Forest Sadhana with Sitaram Dass
March 22–27, 2026 (by application only)
Forest Sadhana is a deep, week-long silent retreat designed for those who wish to deepen their sadhana and awaken the heart through the path of Grace. Rooted in the timeless practice of Loving Awareness, this retreat is a collaboration between the Sacred Community Project and Just Love Forest and is offered by application to support sincere seekers ready for immersive practice.
This retreat invites you into the ancient forest as both sanctuary and teacher, where the core practice of Loving Awareness becomes a lived experience. The season begins with structured group practice each day, including mantra, meditation, guided ritual, and contemplative sessions, all held with an atmosphere of presence and devotion. Participants will move together in shared practice each morning, rest in the silence of the land, and carry the invitation of stillness into their own inner field of awareness.
After the initial days of shared practice, we transition into the heart of Forest Sadhana, days of contemplative silence, solo wilderness immersion, and simple living outdoors. Within this rhythm of solitude and collective presence, the forest itself becomes a teacher and companion to your practice. The retreat offers both guided group mornings and spacious pause for personal reflection, expanding your capacity to rest in open awareness.
Forest Sadhana is guided by Sitaram Dass, meditation teacher, spiritual counselor, kirtan singer, author, and director of the Sacred Community Project. Sitaram walked with and cared for Ram Dass and brings a depth of insight rooted in experience, devotion, and warmth. Through chant, meditation, and embodied inquiry, he supports participants in exploring Loving Awareness as a living path of presence and heart awakening.
This retreat honors the ancient tradition of forest sadhana - the practice of retreating into nature to listen deeply, slow the mind, and open the heart. Within the quiet embrace of Just Love Forest’s wild landscape, we engage contemplative practice in a way that meets the needs of seekers today.
Forest Sadhana is offered on an application-only basis, both to ensure a supportive container for the depth of practice and to hold space for each participant’s readiness and intention. If you feel called to enter deeper silence, devotion, and Loving Awareness alongside a community of fellow practitioners, this week-long immersion is a rare opportunity to rest in presence and return more whole, attuned, and devoted.
Attendees of the forest sadhana must also attend the Loving Awareness retreat.
Learn more about the inspiration for this practice and apply here: