You may be surprised at what seclusion with God will do for your mind, body, and soul....Through the portals of silence the healing sun of wisdom and peace will shine upon you.
Paramahansa Yogananda
SRF Retreats and How-to-Live Retreat Programs
Self-Realization Fellowship’s How-to-Live Retreat programs are open to anyone seeking spiritual renewal and who desires to leave behind the pressures of everyday life — if only for a few days — to deepen their awareness of the Divine. The daily Retreat programs provide, in the words of Paramahansa Yogananda, “a dynamo of silence where [you] may go for the exclusive purpose of being recharged by the Infinite.”
Retreat Activities
Retreat activities include daily group meditations, practice of the SRF Energization Exercises, inspirational classes and programs, and where available, services at nearby SRF temples. There is also ample free time to relax and enjoy God’s presence in the beautiful retreat settings. Self-Realization Fellowship books and recordings are available for private listening and study, and the Retreat chapels are open for meditation.
Two types of How-to-Live Retreat programs are offered:
— General retreats are loosely structured, with classes and inspirational programs, and opportunities for spiritual counseling. Participants join SRF monastics in their morning and evening periods of meditation.
— Conducted weekend retreats, in addition to the above, offer a concentrated program of classes, led by monks and nuns of the SRF monastic order, on the SRF teachings and meditation techniques. Conducted retreats are scheduled at SRF Retreat facilities on many weekends throughout the year — and at various other locations around the world.
To maximize the effects of the retreat experience, guests are expected to participate in the full retreat program and not to engage in other activities during the time of their stay.
Planning Your First Retreat?
While it is not necessary to be a member of Self-Realization Fellowship to participate in our retreat program, it is important that guests be familiar with meditation and be comfortable spending their time at the retreat in silence. For those new to the SRF teachings or to meditation, a stay of two or three days is usually suggested for a first retreat. For more information please contact Self-Realization Fellowship Headquarters.
To make a reservation, please contact the retreat of your choice directly.
United States
Pacific Palisades, California (Lake Shrine) — Opening Soon
We are planning to reopen the Lake Shrine Retreat soon. Retreats will be self-conducted at first and held on the weekends. Over time we will reintroduce monastic-conducted retreat programs, as well as providing visitors the opportunity to stay at this Retreat for longer periods than in the past.
17190 Sunset Boulevard
Pacific Palisades, California 90272 USA
For more information or reservations, please visit the Lake Shrine Retreat website.
Telephone: +1 (310) 459-4740
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, Tuesday through Saturday
Email: lsretreat@yogananda-srf.org
FAX: (310) 459-8716 (available 24 hours a day)
Encinitas Retreat — Temporarily Closed
The Encinitas Retreat is temporarily closed. Please stay tuned for updates.
215 K Street
Encinitas, California 92024-5040 USA
Hidden Valley — Opening Soon
Guest programs for men will resume at the SRF Hidden Valley Ashram sometime in Spring 2023. Participants can stay for longer periods, providing a unique opportunity to engage in personal meditation, study, and introspection, and some of the other activities at the ashram.
16455 Old Guejito Grade Road
Escondido, CA 92027
To find out more information about the SRF Hidden Valley Ashram reopening plans, please visit the Hidden Valley Ashram website.
Email: info@hvashram.org
Telephone: +1 (760) 749-3399
Greenfield Retreat
The Greenfield Retreat is located in the Shenandoah Valley in northern Virginia, amidst a lush deciduous forest. Three cottages are available for women to enjoy private retreats. During private retreats, women are invited to meditate with the monastics daily and may participate in service activities. For more details, please call our retreat number listed below.
2660 John Marshall Hwy.
Front Royal, Virginia 22630 USA
For more information or reseservations, please visit the Greenfield website.
Telephone: +1 (540) 635-5066
International Retreats
Bermersbach, Germany
The Bermersbach Retreat is located in the Black Forest, one of Germany’s most picturesque locales, amidst mountains, meadows, streams, and forests with readily accessible foot and bike paths. The spacious building and grounds includes a chapel, kitchen and dining room, a comfortable library/living room, and landscaped lawns and meditation areas in the gardens.
For more information or reseservations, please visit the Bermersbach Retreat website.
Email:Bermersbach@srf-nbg.de
Telephone: +49 (07228) 968 969
Retiro de Armação
The facility fronts the Atlantic Ocean, and offers guests beach access, peaceful meditation gardens, and expansive ocean vistas.
Retreats conducted by SRF lay members are offered during the summer and winter months, as well as on special weekends throughout the year.
Once or twice a year, Self-Realization Fellowship monastics from the International Headquarters conduct a special retreat which, in addition to the regular program, includes inspirational services and classes on various aspects of the Self-Realization Fellowship teachings.
Individual retreats are available year-round.
Avenida Itapocoroi, 1393
Armação - Penha
Santa Catarina, Brazil
88385-000
For more information or reseservations, please visit the Armação Retreat website.
Email: retiroarmacao@gmail.com
Telephone: +55 (47) 3345-5600