5-Day New Year Retreat with Thai Forest Monks and Meditation Masters, Ajahn Da Nilpant, Ajahn Anake Techavaro, and Phra Tavivat Sukhavatthano. Assisted by Psychologist, Michael Bresnan (1/9/2025–1/13/2025) (In Person Only)

The Centers for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation in Redding, CT and Wenham, MA will team up to hold a 5-day Mahasati insight meditation retreat from 7:00 PM, Thursday evening, January 9, to 1:00 PM, Monday, January 13. The retreat is a great way to start the new year and will be led by a team of Thai monastic teachers: Ajahn Da Nilpant, Ajahn Anake Techavaro, and Phra Tavivat Sukhavatthano. The retreat will be held at the Wisdom House retreat center, which is situated on 54 acres of meadows, woods, and brooks in the beautiful northwest hills of Connecticut.

Ajahn Da is an ordained Thai Forest Monk who has been teaching for decades and who practiced under Thai meditation master Luangpor Teean Jittasubho. Ajahn Da is currently Abbott of our center in Redding, CT. Ajahn Anake practiced under Luangpor Teean Jittasubho and is Abbott of Wat Mokkhavanaram, a Forest monastery in Khonkaen, northeast of Thailand. Phra Tavivat Sukhavatthano studied under Luangpor Teean as a lay practitioner, and recently ordained under Ajahn Anake. It is Phra Tavivat who first brought Luangpor Teean’s method of insight meditation to the United States more than 30 years ago. He is also the author of many publications in Thai and English including the book, “To One That Feels,” and the biography of Luangpor Teean that is included in the appendix of Michael’s recent book. Michael Bresnan is a licensed psychologist who has been practicing Buddhist insight meditation for over 30 years. He is the founder and Executive Director of our MA and CT centers.

The retreat leaders practice and teach Mahasati Insight meditation, which is a form of Vipassana meditation originating from Southeast Asia. The objective of Mahasati meditation is the elimination of mental and emotional suffering through the clear seeing and understanding of the body and mind in the present moment. The practice is based on the teaching of the 20th-century Thai insight meditation master, Luangpor Teean, and uses attention to the movement of the body as an anchor for mindfulness and insight practice.

This retreat is open to all levels of practitioners and is a wonderful opportunity to deepen one’s meditation practice by allowing one to cultivate self-awareness for an extended period of time without distraction. While the retreat will be conducted mainly in silence, there will also be Dharma talks and question and answer periods. As is the tradition with meditation retreats, all attendees will also have a private interview period with the teachers as a further aid to their practice.

Wisdom House provides an excellent atmosphere for meditation. Wholesome and delicious meals are served, including bread and desserts baked on the premises by the Wisdom House staff chef.

There are two types of rooms available. The base cost for a private bedroom with a shared hallway bathroom (one shared bathroom for those who identify as women, and one shared bathroom for those who identify as men) for the entire five-day retreat is $600.

A limited quantity of private bedrooms with private bathrooms are available at a base cost of $760. These have all been filled at this point, but if you are interested in being on the waiting list for these, please contact max@cfmim.org.

The registration cost only covers our out-of-pocket costs for the facilities. If you can afford an additional contribution to help offset our ongoing operational costs, that would be appreciated. Giving more also directly supports others who may not have the same financial means. Conversely, if you cannot afford the base cost, scholarships are available, and we do our best not to turn anyone away. Full refunds are available up to two weeks before the start of the retreat. Refunds will not be possible after that point even in the unfortunate case of contracting COVID. There will be an opportunity to offer teacher dana at the end of retreat.

Please contact Michael@cfmim.org for more information, or to apply for a scholarship.