7-day Silent Retreat ~ 1st Zmar

Those who choose the option to attend physically in Zmar will be able to select from a variety of housing options. Please see the Accommodation section for more info. Meals are included in this price.

A Silent Retreat is a residential retreat of 7 days with participants eating, sleeping and attending Satsang on site. Silence is maintained throughout the duration of the retreat. Daily activities such as work, reading, dancing, writing etc. are suspended to focus the attention inward. In the shorter Satsang Intensives, participants arrange their own food and accommodation. Silence is maintained in and around the Satsang venue and is recommended for the duration of the Intensive, but there is the possibility to continue with daily activities if needed.

The maintaining of silence throughout the seven days supports your immersion in the Truth by keeping the attention focused inward.

We ask you to please refrain from reading, writing, using the internet, drawing, singing or any form of the expressive arts. In other words, drop all outer activities for the duration of the retreat. Moojibaba encourages us to turn our attention inward and make use of the opportunity not to be distracted by any habitual activity. Books written by Mooji and any other books offered in the Sangha Shop are an exception, because they serve the same purpose as the retreat: to immerse us in the energy field of Truth.

Zmar will not offer wifi or internet access during this retreat, and there are no internet facilities nearby. You are highly encouraged to not use the internet during the retreat and to switch off your mobile device. This is out of respect for your Satsang and for the Satsang of all the participants.

The venue can hold up to 900 people, but we do recommend people to book as soon as possible as we cannot anticipate how quickly the spaces will be filled.

Zmar has plenty of chairs with back support available.

No, we advise to bring your own cushion if you wish to sit on the floor.

The rooms are allocated randomly and all shared houses are same gender only. It is not possible to request to share with a partner or friend. This retreat is a rare opportunity to move alone immersed in your own silence and we highly encourage couples to give each other the space to make the most of this opportunity. Remember, if you are attending the retreat with a partner or friend, you agree to not communicate with each other during the retreat in any way. Please respect the Satsang of your loved ones and other retreat participants.

Depending on the type of accommodation, some of the rooms are a 10-15 minute walk from the Satsang Hall and dining area. The terrain at Zmar is flat, and Zmar also offers bicycles for rent. 

All houses have toilet facilities. In the camping area toilets are located up to 200m from the tent spots.

If you are staying in a house or shared room, Zmar will provide your bed linen and towels. 

If you are camping, you must bring and pitch your own tent. You must also bring all your own bedding and camping gear, unless you pre-booked a Camping Kit  (€40) when registering. Even in this case, bring extra blankets to make sure you are warm enough at night.

Most meals are vegetarian throughout the retreat. In addition, fish may be offered for lunch on some days. Upon registration, you can choose whether you need a gluten free or dairy free diet. Please note that these are the only special diet options that can be offered for this retreat.

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If you cannot find the booking confirmation in your mailbox, please check your spam box. If you still see no confirmation please contact us.

Your registration is secured when you have received your booking confirmation via email. Please note that the payment confirmation email alone is not proof of successful registration. If you cannot find the booking confirmation in your mailbox, please check your spam box. If you still see no confirmation please contact us.

If your payment did not go through, your place on the retreat is not booked. Please register again after making sure that your credit card is working properly and has sufficient funds.

The latest arrival time is by 8:00 the following morning (6 October), but you must inform us ahead of time and confirm with us as we need to arrange for your check in. Please email us for further instructions.

Yes, that is possible as long as they are familiar with the Guidelines, Privacy Policy, and Terms & Conditions and let us know beforehand that they will be attending. There will be live translation of all the Satsang sessions in Portuguese, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. No translations are offered in other languages during Satsang except where the questioner speaking with Mooji specifically asks for translation in a particular language and there is someone available to translate for them.

No, we cannot accommodate children at this retreat.

No, it is not possible to bring any pets to the retreat.

Please read the Travel section above to be familiar with the best possibilities to get to Zmar.

Faro: If you are unable to catch the Faro train, another option is to come by taxi or rent a car. 

Lisbon: If you are unable to catch either of the two Lisbon trains mentioned, we advise that you book a public bus straight to Odemira leaving at 15:00 (3pm) so you will still arrive on time. From Odemira you can take a taxi to Zmar. Bus information is available below.

If you arrive on another train you need to get off at Funcheira or Santa Clara-Saboia and take a taxi to Zmar. There are no taxis waiting at these stations so you would need to arrange a taxi beforehand (see taxi info below).

Public Bus to Zmar (Rede Expressos)  
Faro: there are no public buses to Odemira.  
Lisbon: You can take a bus from Lisbon (Sete Rios) to Odemira. A one-way ticket costs approximately €16. Buses leave at 15:00. You can buy an online ticket on the Rede Expressos website or at the bus station.  
Bus station in Lisbon: Terminal Rodoviário de Sete Rios (Taxi from airport is around €10-13). 
From Odemira to Zmar you will have to take a taxi.

Taxi Information
Taxis are not waiting at Funcheira and Santa-Clara Sabóia train stations at any time and you will have to call beforehand if you want to arrange a taxi. Please note that taxis are not available at night.

• Pedro: +351 964 220 621
• Nelson: +351 914 904 681 
• Armando: +351 966 343 072
• Paulo: +351 927144 285
• Daniel +351 918 613 535

Car Rental Information

• From Faro or Lisbon: Portugal-auto-rentals.com
• From Faro airport: Autorent.pt
• From both airports: Skyscanner.pt

You can use this Facebook page to connect with others to travel together.

Please note that check- in is 13:00 – 17:00 and that Zmar cannot receive participants after 20:00.

It is important to understand that Satsang is not a replacement for any therapy or other medical treatment or diagnosis. Satsang in the form of the Invitation and self-inquiry is a powerful aid to self-realisation, and while Mooji’s teachings are profound in guiding seekers of Truth to ultimate awakening, they are not meant as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any change or discontinuation of therapeutic, psychological, psychiatric or other medical treatment should be undertaken with the supervision and guidance of a medical or other specialist mental health clinician.

No, unfortunately we are not able to provide such support at present.

Yes.

If you are currently receiving or have previously received any medical treatment or therapy for issues related to mental health, an environment of deep contemplation or introspection (such as Silent Retreat) may not be suitable for you. Please check with a medical or other mental health clinician whether attending a retreat, or participating online, is suitable for you at this time.

Those experiencing psychiatric conditions, or other unusually strong emotional upheavals might not benefit from a concentrated Satsang environment like a Silent Retreat. Occasionally, being in such an environment can adversely affect pre-existing mental health conditions. It may bring up latent traumatic imprints or deep-rooted tendencies in the body-mind, which can trigger strong, seemingly overwhelming, thoughts, emotional responses and behaviour. Satsang may offer an opportunity to recognise, release and transcend these states. However, a participant with a mental health condition may feel overwhelmed by this, and so additional medical and psychiatric support may be required. Please be aware that we are not able to provide this type of support or expertise.

The questionnaire below is offered to provide more information.

Please note that this is intended as a guide only, and does not constitute or replace medical or psychiatric advice. If the answer to any of the questions is ‘yes’ please be aware that a Silent Retreat may not be appropriate for you at this time.

• Have you ever or are you currently suffering from and/or receiving treatment for any of the following conditions: Anxiety disorders (which includes generalised anxiety, agoraphobia and panic disorder), mood disorders (which includes clinical depression, mania and bipolar disorder), obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), personality disorders, schizophrenia, psychosis (on its own or as part of another condition)?
• Are you currently taking any prescribed or non-prescribed medication for the treatment of a mental health condition?
• Have you used any psychotropic (mind altering) non-prescription drugs for recreational, spiritual or self-medicating purposes within the past 6 months?
• Do you currently have any substance use disorders (this includes harmful use, dependence and addiction) or have you undertaken a detoxification from substance use within the past 12 months?
• Have you experienced any aggravation or deterioration of your mental health during the past 12 months irrespective of whether you have sought specialist advice for it or not?
• Have you ever experienced any unpleasant or unwanted effects (these can include physical, cognitive, emotional or ‘energetic’) that have persisted beyond the duration of your participation in a spiritual practice or retreat, which may have interfered in your wellbeing and/or functional abilities?

Answering ‘yes’ to any of the questions does not categorically mean you cannot attend a Silent Retreat program. It requires you to seek specialist advice and receive confirmation from a medical or other professionally registered clinical specialist that your attendance is unlikely to adversely affect your health condition. Please be aware that we are not able to provide medical or psychiatric support or expertise.

Satsang with Mooji works in many subtle ways and the benefit can be felt even if you are not able to be in a concentrated Satsang environment (such as a Silent Retreat) for the time being. Experiencing a mental health or psychiatric condition is not something that excludes anyone from deepening in their Satsang or fully realising their true nature. However, proper medical guidance and treatment as necessary is still very important. The two can support each other.

Satsang does not cause mental health or psychiatric disorders. Occasionally, Satsang may bring up latent traumatic imprints or deep-rooted tendencies in the body-mind, which can trigger strong, seemingly overwhelming, thoughts and emotional responses and behaviour. Satsang may offer an opportunity to recognise, release and transcend these states. However, if there is a mental health condition, a participant may feel overwhelmed by the arising of hidden tendencies, and so additional medical and psychiatric support may be required. Please be aware that we are not able to provide this type of support or expertise. Please refer to the questionnaire above for more information. 

For any queries you may contact events@mooji.org

The weather in Portugal is very changeable. It is best to bring layers so you are prepared for all kinds of weather. The middle of the days in October are often warm, but it can be quite cold at night and early morning. You can check the weather for Odemira here. If you are camping we highly recommend that you bring a good sleeping bag for low temperature.

For some countries a visa is required before entering Europe. You will need to check with the Embassy or a travel agency in your own country about the necessary visa requirements before your departure dates. This information is also easily found online. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of your trip or you may not be allowed to travel.

If you cancel your participation in a retreat for any reason, the cancellation policy below will apply:

• If you cancel up to 31 days before the event you will receive a 75% refund.
• If you cancel 30 days to 15 days before the event you will receive a 25% refund.
• If you cancel 14 days to 0 days before the event you will not receive any refund.

The refund may be requested for medical reasons until 14 days after the Event has ended. After this date expires, we reserve our right to refuse any refund.

The above days are calendar days, not including the day on which the event starts.

Please note that tickets are non-transferable, and as such it is not possible to sell, give or otherwise transfer your ticket to another person.

The Terms & Conditions can be found here. The Privacy Policy can be found here.

If you have any further questions that remain unanswered, please contact: events@mooji.org.