Where
Garrison Institute
Phone: (845) 424-4800
14 Marys Way
Route 9D
Garrison, NY
10524
Website
Led by Chodo Robert Campbell Sensei, Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei & Pamela Ayo Yetunde, with visiting teachers & friends Dan Harris, and Dr. Bianca Harris and others.
The annual Contemplative Care Retreat is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with yourself, with others.
Rooted in Zen teachings and the Bodhisattva path, this retreat offers a space to deepen your meditation practice,engage in meaningful dialogue, and cultivate compassionate presence in all aspects of life. The practice of contemplative care offers an exploration of relationship, courage, and connection—a way of meeting ourselves and each other with openness and kindness.
Together, we will reflect on how to nurture resilience, awaken to the fullness of our experience, and serve with greater wisdom and compassion.
What to Expect
Through meditation, dharma talks, experiential learning exercises, personal meetings with teachers, shared meals, periods of noble silence, and more, we will create a space of practice, rest, and renewal.
Who is this Retreat For?
This annual retreat is open to all, whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner seeking to refresh your practice! We welcome anyone who wishes to explore the intersection of contemplative practice and compassionate care.
For alumni of our Foundations in Contemplative Care program or our Contemplative Medicine Fellowship, this retreat serves as an annual reunion—an opportunity to reconnect, meet other practitioners, and nourish your practice within a like-minded community.
Join us for this transformative retreat, where we will cultivate presence, deepen our care, and walk the path of practice, together.
20 Continuing Education Credits (CEs) for Social Workers are available for this retreat. There is a $25 certificate fee for CEs. Please be sure to add this to your registration if you'd like to receive CEs for this retreat. You will also be required to complete an evaluation form after the retreat in order to receive CEs.
NYZC is an approved provider of SW CEs through the NYSED State Board for Social Work. If you are licensed outside of New York State, please check with your local SW Board to make sure they'll accept these CEs.
HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
Please review and complete the required questionnaire and waiver found here. Registrations are not considered finalized until this form has been completed.
SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of partial scholarships are available for this retreat. Scholarship accommodations are for shared (double or triple) rooms only. Please apply for support by completing a Scholarship Application Form. Due to limited funds, preference will be given to sangha members who regularly participate at the Center. Priority deadline: August 15, 2025.
GETTING THERE
The Garrison Institute is reachable by car or Metro North Railroad. There is also a Shortline Bus to Poughkeepsie, which is 30 minutes from the Garrison Institute. For further information, please see this Travel and Transportation pdf on the Garrison website.
Please anticipate an arrival time between 3:00pm and 4:00pm, with dinner at 5:00pm. Please check your registration confirmation email for more information on what to bring.
RETREAT ACCOMMODATIONS
Rooms are located on the second, third, and fourth floors. There are two spacious communal bathrooms on each residential floor. There is no elevator.
REFUND POLICY
More than 2 weeks ahead of the retreat - 50% refund. Within the two weeks prior to the start of the retreat - non-refundable.
All prices include tuition, lodging, and three vegetarian meals a day. Supporter and Benefactor Level pricing are available for those who wish to increase their support of NYZC and our work to make the dharma accessible to all.
DONATIONS
Donations (dana) to teachers are not included in registration cost. Dana is a foundational practice that emphasizes the importance of cultivating generosity without attachment or expectation of reward. In the Soto Zen teachings, we practice the act of giving not for benefit but to transform the mind of the giver and receiver equally.
The teachers offer themselves freely as an expression of dana. We encourage you to contribute an amount meaningful to you at the end of the retreat.
COVID-19 POLICY
It is the Garrison Institute's policy that every guest and participant must self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site, and bring a second self-test kit when coming on site. They do not require proof of a negative test result. If you have a positive test result, please notify us immediately at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please see their Safety Protocols for Covid-19 page for more information.
The Garrison Institute will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by local officials, NYS, and the CDC.
RETREAT TEACHERS
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NYZC Co-Founder, Vice President, & Guiding Teacher Chodo Robert Campbell Sensei is a Zen teacher, bereavement specialist, grief counselor and a recognized leader for those suffering with the complexities of death & dying, aging, and sobriety. The educational non-profit he co-founded, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, touches thousands of lives every year through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices. Chodo has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning and other media outlets. |
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NYZC Co-Founder, President & Guiding Teacher Koshin Paley Ellison is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, leader in contemplative care, and co-founder of an educational non-profit called the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. His books, grounded in Buddhist wisdom and practice, have gained national attention. Through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices, the New York Zen Center touches thousands of lives every year. Koshin has appeared on dozens of podcasts and his work has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning and other media outlets. He is the author of Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, and Compassion (Balance/Hachette, 2022); Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up (Wisdom Publications, 2019). And the co-editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care (Wisdom Publications, 2016). |
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Event Registration
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Single Room - Benefactor Level | $1,640.00 |
| Single Room - Supporter Level | $1,540.00 |
| Single Room - Standard Pricing (Actual Cost) | $1,440.00 |
| Double Room - Benefactor Level | $1,390.00 |
| Double Room - Supporter Level | $1,240.00 |
| Double Room - Standard Pricing (Actual Cost) | $1,140.00 |
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Triple Room - Benefactor Level
Note: Triple rooms are located on the 4th floor. There is no elevator.
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$1,210.00 |
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Triple Room - Supporter Level
Note: Triple rooms are located on the 4th floor. There is no elevator.
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$1,060.00 |
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Triple Room - Standard Pricing (Actual Cost)
Note: Triple rooms are located on the 4th floor. There is no elevator.
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$960.00 |
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Continuing Education Credit (CE) Additional Fee
This is an additional fee so that you can receive CE credits. Please be sure to add this to your registration if you'd like to receive CEs for this retreat.
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$25.00 |
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