Best Retreat Center Worcester Near Me

Marco Rojas: This place is a true haven. A space of peace and tranquility to refresh the soul. The one star review is inexplicable to me unless an upset competitor! Highly recommend as a place to stay or take classes instructors are wonderful!

Kerry C: A peaceful refuge in the heart of Worcester.

Muni Kul: this place is a scam only concerned with making money. obnoxious people who lure with intention to make money off of prayer and spirituality. it is a hoax. I would never go to such a place. avoid this place!

Kev N: I wouldn’t listen to any negative reviewers as it’s never a good idea to do a retreat with barely any meditation experience. No wonder they did not have a good time. But for those who DO have some insight, I highly recommend this place. Amazing teachers, who care about all their students. Everyone is warmly welcome and that is felt. Great place to obtain deep understanding of the practice

Jeff B: Ideal setting and staff.

Sheo: The perfect location for both beginner and experienced meditators. I highly recommend this center for those who are looking for peace of mind, body and soul. You will learn to see the mind and reality in their true nature.

Maria Whittaker: I am an experienced African American practitioner who successfully completed the IMS 3 month silent retreat in 2017 writing about concerns about my treatment at IMS. It was my first IMS retreat and my fourth long silent retreat.During the first half of this 3 month retreat, my teachers made the following statements to me:1.”I don't care about them;”(referring to the support group of students of color who met regularly during the retreat.) “I assume you are meeting with them.”2. “You don't like it here do you.” Repeated twice during my “teaching” sessions.During the first half of this 3 month retreat my teachers and a retreat staff member also made many jingoistic and demeaning remarks to me about the fact that I had sought psychotherapy in 2014 which I shared on my application..Finally, toward the end of that first half of the full three month retreat, my teachers informed me they had decided to send me home at the end of the first half of the full 3 month retreat despite that IMS had already approved me for the full three months because they (my two teachers for the first half of the full 3 month retreat) were concerned I might have problems during the second half of the retreat due to my history of having sought psychotherapy. They confirmed to me that I had had no problems during the first half, but they were concerned about the second half.They never asked me to see the staff psychiatrist at IMS.The Ethics Committee reversed the teacher's decision and I continued on with my practice. Despite that my teachers never had claimed I had had any problem, the Ethics Committee made my continuation contingent upon my successfully completing the first two weeks of the second half of the long retreat. Again, they did not require me to see the staff psychiatrist at IMS.I completed the entire retreat without any problems just like I had the first part of the retreat.I applied to IMS earlier this year to participate in the second half of this 3 month silent retreat for this year (2019) as I continued to see the benefits of the 2017 retreat continue to roll in. I asked only to participate in the second half of this 3 month retreat as the teacher who made the phone calls to me required. . Shortly after my application I received an email from the IMS ED rejecting my application saying:“Dear Maria,I am writing to let you know that unfortunately IMS is not able to accept your application for a retreat this fall.  We have credited your card with a full refund of $375 today.After the many difficulties you experienced during the 3-month retreat in 2017, your many written communications while on retreat, and the teacher/staff resources necessary to support you during your retreat, we have come to the conclusion that the IMS silent, intensive retreat environment, whether in the 3-month or a shorter retreat, is not suitable for you at this time.If you wish to continue with your insight meditation practice, it might be helpful for you to find a qualified teacher in a community near you and follow their guidance in classes and daily practice situations. They would then be in a position to advise you on best steps to continue to deepen your practice.I am sorry for the disappointment, but hope that I am communicating with you early enough that you can find another fall retreat that supports your ongoing practice.Warmly,Inger”The esteemed ED's remarks are first inaccurate as I experienced no difficulties at all during the 2017 IMS silent retreat, and her decision overruling my teachers' decision to send me home verifies this. As well, my teacher from that second part did infact invite me to participate in the second part of the IMS Silent Retreat in 2018 which I decided not to do as described above. Third, in my recent request to IMS, I asked only to participate in the second half of the IMS silent retreat as instructed by “my teacher.”And then I awoke and realized I had been asleep dreaming the whole time!!!!! Jut like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz! A dream of the mind. In truth, all was divine, perfect!

Sky Otter: Meditation practice taught with excellence and integrity. Thank you deeply.

Karen Sprowal: Heaven on earth🍃 Went to my very first "People of Color" seven day silent retreat Everything about IMS was ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The teachers, teachings, food, staff, accommodations and environmental spaces pure heaven. I'm not a practicing Buddhist, but was able to embrace it all and take it with me back to my every day life in the heart of NYC, highly recommend IMS

Valca Valentine: Yearly retreat always brings me back to my best self. Thanks Sharon S. for your guidance and inspiration. Gina S and DaRa W and Booker and Ruth K and many others are dedicated to supporting retreatants who desire an enhanced path. 🙏🏾

BayBeats831: I have done 2 silent meditation retreats here in the last year, and have 2 more lined up in the next couple of months. The staff are nice, the food is high quality and plant-based, and the rooms are simple but nice. It is the preeminent meditation center, and I highly recommend coming here if you're planning on doing a retreat. They typically have a yoga component as well. PRO TIP: Bring a foam bed cover or something else to give the bed more padding, as the mattresses are very thin and left my back hurting the first retreat I sat there...

Laura Larsen-Stevovich: I've been going to IMS for many years and it has been incredibly helpful to me in my meditation practice. The teachers are exceptional, very knowledgable, extremely helpful...I can't say enough about how appreciative I am for having this place available. In addition, the staff is very caring and so dedicated. This is truly a dharma refuge for anyone on the path. And just one more thing - as a vegetarian, the food is also exceptionally good. My deepest gratitude goes to all who work and teach at IMS.

Terra Howard: I had an absolutely horrific experience doing the six week retreat. We immediately went into silence without any type of safety container created. There was no opportunity to speak with any of the other people attending the retreat before hand or for six weeks and this was psychologically difficult. The short interviews with teachers were often late and short because they were so busy helping all the other yogis. At one point an ambulance showed up and took a girl away to the hospital from a mental break. I feel like a six week retreat in silence is psychologically dangerous and very very wrong for the human brain. This is not evolution this is torture ask a psychiatrist before you go. I did a retreat six years ago and I’m still dealing with the repercussions. It has changed my life in such a very bad way.

cary raditz: A simple three day silent retreat 6 years ago has brought me back again and again for further and longer retreats. Now I spend several months of the year as a working guest, meditating—to be sure—assisting in the kitchen or outside on the grounds gardening, mowing fields, or today: pressing cider from our avenue of apple trees. A wonderful place. Terrific retreat programs, and a highly skilled and cheerful staff. The retreat center and all living facilities are comfortable and aesthetic. I am grateful to have been introduced to IMS.

Chipper 77: Authentic way to peace taught here :)

Wei Wei: A safe haven for contemplative Buddhist teachings and transformational insights.

Julia Finney: lovely place and grounds, wonderful teachers, thoughtful programming, delicious food

Kevin nguyen: Best place to practice and experience Dharma.

Jane Bell: Peaceful, organized, clean, heart centered, helpful organization. I attended a 3 day silent retreat and was very impressed with the entire experience. Thank you!

Bhanu Singh: Hello I want to doing mediation course like vipsna how can i get the information about mediation institute in indore please help me ....thanks ..Bhanu

Vita Pires, Ph.D.: Gorgeous spot with excellent programs and retreats.

Laura Adrian: I have taken two courses from Barre Center and both were wonderful! I love this place! I find the course selection and topics to be powerful and incredibly useful for modern life. Looking forward to more!

Park Yonghan: holy place

doug g: Teachers with amazing scholarship and deep practice. Often the perfect balance between study and mediation. My one suggestion is that I often find the teachers could use a little guidance on classroom control - Western students do love the sound of their own voices... But overall this place is a gem and I often reflect how lucky I am to have such a place within a relatively short drive

lizzie Lamb: Many reasons great people and a beautiful place also the town is a great way to find yourself

Alberto Antonio, O.P.: Massachusetts isn't beautiful just for its many hiking trails, but also for its many hidden religous treasures and retreats. Betania II is one of those little-known treasures to discover. It has a Via Crucis and beautiful grounds to explore, along with a retreat center and oratory and adoration chapel to spend some quality time in contemplation. A must visit in Eastern Massachusetts.

Jordy Ramos: Great place for retreats!

Katherine Morrison: While i enjoy the silence and the teachings, i am not fond if the militaristic way that this place is run

HECHO MORRIS: Auster, amazing and transformative for those committed to learning about East Asia's forest monastary tradition and the study of Early Buddhist theology and/or buddhist methods of self-purification.

Betty Huang: For people who need a meditation retreat center, this is a treasure.

Henry Teitelbaum: Spent a month there, a few years ago.Wonderful place, the accommodations are just perfect for a long(er) self-retreat.Everything is taken care of: food, drinks, schedule, everything.

Megara Bell: Edwards House is a delightful and cozy retreat, event space, and conference center tucked in a bucolic corner of Framingham. The staff is lovely and helpful, the kitchen is magic, and the building is sunny and welcoming. The dining room seat 100, 5 breakout rooms seat 10-30 each, and several large sleeping areas upstairs for weekend retreats.

Strong Coffey: Edwards House is a terrific place to hold meetings and retreats for groups focused on the work they've come together to do. The House is simple and comfortable. Charming. The rooms are clean and warm, with classic details that remind you that you're in a building and community with history and character. Diane, the manager, is a delight. She was there to answer questions and provide support, as well as a warm smile. The kitchen staff accommodated the needs of the attendees without hesitation and the meals were delicious. I'd recommend this place without hesitation.