General Information ~ Reflections

Course participants frequently express a profound sense of gratitude and joy following their IMS retreat experience. Here are some reflections and stories highlighting the benefits of the teachings and the practice.

"My heart has been opened, and the feelings have been indescribable! I have a new way of living my life now. I feel I have been given a beautiful gift this week. I have found the answers I was looking for within myself. I came here feeling hopeless, sad and lonely, but am leaving feeling happy, joyful and excited. I look forward to continuing my meditation practice when I go home."

"As a new meditator and a first-time retreatant, this week has been a great inspiration to deepen my practice."

"This retreat was needed and the timing was perfect. I gained the insight and the assistance I need to make a difference in my life. I look forward to putting it into practice. I will be back."

"I felt safe and cared for and had a remarkable retreat experience."

A Groundspring for Social Justice
The Impact of Retreat Life

The silence and peace of retreat life often nourish strong commitment to compassionate activism and ways to embody the teachings. Two IMS meditators, Rafi Santo and Amber Bemak, are involved in social justice work. They describe here how retreat practice has informed and motivated their engagement in the world. Read more...

Teen Retreat Experiences
Finding the Roots
By Kestrel Cooke Slocombe

I can say with conviction that the recent Teen Retreat at IMS was a life-changing experience for me. It happened so gradually, so gently, that I didn't notice it happening – but now I see that it’s such a deep change that I can't even imagine what I was like before. Read more...

The Power of Presence
By Elliot Cash

The first time I was on a retreat at IMS, I hadn’t yet been born; I was curled up inside my mother’s womb. As a child, I attended the Family Retreat each summer with my parents and sibling. As I got older, my parents encouraged me to consider the Teen Retreat, and I agreed to give it a try. Read more...

Other Stories
The Stove Cleaner
By Gabriella Manconi

When I arrive for my 6-week retreat, I find that my yogi job is cleaning the kitchen stove. It’s a huge 18-burner stove with three ovens and 45 minutes don’t sound like enough time at all, but, no problem, I’m going to be the best stove cleaner in IMS history. Read more...