Retreats

The Zikr Woods

The Upanishads and Sanskrit Mantra
[FULL]

     For quite a few years, the Riegel's have conducted spiritual retreats at The DeSales Center in Brooklyn, Mi.  Due to a couple of different factors, i.e., new rules for use of the DeSales kitchen and then the pandemic, those retreats ended some two to three years ago.  We have always wanted our own place to conduct retreats and now we have it.  Welcome to The Zikr Woods!  This is our vacation home in Grayling, Mi., which we use for small (4-5 people) but more frequent (~4/yr) retreats.
     The Zikr Woods is located 15 minutes east of Grayling, about a 3 hour drive for those living near Detroit, and its eastern and western suburbs.  The home itself is at the end of a sparsely populated road, not far from a major thoroughfare but far enough to have that "get away" feel.  Nestled on ten acres, it is surrounded by evergreen and hardwood.  The back deck faces most of that ten acres so the view is as if sitting in the midst of the state's lush forests.  There is also plenty of state land near Grayling, where Dr. Riegel has been walking his pups for decades now, and which, in cooperative weather, can serve as a place to wander, relax, and meditate.
     NOTE - The Zikr Woods has three bedrooms, which will sleep two people per room (So if you attend our retreats, you will likely have a roommate.), a spacious kitchen, a living room that seats 7 people, and two bathrooms (one with a shower and one with a jet tub).  [Scroll down to see images.]

    The next Zikr Woods retreat, "The Upanishads and Sanskrit Mantra," is Columbus Day weekend (beginning at noon on Friday, Oct. 7 - noon on Monday, Oct. 10).  During this retreat we will study select Upanishads and delve into the study and practice of several Sanskrit mantras, to anchor our spiritual practice.
     The Upanishads are the crest jewel of Indian spiritual wisdom.  In them we find encouragement to sit at the feet of a realized teacher, caution against overindulgence in the instinctual life, and repeated advice to "meditate on Om."  Given the latter, we sill study this sacred symbol as well as learn how to meditate with it and several other mantras, which can serve as core mantras in our spiritual practice.
     Because we will begin at noon on Friday, we strongly encourage people to arrive Thursday, between 3 and 5pm, so you can have a casual morning before the retreat officially begins.
     Speaking of food, we will offer two substantial meals a day (lunch and dinner) with a healthy "make your own breakfast" buffet.
     Please note, you will likely have a roommate when you attend my retreats, given the limited sleeping arrangements (see photos below).
     Compared to previous retreats (at The Brooklyn Center), there will be more free time: to allow participants to get to know one another better, for personal reflection, and to wander The Zikr Woods lush ten acres.
     Prior to the retreat, please be sure to read Easwaran version of The Upanishads. A supplemental reading is "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Martin.

Cost: $440, includes four nights lodging, ten meals, and three days instruction.

To register for this retreat, or for more general information/questions, email Alex at: dralexanderriegel@gmail.com.

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Past Retreats

Om and the Dhammapada:  An in depth study of the Buddha's teaching as reflected in the Dhammapada, the Buddha's teaching for his sangha and the average layperson (householder), and instruction on the meaning and practice of meditating with Om.

Begin Again: Returning to Love:  Across all contemplative traditions, love and compassion are considered to be the greatest spiritual virtues, especially in Christianity and Sufism.  In this retreat we seek to remember love and consider how to cultivate love as our modus operandi in the world.