Mindfully Together
With Viveka Bhikkhu, Sandra Ramos Amézquita and Elizabeth Faria
December 20 - 25, 2025
This retreat is the first in a series of four retreats, seven Insight Dialogue teachers from around the world will guide an exploration into how the relational practice of Insight Dialogue, silent meditation, and the support of friends can help us develop greater awareness, wisdom, and compassion.
在這系列的四個禪修營中，來自世界各地的七位慧談老師，將引導我們探究：關係取向的慧談練習、止語禪修，以及同修的支持，如何幫助我們培養更深的覺察、智慧與慈悲。
Retreat 1: Mindfully Together
A meditation retreat empowered by relationality
In this meditation retreat, we will explore the power of connection and friendship as pathways to cultivating wisdom and awareness in the service of well-being and liberation. The retreat will weave together silent individual practice (Insight Meditation) with relational practice (Insight Dialogue), offering a fertile ground for the growth of awareness, understanding, and compassion. From this foundation, greater intimacy, clarity, freedom, and joy may naturally unfold.
This retreat is an invitation to discover and deepen these transformational practices in a supportive, safe, and friendly environment. Our hope is that participants will leave not only refreshed and inspired but also encouraged to bring these practices into daily life—allowing wisdom, freedom, compassion, and joy to extend well beyond the retreat itself. If you are curious about what becomes possible when we practice mindfulness together over a few days, we warmly invite you to join us.
Other Retreats in the Series
Retreat 2: The Generous Gift of Being Mindfully Present
Dec 27 to Jan 1, 2026, English (with Cantonese translation), led by Nolitha Tsengiwe & Dave Leggatt
Retreat 3: Finding Freedom through Insight
Jan 3 to 8, 2026, Mandarin Chinese and English, led by Riët Aarsse & Jessica Mui
Retreat 4 (Advanced): Awake together – Wisdom Here and Now
Jan 10 to 15, 2026, English, led by Ayya Anopama & Nolitha Tsengiwe
- Retreat 4 is only suitable for trained Insight Dialogue practitioners.
Please click on the retreat links (above, in bold) to read more about the individual retreats.
Leaders
Viveka is a Buddhist monk who teaches mindfulness practice and compassionate living. He began exploring meditation in the early 90’s, attended his first retreat in 2002, and was ordained with Sayadaw U Tejaniya in 2013. Over a 20-year period, he was fortunate to train with various well-respected lay teachers in the West and Buddhist masters in Asia. Five years ago, he began offering meditation retreats, weekly sessions, and facilitating Insight Dialogue events internationally. He currently lives in Eastern Canada. Please offer Bhante dana with this Paypal link. It’s under the name of Bhante’s kappiya (a lay person who supports monks),…
Learn more about Viveka Bhikkhu
Sandra has been practicing Insight Dialogue since 2020 and individual silent meditation since 2004. She is a member of Teacher Development 2 cohort and Spanish Insight Dialogue group. She studied with a variety of meditation teachers including Dr. Alan Wallace, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche. Sandra spent three years in monasteries in Myanmar, under the tutelage of Sayadaw U Tejaniya and later in Pau Auk Tawaya monasteries under the guideless of Sayalay Dipankara and Sayadaw U Paññānanda. She is co-founder and director of the Centro de Meditación Theravada where she shares the Dhamma with Hispanic public. She facilitates the…
Learn more about Sandra Ramos Amézquita
Elizabeth Faria has studied with Gregory Kramer and the Insight Dialogue Teaching Community since 2008. She began practicing vipassana on long retreats meditation in 1996. She took a two-year break from work to dedicate time to meditation practice in India, the US, Australia, and Thailand. Elizabeth is a graduate of the Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists Professional Training Course in Buddhism and Psychotherapy. She is trained as a psychologist with 30 years of both meditation experience and practice as a psychotherapist. She is deeply moved by the Dharma and its potential to bring ease and wisdom through solitary…
Learn more about Elizabeth Faria