The verdant green heartlands of Massachusetts surely make it a great place for a tranquil retreat! The state capital Boston is renowned as a historical, cultural, and educational centre offering plenty of attractions such as the Freedom Trail and Fenway Park.
The state is known for its fall foliage experience, whale-watching voyages, winery tours, and gorgeous beach towns such as Martha’s Vineyard. Beautiful lakes and amazing monasteries, add to its meditative charm.
If you are looking to spend some time recharging yourself, continue reading for the best meditation retreats in Massachusetts, USA.
Travel advisory
If you’re heading to Massachusetts in the winter, make sure to keep yourself updated on the weather to avoid getting bogged down by winter storms. According to the Times of India, an arctic storm in December 2024 stumped road and air travel in Massachusetts and nearby areas!
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1. Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center, Barre
Insight Meditation Society offers a range of retreats that are based on two kinds of Buddhist meditation practices - vipassana and metta. The centre has an all-year schedule of meditation courses. Shorter courses (ranging from weekends to three months) are offered at the Retreat Center while Forest Center is geared towards long-term retreats (minimum of a week and up to a year). With these schedules, I’m sure the centre will be perfect for beginners and advanced practitioners of mindfulness.
It also has a silent retreat in Massachusetts where participants can volunteer to serve as a part of the activity, where they work for five hours observing silent work-as-practice. All programs offer sliding scale pricing with three options.
What guests are saying about their experience:
“I have done 2 silent meditation retreats here in the last year, and have 2 more lined up in the next couple of months. The staff are nice, the food is high quality and plant-based, and the rooms are simple but nice. It is the preeminent meditation center, and I highly recommend coming here if you’re planning on doing a retreat.” - by Google reviewer, BayBeats831
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center
Address: 1230 Pleasant St, Barre, MA 01005, United States
2. Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, Cambridge
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center in Massachusetts offers classes, sessions, and workshops based on the Buddhist practice of Insight Meditation (vipassana). The centre hosts classes for beginners as well as practice sessions for more advanced practitioners with guidance from teachers.
Workshops and seminars are offered on various themes such as deepening meditation practice, gratitude and awareness. Weekly dharma talks by the centre’s teachers are also available.
What guests are saying about their experience:
“Meditation center with regularly scheduled free evening meditation sits. A whole calendar of other activities, but I primarily go to sit and meditate. Very crunchy granola vibes. Area inside to take your shoes off and a coat closet. Sometimes there’s tea after the meditations and everyone is invited to stay and chat over tea” - by Google reviewer, David Shank
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
Address: 331 Broadway, Cambridge MA
3. Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health offers a bevvy of courses across yoga, meditation, self-help and Ayurveda. Based on the teachings of its founder Swami Kripalu, the center has a mix of online and residential courses. In the case of retreats, participants can create their own program which could comprise a mix of yoga, outdoor activities, reflective workshops, meditation and movement classes.
Pricing varies depending on whether it’s a multi-week retreat, a weekend one, or a one-day session.
What guests are saying about their experience:
“Meditative hiking (silent on the way there and talking on the way back) with melodic sounds of the Boston Symphony Orchestra practicing in the distance, YogaDance, delicious & healthy cuisine, Conscious Communication class and kayaking with meditation on the water. It was just what my soul needed!” - by Google reviewer, Claire Johnson
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Address: 57 Interlaken Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262
4. Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston, Brookline
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This Sunday February 2nd JOIN US for Full day Nyinthun: Feminine Principle with a video talk by Acharya Judith...
Posted by Shambhala Boston on Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston has been running for over 45 years and conducts public meditation programs while teaching the learnings of Shambhala lineage. You can enrol in Learn to Meditate, organised every first Sunday of the month. Here, you will learn about meditation, its techniques, and how to create and follow mindfulness practice under the guidance of an experienced trainer. The one-hour session is free and suitable for all types of meditators.
The centre also features two halls to practice meditation, tai chi, and yoga. It seems to me like the perfect place to learn about various cultures as well!
What guests are saying about their experience:
“We went to family meditation and had a wonderful time. I was able to meditate and have adult discussion and my son says “we had so so so so so so so so so so much fun!”” - by Google reviewer, India Clark
Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston
Address: 646 Brookline Avenue Brookline, MA 02445 United States
5. Kadampa Meditation Center Boston, Cambridge
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Kadampa Meditation Center Boston offers various informative classes to teach different meditation techniques and the teachings of Lord Buddha.
You can enrol in one of the many classes organised here to take a leaf out of Buddha’s teachings and break free from old patterns and habits with guided meditation. This is followed by a question and answer session. The charges are usually 15 USD per class and free for members. Moreover, they also organise workshops twice a month and retreats in January. I’d suggest making a holiday out of it to truly experience the tranquility.
What guests are saying about their experience:
“I’ve been coming here for almost two years, and love the community that they offer and continue to build. The teachings are practical and applicable to our modern daily busy lives and everyone is welcome. It is a growing center with space to do as much or as little as possible, depending on your preference.” - by Google reviewer, Henna Ahuja
Kadampa Meditation Center Boston
Address: 2298 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140, United States
6. Genesis Spiritual Life Center, Westfield
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Saint Hildegard of Bingen planted many gardens to show God's wonderful creations. She wrote many songs to praise God's...
Posted by Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center on Tuesday, May 26, 2020
At Genesis Spiritual Life Center, participants can choose from different types of retreats such as guided retreats, silent retreats, silent BioSpiritual Focusing retreats and Retreat in Everyday Life. Retreats offer prayer sessions, one-on-one guidance with spiritual leaders as well as outdoor exercises, depending on the type of retreat. If you love nature, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it here with the wooded surroundings and lush grounds.
The centre also offers the option of solo and private retreats. Although it is not a spa resort, it still has a variety of therapies, such as yoga, massage therapy, and Reiki.
Genesis Spiritual Life Center
Address: 53 Mill St, Westfield, MA 01085, United States
7. Nine Mountain Retreats, Plainfield
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Nine Mountain Retreats on Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Nine Mountain Retreats is a community-led retreat centre located in the midst of the woods that hosts workshops and retreats on a wide range of themes including spirituality, creative workshops, healing practices and social change-related activities.
The centre also offers its space to groups wishing to hold their own retreats and provides necessary support to them. Seems to me like the perfect spot to organize that corporate mindfulness retreat!
Nine Mountain Retreats
Address: 9 Mountain St., Plainfield MA
8. Vipassana Meditation Center – Dhamma Dharā, Shelburne
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Dhamma Dharā on Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Dhamma Dharā is a Buddhist retreat in Massachusetts that offers a residential course based on the Buddhist meditation technique of vipassana. The method taught here is based on the teachings of S.N. Goenka and is completely non-sectarian.
The course is a rigorous one, lasting for ten full days and requires adhering to a code of discipline which requires among other things complete silence and abstinence from stimulants like alcohol. The course is free, with the option to donate if so desired at the end of the course.
What guests are saying about their experience:
“This is one of my favorite places. I have done a few courses here. The facilities are outstanding and it is surrounded by so much beauty. The meditators have separate bedrooms with attached bathrooms. Remember to take towels, blankets and other items with you , so that you are comfortable with your things. Check your registration email.for details. Meditation for 10 days takes a lot of effort. The environment here and the setup is so good, it makes it easy. The food provided is tasty and nutritious. All this is provided for free. Yes, you can donate after you have completed a 10 days course - but no one knows how much you have donated.” - by Google reviewer, M
Vipassana Meditation Centre
Address: 386 Colrain Shelburne Road, Shelburne MA
9. Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center - A Learning Center For Peace, Watertown
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Operated by the Brahma Kumaris, the BK Learning Center for Peace is a large venue that teaches the group’s meditation practice called Raja Yoga meditation. A fresh course starts on the first Monday of every month, and you can join for free. Weekend courses are also offered covering the same course. For regular practitioners, daily practice sessions are held in the mornings/evenings.
Additional workshops, courses and seminars are also offered by the group on subjects such as overcoming anger, managing stress and positive thinking. Residential courses on meditation are offered at regular intervals.
Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center - A Learning Center For Peace
Address: 75 Common St, Watertown MA
10. Boundless Way Zen Temple, Worcester
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
"It is appropriate to be grateful for all the circumstances that brought this moment into being" Good? Bad? Who...
Posted by Boundless Way Temple (Mugendo-ji) on Tuesday, June 9, 2020
This Buddhist temple located in Worcester provides a welcoming space to learn and practice traditional Zen techniques such as breath awareness, mindfulness and koan. Daily sessions are held morning and evening for an hour.
In addition to these mediation sessions, the temple teachers also offer special events, workshops and seminars.
Boundless Way Zen Temple
Address: 1030 Pleasant St., Worcester, MA
11. Advaita Meditation Center, Waltham
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Advaita Meditation Center on Thursday, April 25, 2013
This retreat centre in Massachusetts offers meditation classes and retreats based on the principles of Advaita Vedanta and the practice of mantra meditation. An introductory one-day workshop is held periodically for beginners. For more advanced practitioners regular sessions are held to enable a better understanding of Advaita Vedanta and meditation.
The weekly open meditation classes offer a less formal setting where anyone can drop in. Advaita Meditation Center’s weekend courses are geared towards practitioners working with teachers to understand and deepen their spiritual practice. The centre also offers Sanskrit classes.
Advaita Meditation Center
Address: 28 Worcester Ln, Waltham, MA 02451, United States
Take some time out for yourself
A stressful and hectic lifestyle can drain you out and that’s where such healing courses step in. Switch off from the outer world and enjoy some quiet solitude which allows you to rest, heal and self-reflect. Our list of the best meditation retreats in Massachusetts, USA, cover great centres that provide a wonderful mix of scenic grounds, healthy living and calming healing practices. I’m sure you’ll feel healed after a session at one of these places. You can pick from group sessions to personal retreats depending on your needs. So go ahead and check out these fantastic places.
If you’re looking for more accommodations, however, do check out the best lakefront Vrbo rentals and hotels with spa that are also available in the area.
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