Listen to the Heart

Our days can become crowded with noise, activity, conversation, and the constant movement of our own thoughts. This retreat offers a week to step away from that usual pace and give our attention to something quieter.

At the heart of the retreat is the recitation of Guan Yin Bodhisattva's name. Guan Yin is often understood as “one who listens to the sounds of the world.” Through recitation and meditation, we will explore listening not only as something we do with our ears, but as a way of becoming more attentive to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.

The week will unfold within the daily rhythm of Gold Coast Dharma Realm, with periods of meditation, recitation, Dharma teachings, vegan meals, community service, and time in the monastery's natural surroundings. Several days will also be observed in noble silence, allowing more space for reflection and sustained practice.

Whether you are familiar with Buddhist practice or encountering it for the first time, the retreat offers an opportunity to slow down, listen more carefully, and spend a week immersed in the life and practice of a Buddhist monastery.

A residential retreat is different from attending a class or a single day of meditation. For one week, the ordinary routines of daily life are replaced by a simpler rhythm of practice, meals, work, rest, and silence.

Participants may be completely new to meditation, longtime Buddhist practitioners, or simply interested in spending a week exploring contemplative practice in a monastic setting.

The emphasis is not on reaching a particular outcome, but on creating the space to become quieter, more attentive, and more present.