By Susanna Lack, Retreat Director
In October 2024, we held the first Wisdom Seat (TWS) Retreat at the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) monastery in the delightful upstate New York Catskill Mountains.
Michael Carroll, cofounder of The Wisdom Seat, led this transformative 8-day practice intensive, supported by members of TWS staff. The retreat was designed to help participants deepen their mindfulness-awareness meditation and integrate it into daily life. The retreat included 8 days of meditation - most days were in silence as we enjoyed wonderful meals, body/yoga practice, walks and some good work/Rota.
Twenty-two people attended, sitting in a shrine room that combined the inspiration of Trungpa Rinpoche with the lineage of the Kagyu monastery. The shrine room had a solid cement floor, beautifully finished with soothing colors, large windows on almost every wall, and 2 shrines. Melding these two lineages was both a challenge and a wonderful teaching moment.
The Wisdom Seat shrine made of beautiful wood was crafted by Jan Paul Vroom, a premier carpenter and lifelong Buddhist practitioner: simple, elegant with fresh flowers, a crystal ball, 5 clear bowls filled with water, and an elegant knot of eternity displayed in front. The Kagyu shrine was filled with many golden warriors, layers of jewels in bowls, with elaborate paintings and designs.
Collaborating with KTD, we found a warm and inviting Abbot, KTD president and many nuns and monks who were always present with a smile or a helping hand. There were 3 Puja’s or Sadhanas done on the day of the October full moon - a Sangha from Brooklyn came, about 30 Tibetan women in their beautiful Tibetan costumes. In the morning they placed their offerings in the Lasung bowl, smoke rose, they laughed and picnicked. Mid-day, our retreatants practiced Trungpa Rinpoche’s Sadhana of Mahamudra in the main shrine room with the Abbot and a few KTD folks. Ending the full moon day, the KTD monks and nuns did a public Puja offering under the light of the October full moon.
We all got to know one another very well, even though we were in silence most of the time. The group was very caring, loving and worked really well during meal prep and clean up.. There was something about the simple, solid shrine room floor, the Monastery grounds with flowers, stupa’s, and the monks & nuns’ presence coupled with the many years of people practicing on the grounds and of course the long lineage of Kagyu practitioners that made this all possible - that made this a most inspiring , rich, deep and rewarding 8 days of practicing meditation together.
And fortunately, at KTD’s invitation, we will be returning next year at the end of October 2025 to practice again in retreat, bringing together our monastic and householder Buddhist traditions.
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