Dharma Zephyr Insight Meditation Community

Settle - Focus - Untangle - Purify:
A Residential Retreat
with
Sentha Sivabalan

August 9, 2026 - August 14, 2026

Camp Galilee - Lake Tahoe, Glenbrook, NV
Awareness can soften the heart.

This retreat will be a function of primary settling, collecting, one pointed un-scattered direction.Once the heart-mind settles, this process goes towards ease and relaxation. The nature of Vipassana is that it begins to untangle the emotional complexity that we have generated due to our conditioning. Purification is the natural consequence of clearing the heart.

Discovery over creation: The teacher assumes that the qualities for enlightenment do not need to be built from scratch; rather, they are to be discovered.
Uncovering potential: The teacher acts as a mirror. Through the right questions and environment, the teacher helps the student realize they already possess the necessary answers.
Sentha Sivabalan is replacing John Travis as the teacher this summer. On Thursday, June 4, John suffered a stroke and will not be able to teach.
Sentha has over 20 years of experience in studying, practicing and teaching meditation in all three current streams of Buddhism: Chan (Chinese precursor to Zen) Buddhism with Gilbert Gutierrez, Tibetan and Theravada Buddhism with Marvin Treiger. We are delighted to introduce Sentha to our Theravada meditation community. Her extensive practice, deep study of the Buddhist path, and nuanced understanding of lineage differences will greatly enrich our collective grasp of The Practice. In this retreat, Sentha will teach from the Theravada perspective, highlighting the specific tools that yield the most transformative results. She brings a familiarity with the Theravada tradition to these ancient texts, as well as nuanced understanding drawn from Chan and Tibetan Buddhism.

Sentha is committed to meeting and honoring students where they are to point out what is intrinsically and already present.

This retreat is suitable for beginning as well as experienced meditators.

Location:
Camp Galilee Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center
1776 Hwy 50
Glenbrook, NV 89413

Arrival time at Camp Galilee on August 9th will be 3:00 p.m. The retreat will conclude at 1:00 p.m. on August 14th.

The Cost includes lodging and all meals.

$659 for a shared room or to camp
$100 additional fee for a single room
$50 additional fee for a large bell tent
$300 deposit due upon registration to secure a spot.
Blance of payment is due by July 19, 2026.
Scholarships are available.

Registration opens on April 1, 2026. Please register by July 9, 2026.

To Register and for additional details, please visit the retreat's webpage.

Direct questions to Renate, the retreat manager:
Email [email protected]
Phone 775-233-5878

Kind Awareness and Insight:
A Residential Meditation Retreat
with Vance Pryor

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 3:00 p.m.
to
Sunday, November 1, 2026 12:00 p.m.

Camp Galilee
Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe
This silent retreat weaves together insight meditation and the cultivation of kindness, drawing on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as a living framework for practice. Participants are invited to explore how clear awareness, when infused with goodwill, allows us to relate more skillfully to both ease and difficulty. Through sustained silence and careful attention, the mind gradually steadies, revealing a natural wisdom that supports balance, resilience, and contentment.

The schedule includes guided, sitting, and walking meditation; talks; and practice discussions to support integration and reflection. This retreat is open to practitioners of all levels, from those new to meditation to those with extensive retreat experience.

Vance Pryor has practiced insight meditation since 1999 in both the United States and Myanmar. He has been influenced by the teachings of Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. He is a graduate of The Insight Meditation Society's 2017-2021 Teacher Training Program.

The cost of the retreat is $500.00, which includes a double/triple occupancy room and three meals per day. A $250.00 deposit at the time of registration reserves your place. Space is limited, so register early.

The Location:
Camp Galilee Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center
1776 Hwy 50
Glenbrook, NV 89413

Please visit the retreat's webpage for complete information, including schalarship opportunities.

Inquires can be sent to the retreat manager: Susan Sara Priest at [email protected]