Most of our common questions are answered here, but more in-depth information can be found in the Retreat Specifics.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions!

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Do I need to know how to meditate before joining the retreat?

Certainly not.   CML has a Facilitator/Coach program and Newcomer Sessions that accommodate both the most experienced meditation practitioners as well as those who have had little to no experience with meditation. In fact, if you are a beginner you will have a Newcomer Meeting with Shinzen and the Co-Teacher the very day you arrive to walk you through some basic techniques.

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Will my religious beliefs conflict with the retreat?

No.  While much meditation in the Eastern world is highly religious, Shinzen’s form of Vipassana is designed to be secular and accessible by everyone.  Lectures will focus on the practical, cultural, social, and neurological impacts of meditation rather than the spiritual.  It’s a non-sectarian, non-denominational practice that develops concentration, insight and compassion.  Mindfulness meditation (Vipassana) increases one's moment-by-moment awareness of the ordinary mind-body process.  As this awareness is cultivated, blockages and limiting forces become conscious, are observed with detachment and are released.  Everyone can develop skill in these simple techniques, and it is a practice that can create profound changes in how we live.

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Many of our long-time members are religious, and their meditation practice in no way jeopardizes their personal religious beliefs. In fact, Shinzen’s evening Dharma Talks often makes reference to meditative practice that is historically present in Judaism, Catholicism, Islam and a multitude of other world religions.

 

How intense is the retreat?

CML allows you the freedom to control how intense you would like your experience to be.  All sits are recommended but optional, and nobody is going to tally how many sits you attend.  You are free to exercise, meditate solitarily - indoors or in your room, or even refrain from meditation (as long as you preserve Noble Silence and other retreat standards). 

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The relaxed nature of CML has its pros as well as its cons.  Stricter retreats consider a rigorous and disciplined schedule to be more effective, particularly for beginners.  However, if a beginning student at CML makes adequate effort to attend as many sits as possible, it is guaranteed they will come into close contact with the intensity of the retreat and their meditative practice will thank them for it.

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What is Noble Silence?

Retreats are held in complete silence, i.e., no conversation, other than in the morning teaching meetings with Shinzen or the Co-Teacher (called “Technique Instruction”), the interview sessions with Shinzen, via a zoom room.  This helps conserve energy for the work of meditation – energy which is ordinarily dissipated through talking. There is an intimate link between the forces that drive conversation (“external dialogue”) and the forces that agitate the mind (“internal dialogue”). Maintaining silence at retreats aids in clarifying and working through these forces, thus helping to develop an abiding state of inner calm. Please observe noble silence within the Zoom Rooms except if you are given the opportunity to ask a question during the AMA sessions with Shinzen or any Q&A offered by the Co-Teacher.  

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As part of the noble silence, retreatants may choose to refrain from writing and reading except for materials directly related to the practice of meditation, such as the handouts from the literature table.

 

I am experienced with meditation, but not with Vipassana.  Will this retreat still serve my meditative needs?

Absolutely. While Shinzen’s Unified system (which is based on traditional Vipassana) will be taught in the Technique Instruction Sessions and Dharma Talk lectures, one is free to meditate using whatever method he or she wishes to use (as long as said method is non-disruptive to other retreatants).  Many of our volunteer Facilitators have had much experience with other forms of meditation (such as Zen) and would be happy to help you with whatever form of meditation you choose to practice (as far as their expertise allows).  Shinzen stresses often that one method of meditation is in no way superior to another, and the path to classical enlightenment has many routes.

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However, retreatants are encouraged to at least try Shinzen’s method for themselves.  His method is a modern reworking of Vipassana that is highly accessible and incorporates elements from almost every meditative tradition from both the East and the West.

 

Will CML accommodate my dietary habits?

CML does its best to meet the needs of everybody’s dietary habits.  Gluten free and lactose free alternatives are provided at every meal to those who have requested them under "Dietary Needs" on the registration form.  If there are further dietary restrictions you would like us to be aware of, feel free

to e-mail us before the retreat.  We are limited in the dietary restrictions we can accommodate, so it's important to check with us first.

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Will CML accommodate my sleeping habits?

Roommates are assigned based on a short questionnaire in the retreat registration that helps to determine the sleeping habits of retreatants.  Depending on the number registered, single rooms may become available for those who wish to pay an additional fee.

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What should I bring?

Please refer to the What to Bring page.

 

I’m very excited for the retreat, and I want to do extra preparation beforehand.  How can I get myself acquainted with Shinzen’s meditation techniques?

If you’ve signed up for the retreat, it is recommended that you try to read or become familiar with the guides and documents under the reading material section. 

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I am having trouble finding a way to afford this retreat.  Are there any programs that can help?

CML sets aside some funds for each retreat specifically for subsidizing the meditative practice of retreatants — even first time retreatants.  Refer first to the Student Assistance information on this website and if you in any way feel that you could benefit from financial aid, after selecting the 'Student Assistance' choice and filling in the required information on the registration form, we'll be in touch to discuss payment options.  We try our best to help you attend.

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What is the best way to get to the Mt. Carmel Spiritual Centre?

Directions to the Mt. Carmel Spiritual Centre.  

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Can I leave any time I wish?

You are free to leave at any time, for any reason.  However, if you encounter unpleasant emotional or physical sensations in your meditation, you are encouraged to stay and discuss this with Shinzen in one of the retreat’s Online Support sessions (private lessons).  Unpleasant emotional or physical sensations are almost always a sign of deep meditative growth, and can be an indicator that your practice is reaching new heights.

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It is also recommended that retreatants, particularly first timers, don’t leave the retreat early for another reason: on the last day of the retreat Shinzen gives a small talk on how one should re-adjust to regular life beyond the retreat.

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Do you have suggestions if I need to commute?

If you're not local or have family/friends nearby, we suggest the Rodeway Inn (on Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls), local B&B's or AirBnb's.

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