Samish Regional 2026 Retreat
Thursday 9 April – Sunday 12 April
The retreat will be somatic (embodied), relational, and highly experiential. Activities will include:
- Periods of silence
- Short talks, guided meditations and inquiry
- Ritual, and chanting
- Neuro sensory techniques
Balajit (he/him) has been leading retreats and events since 2007. He spent several years living and working at the Vajraloka Retreat Centre in North Wales, deepening his experience of meditation, teaching, and community life. Now based in Birmingham, UK, he balances Buddhist teaching with work as a trauma therapist. He has trained extensively in emerging psycho-biological approaches to trauma healing and is qualified in Somatic Experiencing, NARM Therapy, and SHEN Therapy.
His teaching acknowledges the powerful conditioning of our nervous system, especially the threat system, on emotion, thinking and behaviour. In recent years, a key focus has been sharing perspectives and practices that support deepening emotional resilience, and the lasting transformation of limiting emotions held in the body, while avoiding overwhelm.
Viveka (she/they) was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1997 and is based at the San Francisco Buddhist Center where she was formerly chair. An international teacher of Buddhism and meditation, Viveka was a co-founder of Triratna’s Total Immersion longer meditation retreats. They are a trained somatic coach which enriches their dharma teaching. Currently, Viveka is President of the New York-New Jersey and Mexico City Triratna Centers.
A proud child of Chinese immigrants, she lives in San Francisco with her husband. For 30 years she has worked for racial and social justice as an integral expression of her dharma practice.