Weekend Retreats in Tomales

We recommend this program for everyone coming to their first BMCM retreat, even for those with experience in other types of meditation. It will give you a strong foundation for applying your past experience appropriately to this new and demanding set of spiritual skills.

Passage meditation is a practical program, based on the timeless teachings of Eknath Easwaran. It can take you as far as you want to go in transforming your personality from selfish to selfless. This curriculum reaches great depths, and gives you all the information and inspiration you need to start a passage meditation practice successfully.

During the course of the weekend you will learn the underlying principles of the whole eight-point program of passage meditation: why the eight points are beneficial, how they work together, and how you can apply them to your own challenges and aspirations.

You will receive full instruction in the first two points: meditation on a passage and repetition of a mantram. You will also learn how the other six points will carry the benefits of meditation directly into your work day and home life.

By the end of your retreat, you will learn a short inspirational passage to use in the meditation sessions, and choose a mantram and learn ways to use it in your daily life. You will experience different techniques for memorizing inspirational passages, and participate in a relaxing and rejuvenating mantram walk on the beach where Eknath Easwaran, the founder of passage meditation, walked daily after his morning meditation.

The balanced schedule allows time for inner reflection, discussion, learning, and application, in a comfortable and well-paced schedule. These retreats are kept to an intimate group size of 15–20 people; therefore, there is sufficient time to have your questions answered and meet others who are practicing passage meditation. You’ll find the combination of a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and rich discussions draws together people of a wide range of ages and backgrounds. You can participate in the discussions as much or as little as suits you.

The retreat presenters, life-long students of Eknath Easwaran, have decades of experience presenting Easwaran's program to a world-wide audience.

What people have said about this retreat:

“Whatever else might happen or not, for me, personally, last year will be etched in my memory as the beginning of an awakening within me that will probably dictate how I live the rest of my life.”

“The format of the retreat was relaxed and informative. The experience of this retreat will help me develop into the person I want to become.”

“The workshop was really effective. I'm a professional trainer and it is rare that I go through a learning experience that I think is just perfect. Our presenters were very articulate and clearly role models. While Easwaran couldn't be with us, he was in spirit through their stories of him. You had a super balance of theory and real world examples, lecture and practice, the pace was really comfortable. Thank you!”

Returnee Weekend Retreat: Making a Difference

Weekend Retreats: Prerequisites

Introductory weekend retreats in Tomales are for newcomers – those coming to their first BMCM retreat. There are no prerequisites.

Prerequisites for returnee weekend retreats in Tomales: Daily passage meditation in the previous six months; and either attendance at a previous passage meditation retreat or regular attendance at a BMCM Satsang for six months.

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When it’s best not to attend a retreat

If you have a history or current condition of mental illness, please consult your health care provider before learning meditation or attending a retreat. Meditation is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care, and there are circumstances when it is not advisable.

For the safety and well-being of all retreatants, we may decide not to accept retreat enrollments.

Weekend Retreats: Schedule & Fees

Weekend retreats begin on Friday at 4 p.m. and end on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Click here to see the retreat fees and an explanation of our sliding scale.

Retreat FAQs and Tomales Retreat House Information

Click here for details about our retreat logistics.

Click here for information about our retreat house and travel to Tomales.