Ancient Wisdom, Present Freedom

Ancient Wisdom, Present Freedom is a five-night mindfulness meditation retreat at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, led by Will Kabat-Zinn. Rooted in the Buddhist tradition, it offers an experiential study of the four foundations of mindfulness, open to beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.

The retreat explores how mindfulness, long called "the Heart of Buddhist Meditation," can gradually change how we live, love and relate to all of life, through care, attention and gentle cultivation.

What to Expect

The focus is the four foundations of mindfulness: mindfulness of body, feelings and mind, and of the tendencies of mind that lead to suffering and to liberation. The Buddha first taught this methodology as a way to cultivate deep stillness and penetrating insight into the nature of experience itself.

Over the days, you build intimacy with your own experience, meeting each moment with loving awareness and letting life itself become the curriculum. Practice includes sitting, walking, standing and lying down meditations, along with movement-based practices. There is a steady emphasis on bringing mindfulness into everyday activities, so that retreat and daily life feel continuous rather than separate. Themes that arise include working with stress, pain, illness, limiting beliefs, implicit biases and relational challenges, as well as joy, love and connection.

The schedule is full and has a clear rhythm. The retreat begins Sunday evening, with check-in from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the opening session from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, days begin with meditation from 6:30 to 7:15 a.m., followed by sessions from 9:00 a.m. to noon, 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. On Friday there is morning meditation, a final session from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and check-out at 1:00 p.m. Stretches of extended silent practice alternate with periods of conversation and dialogue about what is unfolding. The faculty may adjust the schedule.

About Will Kabat-Zinn

Will Kabat-Zinn is a mindfulness and meditation teacher with more than two decades of practice in the Insight Meditation tradition. He holds an MA and spent nearly a decade in extended silent retreats in the United States and Burma, where he was deeply influenced by the late Sayadaw U Pandita and Chan Master Sheng-Yen. He is a member of the Spirit Rock Teacher's Council and Board of Directors.

His teaching has reached incarcerated youth, educators, scientists, law enforcement officers, parents, and business and technology leaders. He spent a year as an executive in residence at the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business, leads retreats and practice intensives across the country and in Europe, and guides a local meditation community in Berkeley, where he lives with his wife and two children.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, as part of Omega's Mindfulness initiative. Guests can stay on campus, with room, all meals and use of the facilities and amenities included. Options range from single and double cabin rooms with private or shared baths, to a dorm single, tent cabins and camping. Tent cabins have no heat or air-conditioning, and camping does not allow stoves, campfires or recreational vehicles. Those who live nearby can register as commuters, which includes meals and use of the facilities. Optional classes, recreation and walking trails are available to guests.

Before You Go

All experience levels are welcome, from people new to mindfulness to experienced meditators who want to deepen their understanding of the classical Buddhist method. The retreat is taught in English. Enrollment is limited.

Tuition covers instruction and time with the faculty, while accommodation is booked separately. Linens and towels are provided in some room types only. Dorm guests bring their own sheets and towels, and tent cabin guests bring sheets or a sleeping bag and towels, or can rent them from Omega for a small fee. Campers bring their own tent and gear.