GBF Spring Retreat — April 23-27, 2025

Deepening Your Practice:

Quieting Our Minds and Opening Our Hearts in Community

Description: In this four-night predominantly silent retreat we will sit and walk in meditation together, chant, eat, and be in connection with nature and each other. The emphasis will be on deepening our practice of mindfulness, lovingkindness, and wise action in relationship—with ourselves, each other, our community, and the wider world.

Taught by one of GBF’s favorite visiting teachers from the Insight Meditation tradition, Dr. Sean Oakes, we invite GBF members, friends, and queer, male-identified sangha* to join us for our spring retreat.

Held at the beautiful forest temple of Vajrapani Institute, the retreat will be in a relaxed Insight format, emphasizing silent meditation in stillness, walking, contemplative movement, eating, and throughout the activities of the day.

With significant time for questions and Dharma discussion, the retreat aims to support both beginners and experienced students to deepen their practice within a supportive spiritual community (sangha).

Retreat Information

The retreat is open to GBF members, friends, and queer male-identified applicants*.

Schedule: We gather on Wednesday, April 23 at 3pm and depart on Sunday, April 27 at 2pm.

Location: Vajrapani Institute (vajrapani.org) in the Santa Cruz Mountains, near Boulder Creek, CA

Teacher: Sean Feit Oakes, PhD

Accommodations

Various sleeping arrangements are available and listed on the registration form.

Meals

Vegetarian meals are provided as part of the event. Be prepared to bring supplemental food if you are concerned or have special dietary requirements.

Retreat Scholarship Fund

We offer scholarships to those who find the fee unaffordable. Please contact us prior to registering with the amount you can pay and a letter requesting a scholarship to cover the balance. Be specific about your particular situation and need for the scholarship. Contact gaybuddhistfellowship@gmail.com to request a scholarship or for any questions pertaining to the Scholarship Fund,

*GBF’s Fall Retreat (September 26-28, 2025) at Land of The Medicine Buddha will be open to the wider LGBTQIA+ identified community

Registration questions can be directed to Matthew Perifano at mjperifano@gmail.com

Registration for Spring Retreat

REGISTER HERE

Retreat Teacher

Sean Feit Oakes, PhD

Dr. Sean Oakes, PhD.

(he/him, queer, of Spanish/Puerto Rican and Northern European ancestry living on unceded Pomo land in California), teaches Buddhism, Yoga, and somatic practice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance, and focuses on the integration of philosophy, somatics, and social justice discourse with the Dharma. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and elsewhere.

Website: SeanFeitOakes.com