Registration opens Friday, May 8, 2026 at 6:00 pm ET.
The Nature of Practice: An Awareness and Wisdom Insight Meditation Retreat
Join us for a four-night residential insight meditation retreat at Appalachian Mountain Club’s Medawisla Lodge and Cabins in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness.
Teachers: Susa Talan and Chas DiCapua, Open Door Meditation Teachers
When: Thursday, September 3 at 2:00 pm - Sunday, September 7, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Where: AMC’s Medawisla Lodge and Cabins on the Medawisla Access Road, one hour beyond Greenville, ME (directions)
This four-night retreat will support attendees’ exploration of awareness and the development of wisdom through the practice of insight meditation in daily life in a natural setting. In addition to daily dharma talks and formal practice, there will be ample opportunity to practice outdoors by taking advantage of the beautiful lake and surrounding forest. This retreat will be appropriate for meditators of all experience levels. Click here for a sample schedule.
Teachers
Susa Talan, co-founder of Open Door, and Chas DiCapua, Open Door’s Guiding Teacher, have extensive experience as insight meditation practitioners and teachers. We are excited to have the opportunity to practice with them this year. For more information about Susa, click here, and for Chas, click here.
Location
The retreat will take place at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Medawisla Lodge and Cabins in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness, an awe-inspiring setting with comfortable accommodations and delicious, healthful meals. AMC has a long-standing commitment to sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. The main lodge, where our sangha will gather to practice and to enjoy our meals, is solar-powered. In addition, Medawisla (Abanaki for loon) is located on land that has been designated an International Dark Sky Park and is one of the best places for stargazing in the region. Finally, the lodge is accessible by car on a graded dirt road. There is no need to walk or backpack in.
Housing Options
Lodging choices include the following: Bath in Cabin, which indicates a hilltop cabin with bathroom, located on the same level as the lodge; Bathhouse Cabin, which indicates a meadow cabin near the waterfront with a shared bathhouse, located a short walk downhill from the lodge; and Bunkhouse, one by the hilltop cabins and the other by the meadow cabins, both of which use shared bath facilities. Note that most of the accommodations are shared, with a limited number of private rooms available. For more information about housing options and prices, click here. For a map showing the locations of the cabins, click here.
Recreational Opportunities
There will be periods of time each day for practicing awareness and meditation in nature. Attendees are welcome to bring paddleboards, windsurfers, kayaks, gravel or mountain bikes, swimsuits, wetsuits, fishing rods, etc. Hiking boots and hiking poles are recommended given uneven trail surfaces. A complete checklist of recommended clothing and gear, as well as maps of the surrounding area, will be provided in the summer mailing.
Dana
A foundational Buddhist practice is dana or generosity. Susa and Chas will offer their teaching as a gift to us. We can show our gratitude by offering dana to them. For more information about offering dana for this retreat, click here.
Scholarships
Open Door is committed to providing equitable access and opportunities for those who otherwise could not attend due to their financial situations. Varying levels of support are available. For more information about available retreat scholarships, click here.
Health/Infectious Disease Policy
Because our aim is to provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone, all attendees will be asked to read and agree to the Health/Infectious Disease Policy.
Cancellation Policy
All attendees will be asked to read and agree to the Cancellation Policy.
Questions: Contact us at residentialretreatopendoor@gmail.com.