Silent Retreat 2026
Thundering Silence, Healing Silence Retreat
“Noble Silence gives us a chance to recognize how our habit energy manifests in the ways we react to people and situations around us. This silence is called noble because it has the power to heal.”
–Zen Master
Thich Nhat Hanh
“You can renew yourself by getting in touch with the healing elements around you.”
–Zen Master
Thich Nhat Hanh
Wednesday, September 2nd to Sunday, September 6th, 2026.
Dear Friends,
You are cordially invited to participate in our Silent Retreat with the theme:
Thundering Silence, Healing Silence.
“Conscious, intentional quiet is noble silence. Sometimes people assume that silence has to be serious, but there’s a lightness in the noble silence.”
–Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Let us come together in this 5-day retreat and generate collective healing through the embodiment of Noble Silence. We will slow down and allow the spaciousness of Noble Silence to help us give rise to natural epiphanies where we arrive at a profound understanding and insight into our life-experiences.
Please note that this is not a Vipassana Retreat where we are entirely 100% silent. While the majority of the retreat is silent, about 10% is not completely silent. We will still offer dharma talks, speak a little bit as needed when it concerns giving some guidance from work leaders for the service meditation, and include a dharma sharing. We invite you to savor Noble Silence as a profound experience which can transcend the traditional expectation of a 100% silence in external sounds but to truly embody a tranquil and quiet mind, no matter what our environment might be.
All retreatants are asked to observe Noble Silence from the beginning of the retreat until the morning of the last day, except during Dharma Sharing circles. Please refrain from reaching out to fellow retreatants, whether by gestures, sign language, written notes, etc. unless absolutely necessary, pertaining the service meditation or more time sensitive matters so that we can listen to our own body and mind in order to best take care of ourselves.
Together, we can transform our notion of silence as being an external absence of noise to truly experience an inner silence of healing and joy.
*Excerpts from Silence, The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
With Love,
–Your Favorite Magnolia Grove Monastics
Some important information that might be helpful:
– Camping (bring your own tent/camper van): $ 240.00
– Commuter (staying in nearby accommodation): $ 240.00
– Bed in shared room (dorm/cabin): $ 400.00
Please note that cabins are reserved for families and couples, based on “requested roommates.” All families/parents with children will be placed in cabins, if available – if not, they will be waitlisted. Other options are camping or commuter; or staying in the men’s/women’s dorms (if no cabin becomes available), which may mean splitting the group up. If waitlisted, we will follow up about these options – and/or you may include your preference in the notes section.
A 20% discount for seniors (over 64) and young adults (under 27) is automatically included when you register. For students who require financial assistance, please mention this in the Notes section at the bottom of the registration form. For anyone else who requires financial assistance, please contact our office.
The retreat begins on September 2nd with onsite arrival between 2 and 5 pm CT, and ends on September 6th after lunch.
Retreat sample program:
- Wake up
- 45 minute of Sitting Meditation
- Walking Meditation
- Breakfast
- Mindful Service
- Dharma Talk
- Mindful Lunch
- Deep Relaxation
- Dharma reflecting/sharing
- Mindful Movements
- Mindful Dinner
- Sitting Meditation
All meals will be vegan. Please be sure to let us know in the Notes section if you have certain food allergies when you register.
Wake up
Morning Sitting Meditation; Sutra reading / Touching of the Earth
Walking Meditation
Breakfast
Mindful Service
Dharma Talks
Lunch
Deep Relaxation
Dharma Sharing
Personal Time
Dinner
Evening Sitting Meditation
Noble Silence
Help! We are looking for 10 Volunteers!
Are you are interested in becoming a Volunteer for this retreat? If so, please visit: https://forms.gle/yzx226v8LH8P8E3J9
(Being a Volunteer requires that you’ve already attended a 5-day themed retreat, weekend or at the very least, a Sunday Day of Mindfulness at Magnolia Grove Monastery, and that you agree to come preferably a day or two earlier than the retreat and staying behind at least the afternoon of departure day on Sept. 5th to help clean up.
You will also be asked to lead a family in one of the following service meditations: Potwashing, Meditation Hall, Toilet cleaning… etc. for more exact details, please be in touch with our retreat organizers at: volunteers@magnoliagrovemonastery.org)
Offer funds to support Magnolia Grove Monastery
Donations are processed on our behalf through the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.