Embodiment for Samadhi and Insight
A Madison Vipassana Meditation Retreat with
Chas DiCapua
In person at Pine Lake Retreat Center,
Westfield, WI
October 8–11, 2026
We are delighted to welcome Chas DiCapua back to Wisconsin to lead a residential retreat October 8–11, 2026. The retreat will be held at Pine Lake Retreat Center in Westfield, Wisconsin. Situated on beautiful Pine Lake and surrounded by rolling hills, farmland, and oak savannas, the center offers peaceful walking trails and a supportive environment for practice.
ABOUT THE RETREAT
The theme of this retreat is “Embodiment for Samadhi and Insight.” Cultivating mindfulness of the body in ever more subtle ways helps establish attention in the here and now, away from the stories and dramas that arise in and take over the mind. This leads to attention becoming steady and at ease. With this as a basis, happiness and suffering — and what leads to each — come into clearer view.
We will practice bringing careful attention to the body in an ongoing way to discern its most subtle qualities. We will then use that bodily awareness both as a lens through which to notice what leads to happiness and suffering and as the vehicle for cultivating one and letting go of the other.
This retreat will be suitable for both beginning and experienced meditators. It will be held in Noble Silence except when yogi participation is invited. There will be a daily Dhamma talk, question-and-answer sessions, small-group meetings, and instruction in standing qigong.
Note. Those new to meditation retreats are sometimes surprised by the whole days of silence, unguided meditation periods, and the sleepiness, restlessness, and emotional swings that can accompany solitary inward investigation. We want everyone who registers to have some sense of what retreat is like. If you have any questions, please contact the registrar at registrar@madisonmeditation.org and plan to attend the orientation at 6:00 p.m. on the first day of the retreat (October 8).
As an introduction to Chas’s teachings, check out any of his many talks on Dharma Seed. You’ll also find a collection of his short articles on the Open Door website.
COST
Registration fees cover room, simple vegetarian meals (see below), and fixed retreat costs (teacher transportation, accommodation, and meals; facility rental; and miscellaneous expenses). We set the midpoint at or below the per-person cost of hosting each retreat.
You may pay an amount within the range below that best fits your circumstances. We ask those who are able to pay at the higher end of the range to do so, helping make the retreat accessible to others. If even the lowest end of the range poses a hardship, please offer what you can.
Registration fee range
Shared room $145 $290 $435
Single room $210 $420 $630
Following Theravada tradition, there is no charge for the teachings, and no portion of your registration fee will go to Chas. However, toward the end of the retreat, there will be an opportunity to offer dana (a voluntary donation) in gratitude for his teachings.
RESERVED SPACES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOUNG PEOPLE
In keeping with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we reserve the last spaces before the retreat fills for people of color and young people (age 25 and under) who haven’t yet registered. These spaces will be held until three weeks before the retreat (September 17). After that, any remaining reserved spaces will be offered to those on the waiting list.
If you identify with one or both of these groups, please check the appropriate box(es) on the registration form. To inquire about space availability, contact the registrar at registrar@madisonmeditation.org.
MEALS
On each full day of the retreat, a vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the dining hall. The retreat will conclude after lunch on Sunday, October 11.
Please be aware that while the cooks at our retreat venues do their best to provide a variety of nutritious and healthy vegetarian foods at mealtimes, they are unable to accommodate special dietary needs. If you require a special diet during the retreat, please arrange to bring any additional foods you will need. A refrigerator and microwave will be available.
If you have questions about dietary needs or other concerns, contact the registrar at registrar@madisonmeditation.org.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 8
5:00 pm – Check-in
6:00 pm – Orientation (optional — for those new to retreat or Pine Lake)
7:00 pm – Retreat begins
Please arrive no later than 6:30 pm to allow time to check in, get settled, and be present in the hall when the retreat begins.
Sunday, October 11
1:00 pm – Retreat ends
TO REGISTER
Please complete online registration by Thursday, October 1. We recommend registering early, as our retreats fill quickly. If the retreat is full, you may ask to be placed on the waiting list. If we are unable to offer you a spot, your payment will be refunded in full.
A gentle reminder: Your place in the registration queue will not be secured until we receive your payment and your completed registration form.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations by September 17 will receive a refund minus a $50 processing fee. Cancellations after September 17 will be refunded only if we are able to fill your spot.
ONLINE PAYMENT
Once your registration form is complete, you will be prompted to pay online. If you prefer not to pay electronically, contact the registrar at registrar@madisonmeditation.org to make other arrangements.
If you’re unable to pay at this time, you may do so later using this payment link.
Once your registration and payment are received, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Additional retreat details will be sent closer to the retreat.
For registration questions, please contact the registrar atregistrar@madisonmeditation.org.
Chas DiCapua has been practicing mindfulness and Buddhist meditation, primarily in the Theravāda school, for over 35 years, including over two years of combined time in silent, intensive retreat. He has trained with Burmese meditation masters, Western monastics of the Thai Forest tradition, and senior Western Vipassana teachers. In 2003, Chas was invited to be the Resident Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, MA, where he continues to serve in that role.
Chas is a graduate of the four-year IMS / Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program. He is interested in how the basic material of our everyday lives, including relationships, can be used as a vehicle for awakening. Chas teaches retreats at IMS as well as centers and sanghas throughout the country, and offers spiritual counseling for individuals.