What is Retreat?
What actually happens
A Krishnamurti retreat is not a course. There is no teacher at the front of the room. No technique to master. No certificate at the end. No one will tell you what to think or what to feel.
Instead, a small group of people gather in a quiet place — usually surrounded by trees, hills, or open sky — and give themselves a few days to look. To look at their own minds. To listen to one another. To walk, to eat in silence sometimes, to read a passage of Krishnamurti together, to sit with what arises.
A typical day may include:
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Quiet time alone in the morning, before the mind gets busy
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A reading or recorded talk by Krishnamurti, listened to together
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Group dialogue — not debate, not discussion, but a careful inquiry into what we have heard and what we actually live
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Long walks, simple vegetarian meals, silence between sessions
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Time to do nothing, which is harder and more important than it sounds
A more concrete day might unfold like this:
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7.00 – 8.00Morning silence, sitting, or a walk
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8.00 – 9.00Breakfast, in silence
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9.30 – 11.00Recorded talk by Krishnamurti, watched together
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11.15 – 12.45Group dialogue
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12.45 – 14.00Lunch, then free time
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14.00 – 15.30Solo study, reading, or a walk in nature
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15.30 – 17.00Second dialogue, or a themed inquiry
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17.00 – 18.00Quiet reflection or nature walk
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18.00 – 19.00Dinner
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19.00 – 20.00Optional sharing circle
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21.00Lights out
The schedule is illustrative, not fixed. Different retreats keep different rhythms. What stays constant is the unhurriedness, and the long stretches with nothing to do — which is precisely when the mind begins to settle enough to see itself.
What it is not
A retreat is not a holiday, though there is rest in it.
A retreat is not therapy, though something may heal.
A retreat is not a workshop, though you may learn.
A retreat is not a religious gathering, though it touches what is sacred.
It is something quieter than any of these. It is the rare experience of having nothing to achieve.
Who comes
People of every kind. Some have been reading Krishnamurti for forty years. Some have never heard his name and were brought by a friend. Students, retired professors, young parents, people in the middle of a crisis, people in the middle of nothing in particular.
What they share is a question — sometimes only half-formed — about why life feels the way it does, and whether there is another way of living.
The practical
Retreats run on a fixed contribution that covers food, accommodation, and the running of the venue. For those who cannot afford the full contribution, participant support is available — please write. Money should never be the reason a serious person stays away.
Bookings are made in advance. Each retreat has its own dates, location, and capacity, listed on the Upcoming Retreats page.
What is Study/Retreat Centre?
A study or retreat centre for J. Krishnamurti’s teachings is a tranquil, non-authoritarian space dedicated to self-inquiry and inner stillness. Such centres (found worldwide) offer natural, serene surroundings, simple accommodation, nourishing vegetarian food, and extensive libraries of Krishnamurti’s books and media. They are deliberately not places of dogma or formal instruction, but environments where seekers can freely explore life’s questions through observation, silent reflection, and shared dialogue. Typical programs include silent retreats, theme-based video screenings, group dialogues, walks in nature, and personal study sessions. Visitors are expected to respect the centre’s ethos—no gurus, no coercion, no alcohol or smoking. Whether coming alone or in a group, anyone serious about deepening self-knowledge can find in these centres a space for renewal.
How Kinfonet Works
What we do, and what we don't
Kinfonet does not own a study centre.
This is honest, and it matters. The major Krishnamurti centres mentioned above — Brockwood, Rishi Valley, Rajghat, Ojai — are run by the four Krishnamurti foundations and have decades of institutional history behind them. Kinfonet is a much smaller, much younger initiative, currently held together by one person and a handful of friends.
What Kinfonet does is organise residential retreats in private rural venues across India, in collaboration with their owners. These are not Krishnamurti centres in the formal sense — they are quiet farms, retreat houses, and small resorts whose hosts have generously offered them for this work. The land, the rooms, and the kitchens are theirs. The inquiry, the facilitation, the gathering of participants, and the spirit of the retreat are Kinfonet's.
Where retreats happen
Past and ongoing partner venues include:
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Dega Farms — a natural space with simple ecofriendly accommodation
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Sradha Farm Stay, Kollengode (Kerala) — quiet farmhouse stays in a Western Ghats setting
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Oxyfarm Resorts — a partner venue used for several past retreats
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Anand Vihar, Badlapur (Maharashtra) — a small retreat space within reach of Mumbai
Each venue brings something different — different climate, different season suitable, different kind of stillness. We choose the venue to suit the kind of retreat being held, and we are always quietly looking for new partners whose places might suit this work. (If you host such a place and would like to collaborate, please write to us.)
And the longer vision
The longer hope, named openly on the Donations page, is to one day have a small permanent space — a piece of land, a few simple buildings — that Kinfonet itself holds. Not a grand centre. Not an institution. Just a quiet place where retreats can be held without renting, and where serious readers can come for longer stays. This is years away. Until then, the partner-venue arrangement is how the work continues.
Coming on a Retreat
A short word on whether it is for you
If you have read this far, something in this work has spoken to you. That alone is enough reason to consider coming.
You do not need to have read Krishnamurti before. You do not need to be at a particular life stage, age, or level of seriousness. You only need to be willing to spend a few days quietly, without your usual props, in the company of strangers who are doing the same.
If you are coming through a difficult period — a loss, a crisis, a long disquiet — a retreat may help, though we cannot promise this. We are not therapists. If you are in acute distress, please seek professional support; a retreat is not a substitute.
What we ask of you
That you arrive on time. That you attend the dialogues and meals. That you respect the quiet of the place and the privacy of what is shared. That you leave your phone in your room during sessions. That you come to look, rather than to perform or to escape.
Closing
If something in this has spoken to you, perhaps the question is not whether you should come on a retreat, but what is it in you that wants to.
We would be glad to welcome you.
On Retreat / Study Centers
Definition and Purpose
A Krishnamurti-inspired study or retreat centre is essentially a place of inquiry and reflection. It provides a quiet retreat from daily life where individuals can “slow down and truly listen—to yourself and to life”. These centres are gentle, welcoming environments rooted in Krishnamurti’s vision: there are no gurus or prescribed techniques, only the teachings themselves as guides. As Krishnamurti envisioned, they are “places where people could go and stay to study the teachings without any organised programmes, and with only their own seriousness to guide them”. In practice, this means no fixed curriculum is imposed; instead, seekers are free to engage with Krishnamurti’s talks, writings and dialogues on their own terms. The purpose is to support individual exploration of life’s fundamental questions—about freedom, observation, and truth—in a climate of psychological freedom.
In other words, the centre itself embodies freedom from authority: “It is a place of no authority, and nothing is imposed,” notes the UK Krishnamurti Centre. Visitors are encouraged to approach the teachings with a spirit of genuine inquiry rather than passive acceptance.
Krishnamurti often emphasized that truth is “a pathless land” and cannot be reached through any organisation or dogma. These centres are intended as lived expressions of that pathless-land principle. They offer the time and space to observe one’s own mind directly, without the distractions of modern life or the dictates of a system. In the words of one source: “The Study Centre offers a quiet space… for reflecting on one’s life in the light of Krishnamurti’s teachings… set in a place of great natural beauty and silence”. Thus, the purpose of such a centre is to provide a supportive atmosphere for inward discovery—a place to “retreat, reflect, and reconnect” with oneself, ultimately aiming to bring about insight, clarity and a transformation in consciousness.
Historical Context and Core Themes
The idea of study/retreat centres has its roots in Krishnamurti’s own life and legacy. During his 64 years in Ojai, California (1922–1986), Krishnamurti welcomed thousands of visitors to discuss life’s big questions. He and his colleagues helped establish formal foundations (e.g. the Krishnamurti Foundation in India, the Krishnamurti Foundation Trust in the UK, the Krishnamurti Foundation of America) specifically to preserve and disseminate his teachings. Over time, physical centres were acquired or built (Brockwood Park in England, the Rajghat Centre in India, and the Ojai Retreat, among others) to serve as dedicated places for study. From the outset, these places were conceived in line with Krishnamurti’s core themes of freedom, observation, dialogue, silence, and inquiry.
Freedom from Authority: Krishnamurti insisted on complete freedom in learning. He rejected all gurus, creeds and organized systems. A famous quote from Krishnamurti says, “Truth is a pathless land. Man cannot come to it through any organisation, through any creed… he has to find it through the mirror of relationship… through observation and not through intellectual analysis”. This is why a centre offers no dogmatic instruction. As one official description puts it, these centres are “not centres of authority or belief, but spaces for shared exploration through dialogue, observation, and awareness”. In practice, this means participants are encouraged to think for themselves, question everything (including Krishnamurti’s words), and learn through direct perception, not rote learning.
Inquiry and Dialogue: Another central theme is dialogue as a form of inquiry. Unlike a debate or lecture, dialogue here means open-ended, group inquiry where everyone listens without judgment. In group retreats, videos of Krishnamurti’s talks might be screened, and dialogue sessions follow, allowing people to share observations about what they watched. As the Krishnamurti Centre in England explains, “Dialogue inquiry, complemented by… Krishnamurti audio, video and texts, form the basis of our group retreats. Full attention can be given to a particular aspect of the teachings and its implications in our own lives”. At all times (not just during programs), the centre remains open for individual visitors to explore the teachings in silence or informal conversation. This method reflects Krishnamurti’s view that understanding arises in relationship and listening to oneself, rather than through external prescription.
Silence and Observation: Silence is equally important. Retreat centres often have prescribed periods of silence (for example, silent sittings, morning meditations, or quiet study time) to allow the mind to settle. Nature is heavily emphasized: walking alone in the grounds, observing the breath or the surroundings, are common practices. Krishnamurti remarked that “the understanding of anything… can only come when the mind is very still”. Hence, spending time in nature and in silence is seen as a practical way to foster the stillness in which insight naturally occurs. In sum, the core educational approach at these centres is inquiry in freedom – investigation without authority, supported by silence, nature, and shared reflection.
Typical Features and Facilities
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Natural Setting: Virtually all study/retreat centres are located in serene natural environments – forests, hills, farmland or riverbanks. Such settings are chosen to facilitate quiet contemplation and a sense of spaciousness. Guests may stroll in gardens, sit by a stream, or simply gaze at open skies.
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Accommodation: Lodgings are simple but comfortable. Many centres offer private or shared cottages, cabins or rooms. In all cases the emphasis is on austerity and simplicity: small personal quarters, modest beds, and communal living areas. Visitors typically share chores (like setting the dining table or cleaning), in keeping with Krishnamurti’s ideal of “simple and austere living”.
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Library and Media: A well-stocked library is a hallmark. Nearly every centre has an extensive collection of Krishnamurti’s books (often in multiple languages), plus archives of talks on audio and video. Quiet “study rooms” or meditation rooms are also common. Guests can borrow recordings or read silently. Many centres also run regular video screenings or listening sessions to share K’s talks with new audiences.
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Food: Meals are simple and typically vegetarian. In keeping with the atmosphere of wellness, a wholesome vegetarian diet is provided or available nearby. Eating is usually in a common dining hall or kitchen, fostering relaxed social interaction. Visitors often take turns helping prepare or serve meals, again emphasizing a communal, non-hierarchical ethos.
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Guidelines: Certain common rules are observed: no smoking or alcohol on premises, and often no use of mobile devices during group activities. Dress is informal but modest; some centres may recommend comfortable clothes suitable for sitting on the floor or moving freely. Quietude is expected during designated periods (e.g. after evening programs), but visitors are otherwise free to move and speak. Importantly, centres adhere to a non-dogmatic stance: nobody is forced to believe anything, and all participants are equal. Confidentiality is also valued — what is shared in dialogue or groups typically stays within the group, fostering trust.
Programs and Activities
Study and retreat centres typically offer a variety of programs that encourage engagement with Krishnamurti’s teachings. Common offerings include:
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Theme Retreats: Multi-day retreats around a particular topic (e.g. Freedom from the Known, Relationships, Meditation) that include screenings of Krishnamurti talks, followed by group dialogues on the theme.
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Silent Retreats: Extended periods (from a weekend up to several weeks) of primarily silent personal inquiry. In these, individuals often design their own schedule: meditating, reading, walking, or reflecting quietly. You may design your own program of study, watching videos, going for a walk, sitting quietly, and so on”. This unstructured silence allows the mind to rest and observe itself.
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Dialogue Groups: Regular meetings where participants sit together (often in a circle) and discuss questions that “come up” either from a shared reading/talk or from life itself. The emphasis is on listening together without judgment. There may be reading of a short passage from Krishnamurti or watching a short video before opening the floor to shared inquiry. These dialogue circles embody Krishnamurti’s principle of “intelligent relationship” – exploring ideas socially but without authority or debate.
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Video/Audio Screenings: Most centres have a video library. It is common to screen one of Krishnamurti’s recorded talks or dialogues for visitors. For example, a daily program might begin with a 1–2 hour talk on a chosen theme, which participants then discuss.
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Workshops and Classes: Some centres offer periodic workshops (e.g. meditative practices like body awareness, art, or movement workshops) that complement inward inquiry. Others have special programs for teachers, youth, or parents, integrating Krishnamurti’s ideas into educational or family life.
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Individual Study: Even outside group events, guests are free to spend days in solo study. They might read Krishnamurti books, browse the library, listen to recordings, or simply sit and be with nature.
Collectively, these activities are designed to support the process of self-inquiry. There is usually a flexible balance of scheduled events (dialogues, talks) and unstructured time (meditation, walking). The idea is to provide triggers (a talk, a question) and then space to process them quietly. As one center notes, the daily program leaves “enough time… to watch one’s thoughts and thought patterns,” and then share any insights “in the spirit of learning”.
Visiting Guidelines and Participation Etiquette
Krishnamurti centres have a clear ethos to which visitors are asked to adhere:
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No Dogma or Authority: Remember there is no guru or prescribed beliefs here. Everyone is encouraged to learn through personal observation. Centre notices often remind visitors: “K’s teachings in themselves have no authority; no one tells you what to think”.
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Respect and Confidentiality: Listen attentively when others speak and respect each person’s right to their own view. What is shared in dialogue sessions should remain confidential, preserving trust. Avoid arguing or debating—dialogue is about questioning together, not winning a point.
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Silence and Quietness: Honour designated quiet times (mornings, mealtimes, or after lights-out). Speak softly in halls and refrain from using mobile phones in communal areas. Silence is considered as important as conversation.
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Healthy Living: Follow the centre’s rules (usually no smoking, no alcohol). Observe mealtime routines and help clean up. Dress simply and comfortably.
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Participation: While formal attendance isn’t always mandatory, visitors are generally expected to join communal meals and gatherings. If one wishes to attend scheduled dialogues or programs, it’s polite to show up on time or notify the host if absent.
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No Business or Sightseeing: These centres are not tourist resorts. Guests are discouraged from treating the centre as a casual lodging or using centre facilities for unrelated work or business. The intention is learning and reflection, not convenience or entertainment.
Outcomes and Benefits
What to Expect: On arrival (often mid-afternoon) you’ll typically be shown your room or cottage. There may be a brief orientation explaining the centre’s layout and schedule. The initial hours are usually quiet time to unpack, read or rest. During your stay, the daily schedule will likely center on regular meal times, with organized activities (dialogues, video sessions, walks) interspersed with free periods for personal study or rest.
An example daily schedule might look like this:
7:00 – 8:00 Morning meditation or silent walk
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast (vegetarian)
9:30 – 11:00 Video talk by Krishnamurti and brief discussion
11:00 – 11:15 Tea break
11:15 – 12:45 Group dialogue session
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch (vegetarian) and free time
14:00 – 15:30 Personal study or nature walk
15:30 – 17:00 Workshop/activity (or second dialogue)
17:00 – 18:00 Rest or silent reflection or Nature Walk
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner (vegetarian)
19:00 – 20:00 Evening sharing circle (optional)
21:00 Lights out / quiet
(This is illustrative; actual schedules vary by centre and event. Many centres intentionally include long periods with “nothing to do” so that visitors can “watch one’s thoughts and thought patterns”.)
How to Prepare: Centres often suggest what to bring. Comfortable, layered clothing is wise, since indoor floors may be cool. Note that many centres have simple amenities: do not expect Wi-Fi or TV; the emphasis is on unplugging and being present. If traveling to a remote centre, plan your transportation in advance (some centres offer pick-up or detailed directions by request).
Booking and Fees: Most centres require advance booking or at least notice of your visit. Many operate on a donation or cost-recovery model. Check the specific centre’s website or contact them for details. Be prepared to state your intention—centres appreciate knowing that you come for genuine study or retreat, not casual tourism.
Accessibility: These centres are often in rural areas and may not be fully accessible (uneven paths, stairs, etc.). Some older buildings have limited facilities for the disabled. It is best to inquire in advance about any special needs.
Local Travel: Check whether you’ll need to arrange your own meals or if meals are provided.
In all cases, plan to arrive at the centre by the designated check-in time (often mid-afternoon) and to depart by the check-out time (usually late morning) as indicated by the centre’s policy.
Finally, bring an open heart and mind: these centres welcome people from all backgrounds, with the sole invitation to explore life itself.