost all rooms at Karuna Retreat Centre are shared between 2-3 people. Bathrooms and showers are also shared. Rooms and bathrooms will be shared by the same gender.

For all attendees, we encourage you to bring earplugs and an eye cover to help ensure a restful sleep. The beds each have one pillow, sheets, and one blanket.

There are a very limited number of single rooms, which will be assigned first to those who need accommodation for various medical, personal or other reasons (eg. a CPAP machine, snoring, urinary incontinence, etc.).

The Karuna Retreat Centre is built into a hillside, and requires reasonable-to-good mobility with stairs and uneven terrain. The centre is not wheelchair accessible. If you have balance or stability issues, we highly recommend you bring a collapsible hiking pole for walking around the property (previous retreat participants have found this very helpful).

If and when it rains, the stone steps can become quite slippery. Please ensure you bring footwear with adequate grip.

Please let us know in your retreat registration if you have any sleeping or mobility issues. While we will do our best to accommodate you, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet your request. Please contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Travel to and from Karuna Retreat Center

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

It is about 1.5 hours drive from the Faro International Airport. The cheapest and simplest option from Faro is Uber, and costs around €75. You can also take a regular taxi, but the cost is around €150. 

If you are flying into Lisbon, there are multiple options to take the bus or train to Portimão or another nearby city, and take an Uber or a taxi from there to the retreat center. 

For local rides that start near the Karuna Retreat Center (eg. from Monchique), Uber may not be available. We suggest you call Jorge, the local taxi driver, at +351 965 202 869 by phone or WhatsApp. Jorge is very familiar with Karuna and can also dispatch your request to other local taxi drivers.

If you are bringing a car there is parking available at the Karuna Retreat Center. 

The mountain roads near Karuna can be a bit confusing, and we recommend that if you have cell data that you keep Google Maps open on your phone, or ask your driver to use Google Maps for navigation. The Uber map can occasionally send people on the wrong road.

Before the retreat, we will be sending out signup link for local ride sharing to and from the retreat centre for those who want to coordinate rides.

Cancellation Policy

• All deposits are non-refundable.
• Refund of all payments made, minus deposit of €250  before July 15, 2025
• Refund of all payments made, minus €500 between July 16 – August 15, 2025 
• Refund of all payments made, minus €1000  between August 16 – September 20, 2025 (start of program)
• No refunds will be issued after the program begins on September 20, 2025
• Note: In some situations, non-refundable payments can be applied to future Tergar Retreats programming

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. It is financially independent from Tergar International. As part of Mingyur Rinpoche’s larger vision and global projects, Tergar Retreats is a part of the Tergar Mandala that includes Tergar International, Tergar Schools, Tergar Institute, Tergar Asia, Tergar Sangha, Tergar Charity, and more.