Opening the Heart
5 Oaks Easter Retreat
Thursday, March 25th to Sunday, March 28th 2027
With Gen Kelsang Chodor, National Spiritual Director for Canada & Resident Teacher, Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada in Toronto
What if the peace you’re looking for was closer than you think?
Set amidst nature and the peaceful surroundings of 5 Oaks Retreat Centre, just one hour from Toronto, this meditation retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life and experience the transformative power of meditation.
The theme of this retreat is “Opening the Heart” - exploring how we can develop greater compassion and wisdom through the traditional meditation practice of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion.
Through mantra recitation, visualization, and Tantric meditation, we will be guided through profound and inspiring meditations to open our hearts, deepen our compassion, and bring greater benefit to those around us.
What you will discover
By taking part in this retreat, you will learn how to:
Find inner peace by calming distractions and settling the mind.
Develop compassion and cultivate a deeper sense of empathy and connection with others.
Focus the mind through the practice of mantra recitation.
Explore Tantric meditation as a path to profound inner transformation.
Bring benefit to others through compassionate and healing actions.
Gain personal insight into the meaning and experience of enlightenment.
No meditation experience needed
Whether you are completely new to meditation or have an established practice, you are welcome. Everything will be explained clearly, including how to meditate and what to focus on in each session.
Each guided retreat session lasts approximately one hour, with breaks throughout the day and an extended period of rest after lunch, allowing you time to relax, reflect, and absorb the experience.
‘The benefits of engaging in the practice of Avalokiteshvara are immeasurable… we can first solve our own daily problems by controlling our desire, anger and ignorance, and then with this ability we can lead people throughout the world to the correct spiritual path through which they can find the real meaning of human life.’
— Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
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Five Oaks Retreat Centre
1 Bethel Rd, Paris, ON N3L 3E3
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THURSDAY, MARCH 25th
3:00 - 7:00 pm - Arrival & Registration
7:00 - 8:00pm - Supper
8:00 - 9:00 pm -Introduction & OrientationFRIDAY, MARCH 26th
Silence is observed until lunch and after supper
7:00 - 8:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am - Guided Retreat Session 1
9:00 - 10:00 am - Break
10:00 - 11:00 am - Guided Retreat Session 2
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Break
12:00 - 1:00 pm - Guided Retreat Session 3
1:00 - 4:00 pm - Lunch & Rest
4:00 - 5:00 pm - Guided Retreat Session 4
5:00 - 5:30 pm - Break
5:30 - 6:30 pm - Discussion & Q&A
6:30 - 8:00 pm - Supper
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Guided Retreat Session 5SATURDAY, MARCH 27th
Silence is observed until lunch and after supper
7:00 - 8:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am - Guided Retreat Session 6
9:00 - 10:00 am - Break
10:00 - 11:00 am - Guided Retreat Session 7
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Break
12:00 - 1:00 pm - Guided Retreat Session 8
1:00 - 4:00 pm - Lunch & Rest
4:00 - 5:00 pm - Guided Retreat Session 9
5:00 - 5:30 pm - Break
5:30 - 6:30 pm - Discussion & Q&A
6:30 - 8:00 pm - Supper
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Guided Retreat Session 10SUNDAY, MARCH 28
Silence is observed until 11:00 am
7:00 - 8:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am - Guided Retreat Session 11
9:00 - 10:00 am - Break
10:00 - 11:30 am - Guided Retreat Session 12 & Q&A -
GEN KELSANG CHODOR is the National Spiritual Director for Canada and our Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada in Toronto.
He has been ordained and has studied under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for more than twenty-two years.
He has taught extensively in both the UK and the US.
He is admired by students for his practical knowledge, warm presentations and authentic teachings, as well as his natural joy and sense of humour.
He is skilled at putting everyone at ease and helping them solve their problems and anxieties with practical Dharma advice.
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Your booking includes three meals on each day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Meals are included for retreatants staying both on-site and off-site.
You can choose vegetarian or vegan options when you book for yourself and anyone who is sharing your room.
Also, please let us know of any food allergies you may have when you book.