Black Mountain Sangha Retreats
We offer highly curated residential retreats focused on integrating aspects of the dharma in a continuous thread throughout the retreat. Between them, our leadership team and guiding teacher have over 100 residential retreat nights at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, affording the knowledge and practice maturity to hold space for highly fruitful silent retreats in the Vipassana tradition. Retreats are generally well attended by the Black Mountain Sangha membership which adds practice stability not often found in short residential retreats.
Our guiding teacher, Robin Stutzman, brings a fresh, inspired teaching style, explaining sometimes complicated dharma principles with clarity, humor and authenticity. She delivers the Dharma in a way that is accessible to newer practitioners yet challenging to more experienced practitioners. A link to part of the opening talk from our fall retreat is ‘here’
We hold our retreats at Camp Stevens, in Julian, California. There have been overwhelmingly positive responses and requests for more offerings, which makes sense given the scarcity of residential retreat opportunities in the San Diego area. We welcome all those who have had some formal training in mindfulness, to apply for a spot (space is limited), whether you are a Black Mountain Sangha member or not.
Are you looking for silent retreat opportunities which are local (i.e., you need not board a plane), and brief (i.e., you need not miss a lot of work or leave your family)?
Contact blackmtnsangharetreat@gmail.com to apply for a spot at our next retreat. Space is limited.
We are excited about the theme of our upcoming 2 night retreat (4/24/26 - 4/26/26): ‘Relationships as a path to awakening,’ which is accessible for new practitioners or first-time retreat goers. Our spring ‘bring a friend’ retreat last year was fantastic and most of our guests returned to our fall retreat. As is often the case, we are adding a new sweet practice to our time together - we will participate in a communal “peace walk” in honor of the monks currently walking across America for peace.
This is a wonderful opportunity to share mindfulness and the dharma with someone you know who is interested but perhaps have been intimidated by the silence, long silent meditations, etc. There will be some guided meditations for newcomers. We hope you will join us. Click the link below to register!