Hybrid Retreat (Memorial Day Weekend)
Dates: May 22-25, 2026
Location: Wonderwell Mountain Refuge
253 Philbrick Hill Rd, Springfield, NH 03284
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Self-Love & Emptiness: Integrating Psychological Insight with Buddhist Wisdom
Healing the Self, Discovering Freedom
Many meditators have heard the Buddhist teaching of not-self — that the solid, separate “I” we cling to is ultimately empty, unfindable — and that our very clinging to it is the root of our suffering. We may have taken this to mean — or been explicitly taught — that to realize the freedom we seek, we don’t need to love or improve this often problematic self. We just need to see through it.
This retreat offers a different perspective: that self-confidence, self-trust, and genuine self-love are not obstacles to the Buddhist teaching of not-self — they are its foundation. Without them, we get caught in a subtle but powerful friction: Can I really do this? Is awakening even possible for someone like me? Is the deepest happiness actually real for me?
In the Tibetan tradition, a strong and healthy sense of self was considered a prerequisite for emptiness teachings, not a contradiction of them.
Drawing from the work of Dr. Dan Brown — psychologist, Harvard professor, and Tibetan Buddhist teacher — we’ll explore three core capacities of a healthy self:
- Self-knowledge: recognizing your unique strengths and who you most truly are
- Self-confidence: the trust that you can achieve what you set your mind to — including awakening
- Self-love: a stable warmth toward yourself, so that every arising of “I” is met with happiness rather than doubt
At the same time, we’ll engage practices that open into the direct experience of emptiness — the profound spaciousness and relief that comes from seeing through a fixed, separate identity. As these two aspects come together, something begins to shift. The path feels more accessible. The inner friction softens. And what once felt distant — even impossible — becomes something you can begin to touch directly.
Through Dharma talks, guided meditation, and experiential practice, you’ll develop tools to soften self-criticism and build genuine self-trust; to feel more secure and at ease in yourself and your relationships; to integrate psychological healing with contemplative practice; and to experience the lightness and freedom that become available when you stop quietly believing you’re not capable of this depth of happiness.
This retreat is open to meditators who want a path that includes both genuine healing and genuine awakening — and who are ready to discover that these are not two separate journeys.
Retreat Fees
– Single $575
– Double $450
– Dorm (3-6 people) = $350
– [No spaces available currently: Camping or Commuting = $250]
– Online $300
Teacher dana
Please note that the retreat fees do not include payment for the teaching. Jess will not be paid for her teachings through the registration fees. Instead, in the long Buddhist tradition and practice of dana (Pali word for generosity), she will be offering the teachings freely.
Retreat participants will be invited into the practice of dana and given the opportunity to offer Jess a gift after the retreat ends.
Starts: Friday, May 22, 2026, TBD ~7:00 PM ET
(Arrive: 3:00 – 5:00 pm)
Ends: Monday, May 25, 2026, TBD ~noon ET
(Depart: ~1:30 pm)
For more info about camping/commuting, visit naturaldharma.org.
Linens are available to rent from Wonderwell for $15 and can be added within the registration.
(We aim to provide scholarships for this retreat, but it is not guaranteed at this time. )