Gateway to Chan:
A 5-day Retreat in West Virginia
Silent Meditation Retreat for Young People Ages 18-35
Led By Guo Gu
Wednesday May 1st - Sunday May 5th, 2024
At the Claymont Society in Charles Town, West Virginia
Picture Credit: Claymont Society Retreat Center
In the Chan tradition, there are two main approaches to awakening: the method of silent illumination (mòzhào) and investigating a critical phrase (huàtóu). The former is a settling method of serene reflection on the nature of awareness; the latter is an explosive approach that aims to concentrate and shatter all mental states so awakening manifests.
Retreat practice is an excellent way to deepen our practice, as it allows practitioners to engage with the meditation method in a sustained, focused way under a protected environment with a retreat teacher. Practitioners receive guidance on issues or experiences that wouldn’t normally arise in daily or individual practices.
Aside from the many periods of sitting meditation, there will also be stretching exercises, walking meditations, and outdoor direct contemplation. There will also be mindful eating and work practices. There will be daily Dharma talks by Guo Gu, and opportunities for personal consultations to practice.
Sample Daily Schedule
6:00 am: Wake Up Bell
6:30 am: Mindful Exercises
7:00 am: Sitting Meditation
7:40 am: Morning Service
8:15 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Mindful Work
9:45 am: Mindful work ends / personal time begins
10:15 am: Chan Hall: Sitting, Mindful Yoga, Walking Meditation
12:15 pm: Lunch, Mindful Work
2:00 pm: Sitting, Mindful Yoga, Walking Meditation (Personal Interview)
5:30 pm: Light Medicine Meal
7:00 pm: Dharma Talk
8:30 pm: Sitting, Mindful Yoga, Walking Meditation
10:00 pm: Rest; optional meditation
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have meditation experience? No. All experience levels are welcome, including beginners.
Do I have to be a Buddhist? Nope. You do not have to be Buddhist to participate in this retreat. Guo Gu’s teachings are deeply rooted in the classical Chan Buddhist tradition and include beliefs that may be challenging for some. The invitation is to encounter the teachings, to build confidence in the teachings as we verify in our experience, and to maintain healthy an open, discerning, and inquisitive mind towards what cannot verify in our own experience.
What does it cost? The retreat is run on a donation basis in the spirit of dana. There is no required attendance fee. We ask that participants give a deposit of $100 in order to claim your place at the retreat. There will be an option to receive this deposit back upon arrival at the retreat.
What kind of food will be served? The food served at the retreat will be vegan. If you have specific allergies or requests, you will be able to communicate those in your registration.
What is Dharma Gates’ inclusion policy? Dharma Gates welcomes people of all cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. There will be gender neutral restrooms on-site, and we can provide single rooms if that would make you more comfortable. Our aim is to make retreat practice accessible to all young people - if there’s something we can to do help you feel comfortable to attending, please reach out to us (team@dharma-gates.org.)
Location: This retreat will be location at the Claymont Society at 667 Huyett Rd Charles Town, WV 25414. We will provide a spreadsheet for participants to self-organize ride shares.
COVID-19 Policy: Dharma Gates will require that participants submit one rapid test within 48 hours of the start of the retreat. Participants should plan to provide their own tests and send a photo of their test to the Dharma Gates team before attending OR test on arrival. We will have rapid tests on site in case someone develops symptoms during the course of the retreat.
About Guo Gu
Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He studied under the late Master Sheng Yen for over 30 years, nine of which as his attendant monk and most senior and closest disciple. He is the author of The Essence of Chan (2012), Passing Through the Gateless Barrier (2016), and Silent Illumination (2021).