RETREATING IN TOTAL

darkness

... is a common practice for many of the ancient spiritual traditions from around the world.

Their dark rooms have appeared in many different forms — from the pyramids for the ancient Egyptians, to the catacombs for the ancient Romans and the caves for the Kogi Mamos in Colombia along with the lamas, monks, adepts and sincere practitioners throughout India, Tibet, China and other parts of the world.

dzogchen

THE GREAT PERFECTION

Dzogchen practitioners spend years in preliminary and regenerative stage practices before even entering into dark retreat. This also holds true for many ancient and traditional taoist and hindu practitioners.

THE KOGI MAMOS OF

colombia

... the highly respected tribal priests of the Kogis are taken from birth and put in a cave for the first 9 years of their lives to undergo strict training and discipline to assume this role.

Elder Mamos, along with their birth mother, care for, train and teach the child. In India, dark retreat is often times coupled with Kaya Kalpa retreats for very advanced practitioners. Kaya Kalpa is a specialized field highly revered within the Ayurveda and Siddha medical systems for regenerating the body. It is traditionally done alone in darkness along with the application of various herbal concoctions.

blessings

BENEFITS &

MOVING BEYOND ALL CULTURAL & SPIRITUAL OVERLAYS - SIMPLY RESTING INTO THAT WHICH REMAINS.

When we enter into the darkness - we see our confusion more clearly - and we slowly begin to feel what matters most. We touch a profound freedom as we simply soften into the vast timeless space that enfolds us.

"No practices are even necessary

for this quest"

- Ramana Maharshi

The darkness invites us into a core-splitting honesty where we are moved beyond our constant posturing.

As we let go of our ongoing attempts to control our world, and even our subtle ways of controlling our inner-world, we begin to simply rest exactly as we are.

Come As You Are

In our attempt to demystify dark retreats, we want to share links, videos, podcasts and as many resources as we can.

Check out these beautiful stories shared by dark retreatants who have emerged from Darkness back into the world of form.

go deeper

" Let come what comes, let go what goes,

see what remains "