Dates: February 7 - March 7, 2026 (28 Days)
Location: Online
Teachers: Dana DePalma, Ying Chen, Alex Haley — and Phillip Moffitt for the first week of the retreat
Prerequisite: Two Nine Bodies Insight weeklong retreats
Practicing deeply for a month is bound to change you. The gifts of the Dharma naturally arise when we give ourselves to practice. As teachers, we feel moved to offer individualized 1:1 practice meetings and a supportive container for those who would like to dedicate the month as an immersive retreat practice period with at least 4 meditations a day.
The first Monthlong group meeting will take place before the Monthlong, to reflect on this opportunity, to prepare, and to connect as a group. We’ll begin the actual Monthlong with a 7-day Experienced Students’ Retreat, to get us established and open. We’ll then flow into a 21-day Flexible Practice Intensive, which includes 1-2 guided meditations per day, and practice support groups, and individual practice meetings. Each practitioner will have 6 individual practice meetings, 15 minutes each, approximately every 3 - 4 days. (In addition, Monthlong participants will have option of attending as many of the Flexible drop-in practice groups as they wish, and will also attend 3 cohort meetings during the Experienced Students’ Retreat.) We will close the program with a second group meeting, to take place after the Monthlong ends, to support wise reflection and receiving the gifts.
Some community members will take this Monthlong retreat fully in silence and enclosed; others will include some interaction. It’s okay if you have some life or work responsibilities that you would need to continue during this Monthlong retreat. As long as you are able to commit to 4 meditation sessions a day, it’s fine if you have other activities that you’ll be engaging with. As a teaching team, we have lots of experience with weaving together retreat and relational life, and will support you in navigating this!
This retreat is for practitioners already familiar with the Naturally Arising Practice Method, including Nine Bodies Insight and the primary characteristics of each Body and how to access them. Participants should also be familiar with Insight Meditation, including working with hindrances and directing and sustaining attention. The practices and teachings offered on this retreat will build from these foundations.
Here is a 10-minute video of Dana describing the Monthlong program in detail.
Our first online Monthlong retreat in 2025 revealed something remarkable: we can sustain a long arc of practice—a month!—from home in this sangha. We “road tested” this street of life practice method together and it performed beautifully! People entered with questions about whether a month of practice from home could really hold — and discovered for themselves that it could, experiencing changes that were both subtle and profound.
“I have a different sense of what is possible for me with practicing the Dharma. It feels more available to me and as something that I am worthy of being a part of.”
“[What was most valuable about the retreat was] the opportunity to practice in such a deep way while still needing to complete my householder responsibilities.”
From last year’s post-retreat survey, participants regularly referenced:
This year’s Monthlong will again combine an immersive retreat structure — at least 4 daily meditations, communal practice, and two 1:1 teacher meetings each week — with the flexibility of practicing where you live and on a schedule that works for you. It welcomes both those who have never done a Monthlong before (54% of last year's group) as well as those with previous long retreat experience.
“I think it has fundamentally changed something in me, that I’m not able to articulate as yet.”
“The guided meditations were just stellar. So supportive, I really don't have words. To know how deep the teachers are in the practice with us is so reassuring.”
Monthlongs have been a core part of my development, and it's deeply moving to offer this potent container again with Ying and Alex within our Dharma Ground community. If you feel drawn, I hope you will consider joining us.
— Dana
This program is offered in the Buddhist tradition of dāna, which means freely giving. For this retreat, donations to Dharma Ground and teachers are offered separately. The first donation opportunity is at the time of registration and goes to Dharma Ground, the nonprofit organization hosting this retreat. The second donation opportunity is at the end of the retreat and goes to the teachers. Finances need not be a barrier to participation. Any offering is gratefully accepted and is tax-deductible.
You can find the application here.
There are a few remaining spots. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at info@dharmaground.org. (The initial application window closed on September 21, 2025.)
Please contact us at info@dharmaground.org with any practical questions.
Dana is also available for 15-minute individual check-in meetings to discuss if this Monthlong program is a good fit for you at this time.
1) What if I have life or work responsibilities that I would need to continue during this month?
As long as you are able to commit to 4 meditation sessions a day, it’s fine if you have other activities that you’ll be engaging with. As a teaching team, we have lots of experience with weaving together retreat and relational life, and will support you in navigating this. You can choose a schedule that works best for you. Many folks like practicing all morning; others prefer pairing morning and evening as their routine.
2) What if I am interested in practicing for a month, but can’t commit to 4 meditation sessions a day?
The 4 meditation sessions a day is the commitment threshold for joining the Monthlong, however community members also have the option of signing up for the February weeklong Experienced Students’ Retreat and the following 21-day Flexible Practice Intensive without signing up for the Monthlong. Since guided meditations and practice support groups are all optional during the Flexible, this would be a more flexible option.
3) What if I am interested in this program, but have a conflict during this monthlong timeframe?
You are welcome to apply and let us know your details and we’ll respond on a case by case basis.
4) Which teachers will offer the individual practice meetings?
Dana, Ying, and Alex.
Group meeting — Friday, Jan 23, 1 - 2:15 pm PT or Saturday, Jan 24, 9 - 10:15 pm PT
Opening Night Schedule February 7 (Approximate)
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Welcome and Opening Session
Daily Schedule February 8 - 13 (Approximate)
6:00 a.m. Silent Meditation (Main Hall - Optional)
8:00 a.m. First Guided Meditation (Main Hall)
9:10 a.m. Walking/Movement Practice
9:45 a.m. Silent Meditation (Main Hall)
10:30 a.m. Walking/Movement Practice
11:00 a.m. Second Guided Meditation (Main Hall)
(Hall closes for a moment to process recordings)
12:00 p.m. Meal Break
12:30 p.m. Cohort Practice Meetings (for some groups) OR Walking/Movement Practice
1:30 p.m. Silent Meditation (Main Hall) + Affinity Groups - Alternating
2:00 p.m. Cohort Practice Meetings (for some groups) OR Walking/Movement Practice
2:30 p.m. Silent Meditation (Main Hall)
3:30 p.m. Walking/Movement Practice
4:15 p.m. Silent Meditation (Main Hall)
5:00 p.m. Moment of Silence & Practice Skills Talk (Main Hall)
5:20 p.m. Short Break
5:30 p.m. Evening Teaching Session (Main Hall)
following the teaching - Chanting Refuges (Main Hall)
(Hall closes for a moment to process recordings)
6:30 p.m. Continued personal practice (Optional)
7:00 p.m. Candlelight Silent Meditation (Optional)
8:30 p.m. Continued personal practice (Optional)
Guided meditations(~1 hr long, may include a short talk):
Silent meditations:
Individual practice meetings:
Drop-in group practice meetings:
Group meeting - more details to come; will be a 90-minute group meeting a couple of weeks after the retreat ends