Level 2: 7-Day Silent Retreat (March 15th - 22nd, 2025)
March 15th - March 22nd, 2025 • Scholls Valley Lodge
This retreat is a continuation of the curriculum from our 7-day Intensive Training in Integral Polarity Practice. Only students who have completed at least one weeklong IPP training and have a consistent personal practice are invited to join.
This retreat includes:
• Advance stages of concentration practice: From effortful to effortless practice
• Sustained still point practice throughout the 24-hour cycle: Letting life become the meditation
• Subtle atmosphere: Building the body of virtue for yourself and all beings
• Intimacy with all things: Exploring the 3 modes of nondual practice
• The Taste of Gone
• Optional fasting
• Solitary practice
• Strong determination sitting
• Emergent possibilities
Arrival/Departure:
The retreat will begin promptly at 4:00pm Pacific on Saturday, March 15th. Check-in time will be available starting at 3pm. We will finish at Noon Pacific on March 22nd.
Retreat Schedule (subject to minor changes. Schedule differs on first day, last day):
6am-8am: Still sitting (formal meditation), walking meditation
8am-9am: Breakfast
9am-11am: Integral Polarity Practice / Still sitting, walking meditation
11-12pm: Mindful work period
12-1pm: Lunch
1-2pm: Personal time
2pm-4pm: Still sitting, walking meditation
4-5:30pm: Exercise / Time in Nature / Personal time
5:30-7pm: Dinner
7pm-9pm: Integral Polarity Practice / Dharma talk / We-space
9pm: Rest
We will be staying at Scholls Valley Lodge, about 45 minutes southwest of Portland International Airport. This retreat is suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
COSTS: Tuition + Room & Board
Tuition (this includes admission and daily instruction):
$900 - student / financial assistance
$1,200 - standard
$1,500 - sustaining (100% of additional funds go toward scholarships for participants with financial need)
NOTE: The retreat tuition does not include room and board. Reserve your room & board with the Lodge HERE.
Note that the price of your room includes three deliciously catered meals per day.
Work/Trade: We have limited work/trade spots for those who can use additional financial assistance. Work/trade allows for participants to pay half tuition for the retreat with the agreement to help assist the staff throughout the retreat. If you are interested in applying, please email info@lowerlightswisdom.org
Scholarships: Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, we have scholarship funds available for each retreat. Note that room and board costs are not included in our scholarship offers. Please email us at info@lowerlightswisdom.org to be considered. In your email tell us about your financial situation and why you would like to be considered.
Cancellation Policy: No tuition refunds will be available within 90 days of the retreat. If you have registered for the retreat and can no longer attend, you have the option of finding someone to take your spot within the 90-day cutoff. Otherwise, you will forego the tuition payment. If you sign up for the retreat and withdraw at least 90 days before the start of the retreat, Lower Lights will refund 90% of your tuition payment. The spirit of this policy is to encourage participants to take full responsibility for the retreat spot they reserve.
Space is limited for this retreat and historically, our retreats fill very quickly. Please confirm your spot as soon as possible. Questions? email us at info@lowerlightswisdom.org (mailto:info@lowerlightswisdom.org).
March 15th - March 22nd, 2025 • Scholls Valley Lodge
This retreat is a continuation of the curriculum from our 7-day Intensive Training in Integral Polarity Practice. Only students who have completed at least one weeklong IPP training and have a consistent personal practice are invited to join.
This retreat includes:
• Advance stages of concentration practice: From effortful to effortless practice
• Sustained still point practice throughout the 24-hour cycle: Letting life become the meditation
• Subtle atmosphere: Building the body of virtue for yourself and all beings
• Intimacy with all things: Exploring the 3 modes of nondual practice
• The Taste of Gone
• Optional fasting
• Solitary practice
• Strong determination sitting
• Emergent possibilities
Arrival/Departure:
The retreat will begin promptly at 4:00pm Pacific on Saturday, March 15th. Check-in time will be available starting at 3pm. We will finish at Noon Pacific on March 22nd.
Retreat Schedule (subject to minor changes. Schedule differs on first day, last day):
6am-8am: Still sitting (formal meditation), walking meditation
8am-9am: Breakfast
9am-11am: Integral Polarity Practice / Still sitting, walking meditation
11-12pm: Mindful work period
12-1pm: Lunch
1-2pm: Personal time
2pm-4pm: Still sitting, walking meditation
4-5:30pm: Exercise / Time in Nature / Personal time
5:30-7pm: Dinner
7pm-9pm: Integral Polarity Practice / Dharma talk / We-space
9pm: Rest
We will be staying at Scholls Valley Lodge, about 45 minutes southwest of Portland International Airport. This retreat is suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
COSTS: Tuition + Room & Board
Tuition (this includes admission and daily instruction):
$900 - student / financial assistance
$1,200 - standard
$1,500 - sustaining (100% of additional funds go toward scholarships for participants with financial need)
NOTE: The retreat tuition does not include room and board. Reserve your room & board with the Lodge HERE.
Note that the price of your room includes three deliciously catered meals per day.
Work/Trade: We have limited work/trade spots for those who can use additional financial assistance. Work/trade allows for participants to pay half tuition for the retreat with the agreement to help assist the staff throughout the retreat. If you are interested in applying, please email info@lowerlightswisdom.org
Scholarships: Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, we have scholarship funds available for each retreat. Note that room and board costs are not included in our scholarship offers. Please email us at info@lowerlightswisdom.org to be considered. In your email tell us about your financial situation and why you would like to be considered.
Cancellation Policy: No tuition refunds will be available within 90 days of the retreat. If you have registered for the retreat and can no longer attend, you have the option of finding someone to take your spot within the 90-day cutoff. Otherwise, you will forego the tuition payment. If you sign up for the retreat and withdraw at least 90 days before the start of the retreat, Lower Lights will refund 90% of your tuition payment. The spirit of this policy is to encourage participants to take full responsibility for the retreat spot they reserve.
Space is limited for this retreat and historically, our retreats fill very quickly. Please confirm your spot as soon as possible. Questions? email us at info@lowerlightswisdom.org (mailto:info@lowerlightswisdom.org).
March 15th - March 22nd, 2025 • Scholls Valley Lodge
This retreat is a continuation of the curriculum from our 7-day Intensive Training in Integral Polarity Practice. Only students who have completed at least one weeklong IPP training and have a consistent personal practice are invited to join.
This retreat includes:
• Advance stages of concentration practice: From effortful to effortless practice
• Sustained still point practice throughout the 24-hour cycle: Letting life become the meditation
• Subtle atmosphere: Building the body of virtue for yourself and all beings
• Intimacy with all things: Exploring the 3 modes of nondual practice
• The Taste of Gone
• Optional fasting
• Solitary practice
• Strong determination sitting
• Emergent possibilities
Arrival/Departure:
The retreat will begin promptly at 4:00pm Pacific on Saturday, March 15th. Check-in time will be available starting at 3pm. We will finish at Noon Pacific on March 22nd.
Retreat Schedule (subject to minor changes. Schedule differs on first day, last day):
6am-8am: Still sitting (formal meditation), walking meditation
8am-9am: Breakfast
9am-11am: Integral Polarity Practice / Still sitting, walking meditation
11-12pm: Mindful work period
12-1pm: Lunch
1-2pm: Personal time
2pm-4pm: Still sitting, walking meditation
4-5:30pm: Exercise / Time in Nature / Personal time
5:30-7pm: Dinner
7pm-9pm: Integral Polarity Practice / Dharma talk / We-space
9pm: Rest
We will be staying at Scholls Valley Lodge, about 45 minutes southwest of Portland International Airport. This retreat is suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
COSTS: Tuition + Room & Board
Tuition (this includes admission and daily instruction):
$900 - student / financial assistance
$1,200 - standard
$1,500 - sustaining (100% of additional funds go toward scholarships for participants with financial need)
NOTE: The retreat tuition does not include room and board. Reserve your room & board with the Lodge HERE.
Note that the price of your room includes three deliciously catered meals per day.
Work/Trade: We have limited work/trade spots for those who can use additional financial assistance. Work/trade allows for participants to pay half tuition for the retreat with the agreement to help assist the staff throughout the retreat. If you are interested in applying, please email info@lowerlightswisdom.org
Scholarships: Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, we have scholarship funds available for each retreat. Note that room and board costs are not included in our scholarship offers. Please email us at info@lowerlightswisdom.org to be considered. In your email tell us about your financial situation and why you would like to be considered.
Cancellation Policy: No tuition refunds will be available within 90 days of the retreat. If you have registered for the retreat and can no longer attend, you have the option of finding someone to take your spot within the 90-day cutoff. Otherwise, you will forego the tuition payment. If you sign up for the retreat and withdraw at least 90 days before the start of the retreat, Lower Lights will refund 90% of your tuition payment. The spirit of this policy is to encourage participants to take full responsibility for the retreat spot they reserve.
Space is limited for this retreat and historically, our retreats fill very quickly. Please confirm your spot as soon as possible. Questions? email us at info@lowerlightswisdom.org (mailto:info@lowerlightswisdom.org).
Retreat Leader: Thomas McConkie
Thomas is an author, public speaker, and mindfulness teacher. He is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom where he teaches developmental psychology and meditative practice, which he has studied for more than 20 years. Notable teachers he has studied under include Shinzen Young, Joshu Sasaki Roshi, Musho Roshi, Dr. Terri O’Fallon and John Kesler, Founder of Integral Polarity Practice. He is the creator of the podcast, Mindfulness+ with Thomas McConkie and has been featured on NPR, Religion News Service, Tricycle Magazine, and the 10% Happier Podcast.