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) — Reservations Now Open
You can now request reservations online to stay at the Lake Shrine Retreat. Retreats are currently self-conducted 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
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific time, Wednesday through Sunday
Email: lsretreat@yogananda-srf.org
FAX: (310) 459-8716 (available 24 hours a day)
Encinitas Retreat — Plans for a Redesigned Program
Plans are currently underway to offer a program for personal retreats in Encinitas as soon as we are able, so that you may again experience a renewing spiritual immersion at this SRF location. The new retreat program will offer:
- retreat accommodations adjacent to the Encinitas Ashram Center grounds,
- a program of group meditations and inspirational services with the Encinitas Temple community, and special meditations led for retreatants
- retreatant access to the Encinitas Hermitage and the beautiful, cliff-side meditation gardens.
We look forward to your benefiting from this Encinitas program once it is available. Stay tuned for more updates!
215 K Street
Encinitas, California 92024-5040 USA
Hidden Valley Ashram — Guest Program for Men Now Open
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.
