Fall Weekend Retreat

Practical Information

Dates: Friday, Sept 18 – Sunday, Sept 20 (2 nights)
Start of the retreat: Friday, Sept 18th at 7:00 PM (arrive between 5:00 and 6:30 PM to settle in)
     Optional: you can arrive late, on Saturday, Sept 19 by 8:30 AM
End of retreat: Sunday Sept 20th at 1:30 PM
Location: The Clearing in Amelia Court House, VA (Google Maps)
Cost: Donation (dana). 
    Suggested donation for renting the space $35 – 100 (see below for more information).
    Suggested donation for the teacher: $90 – $400 (see below for more information)
Teacher: Marjolein Janssen
Registration: fill out this form

Description

“In the outdoors, our mind can wake up and becomes as clear as the still forest pool, our heart opens to a profound sense of love for every living breathing thing, and our body comes to a deep rest. We reconnect with our sense of awe and wonder at the mystery and abundance of being alive.” ~ Mark Coleman

A retreat is a wonderful way to unplug from the busyness of daily life and find restfulness and ease. This retreat will be held partly, or mostly, outdoors, weather permitting. This is a wonderful chance to try a silent meditation retreat while surrounded by the beauty of the Virginia forest. We follow the ancient tradition of using nature to support our spiritual journey. Nature has a many teachings for us, and we will explore some of those throughout the weekend.

We will be practicing sitting and walking meditation. There will also be meditation instructions, Dharma talks and a chance to discuss your practice with the teacher. The retreat is suitable for beginning as well as experienced meditators. During this retreat we will practice the traditional Vipassana meditation.

As a support we will bring in the support of the natural world and we will nourish ourselves with the heart quality of loving kindness (metta). Metta will help us to soften and relax, which is a great support for our Vipassana practice.

Generosity for the Teacher and the IMCR Group
As is stated in the practical information above, this retreat is offered in the spirit of generosity, as a dana-based (donation-based) retreat. This means that no one will be turned away for lack of funds!

To help cover retreat costs, we offer the following suggested donation ranges, for those able and willing to offer a donation:

• Suggested donation for renting the space: $35 – $100.
  • Note: Those who donate at the higher end of the suggested range are supporting those paying at the lower end. Any excess funds will go toward supporting IMCR to host fully donation-based retreats in the future.
• Suggested donation for the teacher: $90 – $400.

Please give as feels appropriate and generous for you. Please delight in your generosity and know that the dharma continues to be offered to you and others through our collective acts of sharing. All are welcome, no donation is required.

Reserve Your Spot in the Retreat

• Step 1: Register for the retreat by filling out this form.
• Step 2: To minimize cancellations we ask you that you offer a donation for renting the space at the time of registering. After we’ve received your donation we will confirm your participation. Donations are not required, if you are not able to donate, please send us an email and we will confirm your participation.

How to offer a donation

• Offer a donation to IMCR for renting the space:
  1. via PayPal click here.
  2. Write a check to ”Insight Meditation Community of Richmond” for “Fall 2026 Weekend Retreat” and bring it with you to a Tuesday or Firday sit at Ekoji, you can give it to that evening’s facilitator/teacher.
• You are welcome to offer a donation to the teacher before, during, of after the retreat:
  1. Via Marjolein’s PayPal or Venmo click here.
  2. Write a check to ”Marjolein Janssen” for “Fall 2026 Weekend Retreat” and bring it with you to the retreat.
  3. Bring cash to the retreat.

More information about the concept of dana, generosity, in Buddhism.

Important Notes

• Please register in advance by filling out this form. To minimize cancellations we ask you that also you offer a donation for renting the space at the time of registering. See above for more information.
• Please arrive between 5:00 and 6:30 PM on Friday to allow enough time for settling in. Campers should arrive on the early side to setup their tent. People opting for Saturday arrival should be there by 8:30 am.
• There are several sleeping options: tent camping, RV camping, a communal unheated cabin with bunk beds (males), a big room in the heated/cooled Lodge (females), the meditation hall in the heated/cooled lodge (all gender). All sleeping, except for camping, is communal.
• Additional to these sleeping options, limited spaces are available for commuters who prefer to return home or stay at a nearby accommodation (at their own expense) rather than staying overnight at The Clearing.
• Vegetarian / vegan meals will be provided, except for the first lunch: please bring your own lunch for Saturday (more details on this in the logistics email that will be sent by that time).
• During the retreat we will be in “noble silence.” This means that we won’t be talking to each other (except to the teacher during the practice discussion). We will also turn off our phones and other devices. This is all in order to minimize external distractions, promote mindfulness and inner stillness, and respect the practice of fellow meditators.
• During the retreat we will all take the eight precepts. The teacher will explain what the precepts are during the Opening Circle of the retreat. The most important thing to know for now is that we all take the precept not to eat after lunch. You are welcome to eat after lunch for medical (or other compelling reasons), we do ask you to check in with the teacher before doing so. Also during the first evening (Friday) there will be no meal served, you are welcome to bring your own meal, we just ask you to prep and eat your meal with care, not disturbing the rest of the meditators.