A colored illustration of Lord Murugan, a Hindu deity, with a garden of flowers and leaves around him, and a sun in the background.

May 24 - 27, 2024

A devotional nature retreat created in friendship between the satsangs of The Sacred Community Project and Just Love Forest

Sacred Community Retreat

Awakening the Heart through the Path of Grace

An inter-spiritual retreat rooted in the lineage of Ram Dass and Neem Karoli Baba and centering the teachings of Bhakti Yoga and Buddhism. 


Anchored with mantra, meditation, and ritual, the core practice of this retreat is Sacred Community. We practice seeing the Divine everywhere—in nature, in each other, and in ourselves—and we act in reverence to this Truth. In this way, we help each other awaken from separation and into the heart of Love.

A group of people gathered outdoors, sitting on the grass and stone steps, participating in a communal activity, possibly a spiritual or meditation session. They are holding papers and one person appears to be leading the session, with a lush green background, a greenhouse, and trees.

PRACTICE

Who we are is deeper than our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, or social roles. These are like clouds happening within the sky of our Awareness. As we awaken to this, we learn that this Awareness is not isolated to our own mind. It is the fabric of Reality and the Relational Web that connects us. Ram Dass called this Loving-Awareness. As Pavan Das says, “Just as sunlight is warm, our Awareness is naturally loving.”

By gathering in Satsang (spiritual community) and engaging in sadhana (practice), we gain Darshan (vision) and behold this Love everywhere.

  • A small brass bowl with a slightly tarnished finish rests on a purple, gold, and cream fabric, with a wooden pestle partially inside the bowl. In the background, there is a blurred bookshelf filled with colorful books.

    Meditation

    Each morning starts with guided meditation. We practice letting go of clinging in the mind, so we can return to Loving-Awareness.

  • A wooden piano with a beaded rosary draped over the keys, in a room filled with various decorations, furniture, and picture frames.

    kirtan

    Each night ends with kirtan from experienced chant leaders. Kirtan is the practice of chanting the Holy Names— ancient Sanskrit mantras that reveal Loving-Awareness.

  • A small lit candle on a brass tray, with flowers and decorative objects on a table, including a white seashell, red flowers, and a small sculpture.

    Ritual

    Puja is woven throughout each day, and it is a prayer made with the entire body, mind, and senses. It is an honoring of the Love within, and it awakens Bhav (the devotional mood) and connects us to community.

  • A cozy living room with a wooden ceiling, large windows, and natural sunlight. There are bookshelves filled with books, a purple armchair, a dark gray recliner, a small table with a lamp, and various plants and decorations, including a Buddha statue, framed photos, and colorful prayer flags hanging. The foreground shows a table with a fabric covering and the word 'LOVE' spelled out with a flower garland, surrounded by white flowers.

    Teachings

    Our teacher, Ram Dass, honored all paths and had a special affinity for both Bhakti (devotional yoga) and Buddhism. Authentic teachings will be offered as a way to ground our experience in something deep, meaningful, and rooted in lineage.

  • A group of nine people sitting and standing in front of colorful Hindu shrines with small statues and bell, outdoors on a sunny day.

    COMMUNITY

    Sacred Community is “Loving-Awareness practiced together,” and it is rooted in the truth of Interdependence. Both the practice and the reward, we actualize Sacred Community through intention-setting, small group reflections, and shared meals.

Details & Registration

Friday, May 24th - Monday, May 27th, 2024 (Memorial Day weekend)

In line with SCP values, this is a sliding-scale retreat with scholarship and work-trade options available for those in need. The base price is the minimum amount needed for the retreat to operate, and it includes food and lodging. As an act of generosity and trust, we ask everyone to pay the highest amount that they are able to afford.

All teachers, presenters, and staff are offering their services on a Dana (donation) basis. There will be an opportunity at the end of the retreat to make a financial offering.

In this way, this is more than a retreat; it is an exercise in Sacred Community.

SLIDING SCALE pricing

Pricing includes delicious vegan meals: Friday Dinner, Saturday and Sunday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and Monday Breakfast and Lunch. No cancellations.

Self Camping
Bring your own tent and sleeping gear
$325 - $525

Register for Self Camping

Double Occupancy Hosted Stay
Queen or twin mattress in one of our Canvas Bell tents
$600 - $900

Register for Double Occupancy

Single Occupancy Hosted Stay
Queen mattress in one of our Canvas Bell tents
$1,000 - $1,300

Register for Single Occupancy

Extend Your Stay in the Forest

Dive deeper into the forest experience by arriving early or staying an extra day with us. Embrace the spirit of sacred seva (service) by joining us for special days dedicated to earth building, as we put the finishing touches on our communal adobe earth sauna. This is a unique opportunity to contribute, learn, and connect with nature and fellow participants in a meaningful way.

  • Early Arrival: Consider arriving on Thursday or Friday to be part of this enriching experience.

  • Extended Departure: Alternatively, unwind a little longer by departing on Tuesday by noon, instead of Monday.

  • Contribution: There is an additional contribution of $125 for each day you choose to extend your stay (Thursday, Friday, or Monday). The contribution includes basic meals.

  • Registration: Please indicate your preference for extra days in the drop-down on your registration form. We will follow up with you to discuss the details.

Expect engaging, communal days with your hands in the earth and your heart open to meeting wonderful souls. This is not just about building structures, but about building connections and learning valuable skills. Discover more about our earth building practices and the philosophy behind them at www.calearth.org.

Join us for these extra days, and make the most of your journey in the forest!

Financial accessibility

We always want these gatherings to be as financially accessible as possible. If you would like to be considered to serve as part of our volunteer and support teams for a reduction in fees, please contact us.

Get in touch

Community Presenters

  • A man with long, wavy hair and a beard smiling outdoors in a park with blurred greenery in the background.

    Sitaram Dass

    Sitaram Dass (he/him) spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti, the yoga of service and devotion to God. He is a published author, teacher, kirtan singer, therapist, and lover of God. As the director of the Sacred Community Project, he works to provide affordable, free, and donation-based offerings as a praxis of Sacred Community. His new book, From and for God, is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path. Learn more at sitaramdass.com

  • A man with a beard and short hair smiling outdoors in front of green and red foliage.

    Pavan Das

    Pavan Das (he/him) is a community organizer, multi-media artist, and nonprofit leader. He resides on Maui, where he serves on the board of Hanuman Maui: Ram Dass Loving Awareness Sanctuary. His time with spiritual luminaries like Ram Dass and Thich Nhat Hanh informs his commitment to cultivating a lived spirituality through which to effect social change. His service projects aim to foster resilience and prosociality in individuals, groups and communities through the skillful application of contemplative and devotional practices. pavandas.com

  • A smiling man outdoors in a grassy field with trees and mountains in the background on a cloudy day.

    Bala

    Bala (he/him) is the founder & head steward of Just Love Forest. After a spiritual awakening in 2017, he met Ram Dass. His path ultimately lead him to create a 716 acre forest sanctuary for healing. He finds truth in nature. He’s a meditation teacher certified as part of Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Program of the University of California at Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. He’s also a forest therapy guide, certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Learn more at bala.love

  • A man with glasses and a patterned shirt leans on a tiny toy piano, smiling.

    zander

    zander cole (they/them) turns to unconditional love and eternal wisdom to guide them in their work at the intersection of spirituality, documentary film and liberatory movements. zander has led kirtan across the country, and accompanied seasoned wallahs, namely Devadas, Nina Rao, and Krishna Das, among others. zander works with the Sacred Community Project and is the host of the baby teeth podcast. They are in pre-production for an upcoming documentary film and look forward to releasing their first track soon!

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, glasses, and a patterned shirt smiling in a room with a large green plant in the background.

    Beverly

    Beverly (she/they) is here to make art and delight in God—in all their forms. Inspired and guided by Ram Dass’s teaching that “social action happens heart to heart to heart,” she is exploring how we connect hearts through art, conscious design, and service. Beverly is the art director of Sacred Community Project and is currently in a M.A. program for expressive arts therapy and mental health counseling. Some of her art and creations are shared at beverlyhsu.com.

  • Man with curly light brown hair and beard smiling outdoors, wearing a dark gray t-shirt with a green, blurred natural background.

    Hari Scott Whitmore

    Hari Scott Whitmore (he/him) began leading kirtan over ten years ago in Ram Dass’s living room, where he served as a personal caregiver. Over the years he has had the honor of accompanying many incredible kirtan wallahs including Krishna Das, Nina Rao, Devadas, and his bandmates in Kripa. During his time as the Director of Outreach for the Call and Response Foundation, he helped organize kirtans in prisons and recovery centers throughout the United States. This work is now carried out by the Sacred Community Project, of which Hari is a founding member. You can explore his musical offerings at kripa.guru.

about the forest

The 716 sacred acres of Just Love Forest offers a unique blend of natural beauty, spiritual exploration, and ecological consciousness, making it a perfect haven for those seeking a retreat that nourishes the soul, mind, and body in the lap of nature. It’s an ideal destination to gather in nature for this spiritual and devotional retreat. The forest is not just a backdrop but an active participant in the retreat experience, providing a unique form of therapy known as forest bathing. This practice, deeply rooted in the Japanese tradition of Shinrin Yoku, encourages participants to engage all their senses, immersing themselves in the natural environment. It has been scientifically shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, enhancing both emotional and mental wellbeing.

  • A tent illuminated with string lights inside, set in a forest at dusk, with two wooden chairs in front of the entrance.

    Your forest home awaits

  • A group of people seated in a circle inside a round, wooden yurt with a central open skylight. The interior features wooden walls, ceiling fans, and a colorful tapestry on the back wall with the phrase "You Are The Universe." A small altar with candles and statues is on a rug in the center of the floor.

    Our gathering yurt

  • A scenic view of a sunset over rolling hills and dense forest, with distant mountains on the horizon.

    716 acres of pristine nature

  • A group of people standing on grass in a wooded area, laughing and talking during an outdoor gathering or team-building activity.

    Satsang community

  • People sitting around a campfire at night in a wooded area, some playing drums and others chatting, with the moon and tall trees in the background.

    fireside kirtan

  • A man meditating on a wooden floor, wrapped in orange and green cloth, sitting in front of a colorful tapestry with a psychedelic pattern and the words 'You are the universe, you are all form' written on it.

    Meditation

Logo for Sacred Community Project featuring a circular chain made of blue and orange brush strokes with the text 'Sacred Community Project' in the center.

about the sacred community project

The Sacred Community Project is an interspiritual collective working to awaken Sacred Community in the world. Through the eternal teachings of “Love, Service, Remembrance, and Truth,” SCP lowers the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through affordable, free, and donation-based offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach.

EXPLORE 2023 Retreat content

MEDITATION

KIRTAN

A rock with white chalk writing, a small statue of a person, and the text 'Sacred Community Project' in the center.

A man with a beard and curly hair gesturing with his hands while sitting on grass with a group of people listening.

“I'm not interested in being a "lover." I'm interested in only being love.”

Ram Dass