7-Day Retreat at Healing Spring

Seven days is long enough for the mind to stop rehearsing the week ahead. This wellness retreat at Healing Spring Monastery, near Paris, invites you to step into the rhythm of a monastic community and practice mindfulness as part of ordinary daily life. It has no special theme and no curriculum to master. The days follow the life of the monastery, and you are welcome to slow down, rest, and be nourished by peace and togetherness.

You practice alongside the monastic brothers and other lay practitioners, learning and deepening your meditation in community. The retreat suits beginners and experienced practitioners alike, whether you are seeking respite from a demanding season or a longer immersion than a weekend allows. The Dharma teacher is a monastic teacher of Healing Spring, and the teachings arise from the living practice of the community.

What to Expect

The week unfolds through simple, repeated practices:

- Sitting meditation and walking meditation
- Mindful meals, three a day, all vegan
- Service to the community, so that practice extends into everyday tasks
- Sharing and Dharma teachings

Mornings generally begin around 6:30 am. Noble silence begins at 9:30 pm and continues until the next morning, after the breakfast dishes are washed. This is not a whole-day silent retreat, so there is room for conversation and sharing in the daily rhythm. On Sundays you may also practice with visitors who come for a Day of Mindfulness, and some participants stay only for the weekend.

Because Healing Spring is a monastery for monks, the retreat welcomes all genders, though the majority may sometimes be men. The program is taught in English only. A participant from a previous weekend described it as "Wonderful. Very strengthening for my practice and mental health."

The monastery notes that all of its programs embrace impermanence. If conditions require, elements of the retreat may be adjusted, rescheduled, or canceled.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Healing Spring Monastery, near Paris. Participants arrive on a Friday and depart the following Thursday, with check-in in the afternoon and check-out in the morning. The full sample schedule is available on the Plum Village website.

The retreat is open to anyone 18 and over. Children and teenagers may come with their parents, but there is no special program for them. Parents are fully responsible for their care, and some adult activities may not be suitable for young people.

The contribution is a donation that supports the monastery and depends on your financial situation, and your reservation is confirmed after payment. If you are able, the monastery encourages a higher contribution, which supports its mission of peace, the upkeep of the monastery, and participants facing financial difficulty. A full reduction is not offered, but reductions are available based on individual need.