Meditation Retreat - Stillness & Emotional Intelligence 21 – 28 August 2026
21 – 28 August 2026, 7-Day Retreat
Led by: Ven. Thubten Khadro
This beginner-friendly retreat offers a calm and supportive space to pause, turn inward, and become more familiar with the workings of the mind. Through guided meditation and periods of silence, participants learn how to settle attention and cultivate inner focus and stability. Silence provides the opportunity to observe thoughts and emotions with deeper awareness and care.
Drawing on both Western and Buddhist psychology, the retreat explores how emotions arise, how they shape our experience, and how they can be met with greater understanding and balance. Participants are guided to cultivate emotional intelligence through awareness, discernment, and kindness toward their inner life. Teachings are offered in a clear and practical way, with tools that can be applied in everyday situations and relationships.
Retreat highlights include:
- Guided sitting and walking meditations
- Meditation instructions for calming and concentrating the mind (Shamatha)
- Teachings and meditations on emotional intelligence
- Silence from 5:45pm until after lunch the following day
- Small-group sharing circles for connected reflection
- Practical guidance for integrating meditation and emotional intelligence into daily life
Important to note:
- No previous meditation experience is required
- Commitment to maintain the designated periods of silence
- Commitment to attend all sessions, including the Sharing Circles
- This retreat is not a Vipassana (Goenka) retreat
Daily Schedule
- 6:45 am – Morning Meditation
- 7:30 am – Breakfast
- 9:00 am – Sitting Meditation (with short break)
- 10:00 am – Walking Meditation
- 10.30 to 11.30 – Sitting Meditation (with short break)
- 11:30 am – Lunch & Break
- 2:00 pm – Sharing Circle
- 3:30 pm – Afternoon Teachings
- 5:00 pm – Tea Break
- 5:45 pm – Sitting Meditation (with short break)
- 6:30 pm – Dinner
- 7:30 pm – Evening Program (Talk, Q&A, or Meditation)
Disclaimer
Meditation can sometimes bring up difficult emotions or unresolved issues, particularly for those with existing mental health conditions. If you have any concerns about your emotional wellbeing, we encourage you to speak with a healthcare professional before attending. This retreat is designed to provide a supportive environment, but individual experiences with meditation may vary.
Details of the retreat
RETREAT DATE: 21 August – 28 August 2026
RETREAT LEADER: Ven. Thubten Khadro
FLAT FEE IN A DORM: US$ 140
The retreat fee includes all meals, accommodation in a dormitory and a free book.
Students can also choose staying in single, double and triple rooms with private or shared facilities. There is an extra charge for these type of rooms, please click here and use the red column to know the daily room charges, you will need to add these to the Flat Retreat Fee.
When you do your booking, please choose your room preferences in accordance with your budget based on this list. Please note that single rooms are limited. We cannot guarantee you will be accommodated in your first room choice, rooms are allocated by order of booking and are confirmed upon arrival.
Check-in time starts at 9am on 21 August. The first session is at 5.30pm, please make sure to be here at that time.
Our reception opens at 9 am and closes at 5.30 pm, arrivals are due to be done only within these times.
The retreat concludes on 28 August with lunch.
Mobile phones, laptops and other internet-enabled devices must be checked in at the reception for the duration of the retreat. Read more on retreat guidelines.
During your stay at Kopan, please observe our dress code and ensure your clothing is appropriate for a monastic environment. You can review the guidelines here.
