Liberation through Deep Rest

Liberation through Deep Rest is a five-day silent meditation retreat in the Theravada and Vipassana (insight meditation) traditions, led by Cara Lai, Yong Oh, and Matthew Brensilver at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. It is written for people who already have some silent retreat experience and want to explore what it means to shift from striving to receiving.

What to Expect

The Buddha taught that freedom from suffering comes from letting go. In a world built around productivity, it is easy to believe that peace must be strained for, and to doubt it is possible at all. This retreat takes up that question directly: if peace comes from release rather than contraction, how do we move from doing to receiving? The teachers offer instructions that support that shift, along with teachings on not-self, compassion, and faith. The aim is to let the heart settle back into the clear, luminous stillness the retreat names as its deepest nature.

Arrival is on the first afternoon, between 2:30 and 4:30 PM, followed by opening instructions, orientation, and an evening meditation as the group settles into silence. The middle days follow a steady rhythm of meditation sessions in the Upper Meditation Hall, teacher-led talks and instruction, small group practice meetings, silent meals with mindful eating, and time for individual practice and rest. On the final morning there are practice sessions, closing teachings and integration, and departure at 11:00 AM.

The retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, and other practice meetings. Teaching is in English.

Your Teachers

Cara Lai has dedicated her life to awakening, for herself and others. She is a working mom, and her teaching is described as relatable, authentic, funny, sometimes crass, and accessible to many people.

Yong Oh is a core teacher at the Durango Dharma Center and at Sacred Mountain Saṅgha. Yong has a particular interest in nature Dharma, devotional expression, and supporting caregivers as well as communities of color in the Dharma.

Matthew Brensilver, PhD teaches at the Insight Retreat Center, Spirit Rock, and Insight Meditation Society. Before teaching meditation full-time, he spent years researching addiction pharmacotherapy at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, and he remains interested in the dialogue between Buddhism and science.

The Setting

The retreat is held at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, in Marin County, with sessions in the ritually consecrated Upper Meditation Hall. Participants stay on site for four nights. Spirit Rock has 80 rooms, and only 16 of them are doubles, so many people have a single room. Guaranteed single rooms go to those at the highest sliding scale rates, and other singles are given first to people with serious medical needs. All meals are provided.

A commuter option exists for those who cannot stay overnight. Commuters attend the full retreat with meals and have a shared resting area on campus, and they must have completed at least one weeklong silent residential insight retreat in person.

Before You Go

This is an intermediate-level retreat. Participants should have prior experience with silent meditation retreats. Beginners are encouraged to start with daylong programs and shorter retreats, and anyone who has never meditated is invited to contact Spirit Rock's Registration Department for guidance.

Registration covers accommodation, meals, and the teachings. It does not cover teacher dana, an optional offering invited at the end of the retreat to support the teachers and Spirit Rock. Travel and personal transportation are your own to arrange.

Spirit Rock offers retreats on a sliding scale, with needs-based scholarships and payment plans available. Because people live closely together, anyone who is sick is asked to stay home. Masks are welcome but not required, and Spirit Rock does not require proof of vaccination or COVID testing.