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.
Retreat Locations
Participate in silent retreats to renew body, mind, and soul.
To make a reservation, please contact the retreat of your choice directly.
United States
Lake Shrine Retreat (Pacific Palisades, California) — Temporarily Closed
Due to the major fire event on January 7, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades, Lake Shrine Retreat is temporarily closed. The building itself was thankfully spared fire damage. The Retreat will remain closed until further notice and our staff will not be in the office. At this time, we cannot accept reservation requests or offers of volunteer service.
We look forward to your benefiting from the Lake Shrine Retreat once it becomes available again. For the most up-to-date information about the Lake Shrine please see our blog.
Encinitas Personal Retreat Program
The Encinitas personal retreat program offers a quiet and spiritual environment where individuals can take the time to focus on deepening their spiritual practices of meditation, reflection, and study of Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings.
The retreat program offers:
- Accommodations adjacent to the Encinitas Ashram Center grounds;
- A rich program of inspirational monastic-led services, daily group meditations, and study groups at the SRF Encinitas Temple and J-Street Chapel;
- Retreatant access to the Encinitas Hermitage and the beautiful, cliff-side meditation gardens.
For more information or reservations, please visit the Encinitas Temple website.
Hidden Valley Ashram — Guest Program for Men
Guest programs for men are available at the SRF Hidden Valley Ashram. 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 request a reservation at the SRF Hidden Valley Ashram, please visit the Hidden Valley Ashram website.
Email: frontdesk@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 reservations, 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 reservations, 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 reservations, please visit the Armação Retreat website.
Email: retiroarmacao@gmail.com
Telephone: +55 (47) 3345-5600
Conducted Retreats Around the World
Led By SRF Monks and Nuns
SRF monastics regularly travel to cities around the globe to lead public lecture services as well as weekend retreats. We invite you to explore the schedule of upcoming SRF monastic tours and retreats.
Led by SRF Lay Members
SRF centers and groups worldwide also regularly hold retreats at local retreat facilities for SRF members and friends. To find out if an SRF center or group near you is planning to offer a retreat program, please contact your nearest SRF location directly.
Online Retreats
Wow! Thank you so much for today’s online meditation retreat! It was excellent and has reenergized my sadhana.
B. G., Texas
SRF online retreats allow you to leave behind the pressures of everyday life to relax, find spiritual renewal, and deepen your awareness of the Divine — without needing to leave your home.
These online programs, led by SRF monks and nuns in multiple languages and by SRF/YSS members in English, make it easier than ever to fit a spiritual retreat into your schedule. The recording of each retreat remains available online for a few days, giving you flexibility to participate at your convenience.
Retreat programs include different activities to help you still body and mind to experience the joy of the soul, such as:
- Group practice of the SRF Energization Exercises
- Devotional chanting
- Periods of silent meditation
- Inspirational talks (live or recorded) on the retreat theme
- Periods of guided meditation or introspection
- Practice of affirmations
- Prayer for others and for world peace
Retreat Themes Have Included:
- Finding Spiritual Balance in Your Life
- Ways to Cultivate Even-Mindedness
- Living in Constant Awareness of God
- The Power of Devotional Chanting and Affirmation
- Making the Most of Our Spiritual Life Through the Years
Making the rejuvenating experience of retreat more accessible than ever before — SRF online retreats bring to you, in the words of Paramahansa Yogananda, “a dynamo of silence where [you] may go for the exclusive purpose of being recharged by the Infinite.”
Please see the calendar below for information on upcoming online retreats. We also invite you to subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications about upcoming online events.
