Over the 2025-2026 New Year’s holiday, Pārāyana Vihāra carried on the tradition of the Saranāloka New Year Retreat in Applegate, California under the theme “An Invitation to Simplicity and Letting Go.” For 14 years, the retreat has offered the opportunity for practitioners to come together as a community and support each other in letting go of the past and opening to whatever the new year may bring.
About 60 yogis participated, including both newcomers and long-time students of Ayya Anandabodhi. Ayya gave beautiful teachings on key Buddhist teachings like the three characteristics of conditioned phenomena, five hindrances to concentration, and seven enlightenment factors. She also gave instruction on meditation practices such as the four establishments of mindfulness and the four heavenly abodes of loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity.
The week-long retreat was held in noble silence and included sitting and walking meditation, daily Dhamma teachings, and morning and evening chanting. Everyone had the opportunity to participate in group practice discussions with Ayya Anandabodhi along with Q&A.
Skilled yoga teacher Corina Stoicescu also offered daily yoga sessions that were extremely well-attended. On New Year’s Eve, everyone gathered around the fireplace in Redwood Lodge to join in spiritual chanting, release past regrets, and set intentions for the new year.
Per tradition, this retreat was made possible by last year’s participants paying it forward. Generous offerings from this year’s participants make it possible to hold another New Year Retreat for 2027!
