Calendar & Practice
Sati Practice Calendar 2026
Spring Retreat: The Earth, Our Great Body
We are the story the universe needs to tell. We hear our story in the crashing waves, the rising moon, the wind in the trees. Listening deeply, the whole Earth listens. This is our story.
March 26-29, 2026 at Camp Indianola on the Kitsap Peninsula
We invite you to join Mountain Lamp Community for our spring retreat at beautiful Camp Indianola. We are honored to have the retreat co-led by Dharmacharyas Eileen Kiera and Greg Grallo. Let us joyfully come together, and inspired by the beauty of the Salish Sea, inquire into our true nature and the nature of all that is.
Eileen Kiera is an ecologist by training and a vegetable gardener by passion, but her primary focus has been the support of lay Dharma practice in the Pacific Northwest. She studied with Robert Aitken, Roshi as well as the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh. She received Lamp Transmission as a Dharmacharya in 1990 from Thich Nhat Hanh and spent the succeeding 32 years teaching the Dharma to students in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Canada and Australia.
Greg Grallo received Lamp Transmission as a Dharmacharya in 2018 in Plum Village with his spouse and two children serving as his attendants. He lives in Missoula, MT and has practiced with Open Way Sangha since 1999. Greg has served as a chaplain with hospice and currently with Providence St. Patrick Hospital since 2009, having completed Upaya Zen Center’s Chaplaincy Training Program. He also serves families and organizations in conflict resolution with Foundational Dialogues, LLC.
Throughout this silent retreat, we practice bringing our bodies and minds together in awareness. We learn forms that support us in staying present to each unfolding moment, whether sitting, walking, eating, or working. Cradled by the Earth and community, we open our hearts to this beautiful world that is ourselves.
Accommodations: We are staying in Camp Indianola’s Driftwood Lodge with separate dorm rooms for women and men. All meals are provided. Meals are vegetarian and include gluten-free options.
Retreat Fee: We offer two options. Select the level most appropriate for your personal situation. If paying by PayPal, we include their fee in the retreat cost. Payment accepted in US Dollars only.
Regular cost: $440 by check ($450 by PayPal) Generosity tier: $550 (check or PayPal)
To register, follow these steps:
1. Fill out the registration form.
2. Mail a check made out to Mountain Lamp Community to:
22238 Criddle Lane, Mount Vernon, WA 98274.
Or, if paying by PayPal, add Mountain Lamp Community as a payee and send retreat fee including a note that payment is for the spring 2026 retreat.
Your registration is not complete until you are contacted by the retreat registrar.
Space is limited. Registration closes on Friday March 13th or until capacity is reached.
Cancellation policy: Cancellations received before March 6th will be granted a full refund. In general there are no refunds after March 6th. However, we will provide a refund if we are able to fill your spot.
Please contact wanderingmountain@yahoo.com for more information.
Monthly Quiet Days of Practice
Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm on Whidbey Island
Upcoming Dates: January 18th, February 15th
All are welcome – no experience is necessary.
A Quiet Day is an invitation to simply be present with all that is, resting deeply in each moment. On Quiet Days, we practice sitting and walking meditation, a formal meal at mid-day, and outdoor walking meditation. We end our day together with a guided relaxation or qi gong practice, and a reading of sutras or precepts. Please bring a vegetarian sack lunch.
There is no cost for the day. As is tradition, there will be an opportunity to give Dana.
If you’re interested in attending, please contact wanderingmountain@yahoo.com.
Diamond Sangha Practice 2025
Retreat / Intensive
| Dates | Retreat | Type | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2-9 | Twining Weeds Sesshin with Lee Shields | In-Person | Three Treasures Sangha |
| April 23-27 | Diamond Sangha Teacher Circle meeting at Ring of Bone in California | ml-info@mountainlamp.org | |
| May 7-11 | Zen Center of Spokane Retreat | In-Person & Zoom | Zen Center of Spokane |
| July 10-13 | Wren Ridge Retreat | In-Person | Julian Byrd (byrdjulianbyrd@gmail.com) |
| Sept. 18-21 | Midnight Sun Retreat | Zoom | ml-info@mountainlamp.org |
| Late October | Zen Center of Spokane Retreat | In-Person & Zoom | Zen Center of Spokane |
| Nov. 29 – Dec. 7 | Winter Bones Retreat | Zoom | ml-info@mountainlamp.org |
Zazenkai
| Dates | Description | Schedule | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Saturday of the Month | Hybrid – Zazen, Teisho and Dokusan | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Hosted by Spokane Zen Center Hal Rowe (halrowe@msn.com) |
| Second Saturday of the Month in Bellingham | In-Person – Zazen, Teisho and Dokusan | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | ml-info@mountainlamp.org |
| Monthly Sunday Zazenkai in Bellingham | In-Person – Zazen, Teisho and Dokusan | TBA | Lisa Kieran (lisa.s.kieran@gmail.com) |