“…in the footprint of the Buddha…”
Anapanasati / Concentration Retreat
With Marcia Rose
October 20 – 30, 2026
Hyperslow Retreat Center @ San Geronimo Lodge, Taos, NM
INTRODUCTION
This ten-day Anapanasati/Concentration retreat is for experienced Dhamma students (see prerequisites below.) Guidance will be offered for the development and nurturing of deep concentration leading towards Jhana in the lineage of Burmese meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw. There will also be some Metta practice guidance offered.
The retreat will be held in Noble Silence and will consist of alternate periods of sitting and walking, some guided sitting instructions, Dhamma Talks and every-other-day individual practice meetings. The small group size at Hermitage retreats (a maximum of 15 students) helps to create a more intimate experience and easier access to the teacher.
A scholarship fund has been established to offer financial aid to those who would otherwise not be able to attend.
Applications and deposits are requested by August 12, 2026. Late applications will be considered on a space available basis. All yogis will have a single room with private bath. Space is limited to 15 yogis so please apply early.
PREREQUISITES FOR THIS RETREAT
Practitioners must have sat a minimum of three week-long or ten-day retreats with a recognized Buddhist teacher and/or a longer period of intensive practice with a recognized teacher.
Details of the qualifying retreats, including teachers’ names, dates, location and length of the retreat, must be documented on the application form.
TEACHER
Marcia Rose is the founding and guiding teacher of The Mountain Hermitage and founding teacher of Taos Mountain Sangha. She has been studying and practicing Buddhist teachings and meditation with Asian and Western teachers since 1970, primarily in the Theravada-Vipassana (Path of the Elders) tradition. Her own teaching reflects a clear influence from the Burmese Mahasi Vipassana and Pa-Auk Forest Monastery lineages with authorization from Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw to teach Samatha, Jhana and Brahma Vihara practices. She has also studied and practiced in the Dzogchen Tibetan Buddhist tradition with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Marcia was resident teacher for staff at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, MA from 1991-1995. She also was one of the teachers for the annual three-month retreat at IMS for some years, as well as an occasional visiting teacher for shorter retreats at IMS and a regular visiting teacher at The Forest Refuge in Barre, MA. Marcia has taught Vipassana, Concentration, Brahma Vihara, and Creative Process retreats in various U.S. and international venues for over 35 years, and is dedicated to offering these ancient and timeless teachings in ways that make them accessible, authentic and relevant for contemporary culture.
Besides the teacher, the staff of this ten day Hermitage retreat will consist of a resident retreat manager (the point of contact in case of any difficulties) and a retreat cook. There will be three nutritious vegetarian meals per day. If you would like to adhere to Eight Precepts, you will be able to speak with the teacher about this at the retreat.
THE RETREAT FACILITY
Hyperslow Retreat @ San Geronimo Lodge (HSG), Taos, NM is situated among fruit trees along the banks of the Acequia Madres, and provides the privacy, quiet, and sense of harmony that is most conducive to intensive practice. There are beautiful indoor and outdoor areas suitable for sitting and walking meditation. It is situated at 7000 ft elevation on 2 1/2 acres of private naturally serene and beautiful land.
The Mountain Hermitage will have the exclusive us of HSG during this ten day retreat. Each room is spacious enough to allow for both sitting and walking meditation for those who wish to practice in a more secluded setting. The walking labyrinth is still there!
The meditation hall, bedrooms, walking spaces, dining room, and kitchen are all within one building. There is one wheelchair accessible bedroom with enough beds to allow for an attendant, if needed.
Information about transportation and what to bring will be sent to those accepted into the retreat in time for making travel arrangements and packing.
FEES
Fees are on a sliding scale to allow you to pay according to your means. Our actual cost for this ten day retreat per person is $1675. A portion of our scholarship fund is being allocated for this retreat to allow us to offer the low range on the sliding scale and to offer scholarships. Please pay as much as you are able, in order to allow others to attend who need to pay less. Any amount above $1675 will be gratefully received and treated as a tax-deductible donation.
Sliding Scale Fees:
$1475 (low) $1675 (actual cost) $1900 (benefactor)
If you need more scholarship support, some additional funds are available. Please fill out a scholarship application form and send it with your application form, specifying how much you feel you are able to pay. There is no fee for monastics.
The Mountain Hermitage will gratefully receive donations to our scholarship fund to enable those in financial need to attend this retreat. Donations are tax-deductible and should be marked ‘Scholarship Fund’.
USE OF FEES
Your fees for the retreat will be used to pay for: increased rental cost of the Lodge and attached expenses; other general retreat expenses; a retreat cook; a small stipend for the retreat manager; a small parsonage to the teacher to help cover ongoing home expenses for the duration of the retreat; teacher, cook, and manager transportation. As you well know, transportation and rental costs have increased over the past 6 years. We have done our best to keep the retreat fees as low as possible without jeopardizing our and our teachers’ financial health and well-being. Thank you for your understanding!
DANA
DANA, an ancient Pali word meaning generosity, giving, or gift, is central to the 2,600-year-old tradition of Buddhism. The teachings of the Buddha are held to be beyond any price and have been offered freely since the time of the Buddha. This retreat is offered in that same spirit.
The early teachers received no payment for their instruction. In Buddhist countries, traditionally, it has always been understood that the lay community, through their voluntary generosity (their dana), provide physical support – the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine – for the monks and nuns. In turn they were/are offered guidance and teachings in their own practice by this monastic sangha.
This practice of Dana has been a very significant pillar in keeping the Dhamma (teachings) alive. The generosity of the laity towards the practical support of the monastic community since ancient times, is what has kept the Dhamma spreading through the world. Western teachers have continued this tradition of offering the teachings freely. In our culture, where no real training exists in living generously, it is a new practice for us in both offering and receiving the Dhamma.
Dana is not only a practical matter; it also plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of a Dhamma practicioner. Generosity is the first of the ten paramis, or qualities of character, to be perfected in spiritual life. The very act of giving is of immeasurable benefit to the giver, for it opens the heart, lessens self-absorption, and serves the well-being of others.
The Mountain Hermitage fees for this retreat only cover basic expenses and operating costs. The teacher(s) offers the Buddha Dhamma without any set fee, and depend on the generosity of their students for the support of their daily life needs. Giving to the teacher, from the heart, whatever feels appropriate, is the practice of Dana. You may also wish to offer Dana to the staff, or to the Hermitage itself to support operating expenses and/or future scholarships.
MEAL DANA 
All Mountain Hermitage retreats offer participants an opportunity to offer Dana to specifically help cover the cost of meals during the retreat – for an entire day or for individual meals. The suggested amount for each of these will be posted at the retreat next to the Meal Dana basket on the Info table.
HOW TO MAKE AN OFFERING
At the end of the retreat, Dana envelopes will be provided. Cash or checks on US funds may be used. All Dana checks should be made out to The Mountain Hermitage. The Mountain Hermitage is a 501 (c)(3) tax-deductible charitable organization. All Dana offered to The Mountain Hermitage for use in supporting the teacher, scholarships & general expenses are tax deductible. Donations offered to staff are not tax-deductible. If you would like to offer Dana by credit card, please ask the Retreat Manager for more information during the retreat. Or ask Kathy at hermitage@mountainhermitage.org
DEPOSIT
Please send your deposit with your application. The deposit is: $800.
If you cancel on or after August 13, 2026, your deposit will be non-refundable. Please consider carefully if you are fully committed to sitting this retreat.
The deposit will not be banked until your registration is confirmed and will be applied to the total fee for those accepted to attend. The deposit will be returned in full to those not accepted, or to those who are on a waiting list at the time that the retreat begins.
If you would like to pay your deposit and balance by credit card, please contact Kathy hermitage@mountainhermitage.org.
PAYMENTS 
The full deposit must accompany your application, even if you are requesting scholarship funds. No monies will be banked until you are accepted on the retreat. The balance of the retreat fee is due when you arrive for the retreat, or you can pay the balance to us in advance. If possible, we appreciate you paying the full fee (deposit plus balance) at the time of application or on acceptance, as this improves our efficiency. However this is not necessary.
Please pay by check or money order in US funds, drawn on a US bank. We cannot accept foreign cash or bank drafts, but we can accept international money orders in US dollars. If you would like to pay by credit card, please contact Kathy at hermitage@mountainhermitage.org.
Checks/money orders should be made payable to THE MOUNTAIN HERMITAGE.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation fees apply to all confirmed registrations.
Cancellations received on or before August 12, 2026: your deposit will be returned minus a $25 cancellation fee.
Cancellations received on or after August 13, 2026, including non-attendance at the retreat: your deposit cannot be refunded. If you have already paid the balance, then that balance will be refunded minus the $800 deposit.
CANCELLATION FEES WILL BE APPLIED TO THE MOUNTAIN HERMITAGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND (after the cost of the retreat is covered).
In the event of specific, unusual emergency circumstances, the cancellation policy can be discussed with The Mountain Hermitage Office Manager after the retreat is concluded. If you attend the retreat but for some reason decide on your own to leave early, the deposit and balance you have paid cannot be refunded to you.
APPLICATION
Anyone interested in attending the retreat must have read this document. Then, complete the Application Form and Waiver of Liability, attach your deposit, and mail to: The Mountain Hermitage, PO Box 807, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557.
Applications, liability forms, and deposits are requested by August 12, 2026. Late applications will be considered on a space available basis.
Incomplete registrations, including those without sufficient deposit, will be returned for completion.
Each application will be carefully reviewed. In some cases, a personal or phone interview will be conducted with the teacher prior to determination of suitability for this type of practice. All applications are processed by date received. We will respond within two weeks from receipt of your application.
If your application is not accepted for this retreat, your deposit will be returned.
WAIT LIST
Places are limited to 15 practitioners, so early application is advised. Once the retreat is full, you will be notified and placed on a wait list, and we will contact you if a place opens up. If it does not, then your deposit will be returned.
If you are placed on the wait list and you then cancel your registration before a space has become available, your deposit will be returned.
If you are placed on a wait list and are unable to attend the retreat, please let us know immediately. As long as your name remains on a list, we assume you wish to attend. If a space becomes available, we will automatically confirm your registration. Once you are confirmed for a retreat, you are liable for applicable cancellation fees if you subsequently cancel.
