The Three Day Meditation Retreat is a residence silent meditation retreat, following the Chan Buddhism tradition, that is most suited to sincere, dedicated and experienced meditation practitioners who are seeking answers to  the fundamental questions of life.

Retreat check in time is 7pm, Sept 22 and ends at 3pm, Sept 25. The retreat will be held at Bliss Haven Retreats, 1028 Canal Bank Rd, Dunnville, ON N1A 2W5

During the retreat, participants are asked to abide to the Retreat Etiquette. Participants should make prior arrangement to avoid distractions, and be prepared for a retreat schedule of 5 :00 am to 9:30 pm.

The daily practice consists of a series of 30 to 45 minute sittings, dharma talks, morning and evening chanting services, walking meditation, and eight-form moving meditation. There will be light physical exercises and simple stretching yoga between sittings. Retreat participants have the option to attend individual interviews with the teacher for guidance related to the practice during the retreat.

Application Procedure:

Submit the online application form on or before Sept 15, 2023. Due to limited spaces, your application may not be accepted due to space or other considerations. The acceptance notice will be sent to you via email within one week of application.

Program Fee:

$450 per person (includes vegetarian meals and accommodation). Payable upon acceptance notice. Please indicate the attendee name and “3 Day Retreat” with your payment. 

Guiding Teacher:

Venerable Guo Yuan (aka Guo Yuan Fashi), Abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York

In 1985, Guo Yuan Fashi encountered Master Sheng Yen’s teachings while attending a seven-day retreat in New York. He became a disciple before finally leaving his job in Toronto, Canada, to become a monk in the Chan tradition. He was ordained in 1987 in Taiwan. Then, for over twenty years, he accompanied and worked as translator to Master Sheng Yen in various Chan meditation retreats around the world. In 1991, he studied Theravada Buddhism for a year in Thailand. Upon his return, Guo Yuan Fashi was elected abbot of both the Chan Meditation Center (CMC) in Queens and the Dharma Drum Retreat Center (DDRC) in Pine Bush, New York. His responsibilities include attending interfaith services, teaching meditation, and giving lectures on Buddhism. In 2006, he became the director of the International Chan Retreat Center in Dharma Drum Mountain, Taiwan. In 2016, he returned to Pine Bush to become once again the abbot of DDRC. Fluent in Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English, he leads Chan retreat in many countries around the world.

Email inquiry: meditation@ddmbaontario.org