On May 17, 2026, retreatants gathered at Buddhist Faith Fellowship in Middletown, Connecticut for our Silent Simplicity Retreat: Spring Renewal, a peaceful 2.5-hour morning retreat overlooking the beautiful Shōyōan Teien Zen Garden. The retreat focused on quiet sitting and walking meditation, beginning with basic meditation instruction including the traditional Six Points of Posture.
During the closing reflection, participants shared insights from their meditation experience, observing the “monkey” mind’s constant flow of narratives, emotions, memories, and random thoughts. One yogi reflected on gently working through rumination and loosening anxiety, while another described how meditative inquiry (vipashyana) revealed a deeper sense of openness, acceptance, and spaciousness of mind. All participants reported feeling renewed, more present, and inspired to continue or deepen a daily meditation practice. Our next Silent Simplicity Retreat is planned for late July 2026.
