Having Gone to the Forest
With Brian Lesage and Robin Craig
August 18 - 25, 2026
An early Buddhist instruction begins, “Having gone to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut….” What follows is a simple invitation to sit down, establish mindfulness, and let the practice unfold. In this retreat, we explore this invitation. We will keep noble silence and practice steady, moment-to-moment awareness in a wild forest through sitting, standing and walking meditation with guidance to help recognize steadiness, wisdom, and kindness as they naturally emerge.
Our practice will be grounded in the four foundations of mindfulness: body, feeling-tone, mind and frameworks that support our meditation practice. Each day there will be practice instruction, a dharma talk and a small-group or one-on-one practice discussion with a teacher. The schedule will mostly be a rhythm of moving between sitting and walking meditation with opportunities to practice on trails, under open skies, with trees and near running water.
This retreat is suitable for both newcomers and experienced practitioners and offers a space for silent, steady practice and for letting the natural world help you discover what brings steadiness, wisdom, and freedom into your life.
Cancellation Policy:
- 45 days prior to retreat: Full refund, minus a $150 nonrefundable fee
- 44-22 days prior to retreat: 50% refund
- 0-21 days prior to retreat: No refund
Teachers
Brian has practiced Buddhist meditation since 1988 and has taught since 2000. He has studied in the Zen, Theravada, and Tibetan schools and was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, and India as well as numerous retreats in the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses nationwide. Brian also has a private practice in Somatic Experiencing, which is a naturalistic approach to healing trauma.
Learn more about Brian Lesage
Robin brings her understanding of the physiology of resilience to her meditation practice and supports a joyful exploration of the deep spirituality and interconnection that is ours by nature. She is a Certified Meditation Teacher in The Mind Illuminated tradition, which is rooted in Theravadan and Tibetan Karma Kagyu traditions with lineage to the Venerable Ananda Bodhi. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and Faculty of Organic Intelligence®.
Learn more about Robin Craig