It’s been a while since my last update! A lot has changed since the last time I posted on UP Development. Despite the silence, I have not been inactive ; I have moved from the forest dwelling I used to live in, my relationships have evolved for the better, I’ve pursued many intellectual and professional projects, and most significantly, I have led my first in-person meditation retreat last spring at Dharma Treasure, in Cochise Stronghold, Arizona.

This meditation retreat was truly a delightful, inspiring and insightful experience. Accompanied by my significant other, Pénélope, we had the immense opportunity to meet other practitioners, including Henrik Norberg, another fellow meditation teacher who trainer under the late Culadasa. Henrik currently manages the Dharma Treasure meditation retreat center, and has been for a few years.

Our stay blew our mind for several reasons that go beyond the meditation practice. The beauty of the desert environment, the diversity and warmth of the community – including a monk, Ajahn Buddhisaro, who lives there -, the innumerable natural caves we could explore and sleep in, an unforgettable full moon hike and a welcoming communal cooking and working experience. We only stayed for two weeks, but left with a thirst for more, wishing we could dive in more meaningfully into the richness of this stunning place.

This brings me to my main point. We are coming back to Dharma Treasure, this time for a much longer stay, this Fall! From October 20th 2024 to January 20th 2025, we will not only be living at Dharma Treasure, but managing the center, and helping out with all things necessary to run the place and hold a space for all visitors to practice fruitfully. I can hardly express the gratefulness I feel to be offered this opportunity. Creating and managing such an environment has been a dream of mine for a long time, and having the unexpected opportunity to bring this dream to life this Fall is truly a blessing. I had to rearrange some priorities and make a few sacrifices, including taking a sabbatical, but it was an easy decision given the nature of the opportunity.

Our goal with the stay is manifold. First, we want to make sure that all retreatants get the most out of their stay, whether they be beginner or advanced meditators, nature enthusiasts, or simply people looking for some time off from conventional daily life. Notably:

• We will improve the current greeting process for newcomers, so that people can join the communal life and participate in the activities and tasks that surround it as soon as they arrive. This includes improved and clearer briefing processes with regards to the rules, expectations and the schedule of the center, as well as a better mapping of the outdoor activities, hikes and caves.
• We will create an inventory of all things owned by Dharma Treasure. This will facilitate keeping track of objects owned, and streamline the process of lending, borrowing and acquiring possessions. Examples that come to mind are outdoor gear like tents, sleeping bags and rock climbing equipment ; or gardening and constructions tools and supplies.
• We will incorporate mindfulness into every feasible aspect of the food process. We believe that sourcing food ethically, eliminating food wastage and creating a warm atmosphere in which food is cooked, shared and enjoyed communally. This is challenging in the context of living together, especially when people of varied backgrounds and with diverse dietary preferences and restrictions come and go, but we will face that challenge head on, and will keep iterating improvements until we are satisfied with the approach.
• Help foster an atmosphere of transparent, lucid and non-violent communication, and encourage all participants to follow “Right speech” ethos. An idea that came about when staying at Dharma Treasure last winter was to have periods when speech is restricted through certain rules. One such rule could be “only discuss what’s occurring in the present, rather than the past or future”. We actually tried for 24 hours and failed quite miserably, but we would love to try again!
• On the meditation front, I will be leading daily guided meditations, which I will record and publish on Insight Timer. Together with Henrik, I will also a lead a TMI-inspired meditation retreat in January. Our ambition is to have practitioners follow the Elephant path with alternative meditation techniques (not the breath!). I will also be serving as the fallback resident yogi during that period, meaning that I’ll be holding the meditation space whenever no invited teacher is present. .

How to attend

The retreat center is located in Arizona, 90 minutes from the Tucson Airport, 45 minutes from Benson and Willcox, and 20 minutes from the small village of Sunsites. While remote, the retreat center is part of a close-knit rural community.

Compared to a lot of other retreat centers, Dharma Treasure is definitely on the affordable side, and it is also possible for attendees to significantly reduce costs by volunteering. I For more details on booking, lodging, and retreat guidelines, you can visit their official site at https://dharmatreasure.org/ or contact them directly via email at [email protected].

Future plans

Our stay at Dharma Treasure supports our long-term vision of creating a unique environment where people can come and stay. While we don’t aim to establish a full-scale meditation center, we aspire to build a self-sufficient space that places nature at the heart of our lives. This space will welcome people from all walks of life, offering them the freedom to pursue meaningful interests, projects, and ambitions—whether spiritual, artistic, or intellectual—while simultaneously upholding the values that are dear to our hearts. I believe our experience at Dharma Treasure will inspire us to create such a place and clarify the specifics of our ambition.

I truly hope to see you there!