This silent, nature-based Vipassana meditation retreat offers a precious opportunity to slow down, attune to the rhythms of the natural world, and explore practices of deep listening—to both our inner nature and
the world around us.
In September 2026 Susie Harrington, Jaya Rudgard and Eleni Monos (assisting) will be offering a nature retreat at the IMS Forest Refuge. A unique opportunity to practice all day outside in the beautiful forest around the retreat center, while having the comfort of sleeping inside.
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.
This silent retreat invites you to embody the teaching of impermanence, stepping away from the busyness of daily life into a supportive container for sustained Buddhist meditation practice. Along the Green River, the flowing water, open canyons, and changing light offer a living reflection of impermanence, helping the body and mind gradually settle.