This is a new advanced meditation retreat perfect for people who have already meditated for a while, and who seem to be stuck in a rut or just not progressing as they thought they would. This retreat focuses on increasing the power of concentration which will help you in many ways in life, and becomes a gateway for Jhana level practice if you decide to follow that path.
New Training – Break the Meditation Comfort Plateau
For experienced meditators who still sit consistently, but have drifted into a comfortable routine that no longer creates real progress. This program rebuilds true concentration by stripping practice back to the baseline and training precise attention on the tingling feeling of breath at the nose.
Register for the 2-Day Online Retreat
Formats available – Small group or 1 to 1 in-person training in Krabi, Thailand and live online training via Google Meet.
Why Offer this Specialized Training?
Getting a group of people to fly across the world to Thailand for a short, high-focus program is a logistical nightmare, to be honest! If you have your own group, great, we can handle up to 8 people, possibly 12. Or, if you would like 1 on 1 training, we can do that at your convenience as well. Either way, this training is specific to your practice and you will have a plan for a meditation path forward. That is also the fastest way to diagnose what is actually causing your plateau and fix it without wasting time.
Straight talk – If you are looking for a gentle, “feel good” meditation getaway, this is not the one for you. This is skill training. You will be challenged to drop habits you have collected over the years and approach your concentration on the feeling of the breath in a simpler, cleaner way.
Is this Retreat for You?
- You have meditated for 1+ years and you are consistent
- Your sits feel calm and familiar, but you are not advancing anymore
- You suspect your practice has extra “stuff” layered on top that keeps you comfortable but not progressing
- You want sharper more comprehensive concentration on the breath at the nose
- You are willing to simplify hard and drop what is not helping
- You would like to reach Perfect Concentration – a very high level of Access Concentration
- You would like to move toward Deep Jhana at some point
What the Training Involves
- Contact-level sensitivity to the breath at the nostrils
- Stability and balance without forcing, straining, or “trying harder”
- Real-time self-correction so every sit becomes productive again
- Removal of common plateau traps – chasing calm, drifting, and subtle distraction habits
- A clean daily structure you can follow for 180 days after the program
Core Method – Subtraction over Addition
Many people stall because they keep adding techniques, concepts, or “nice feeling” loops. We do the opposite. We remove what is non-essential so attention can collect naturally on one target. The target is the felt sense of breathing at the nose.
This is a natural, religion-free approach. We have no Buddhist doctrine for you. No dogma. No required belief system. No precepts. No karma awareness. No past-life talks. Just the mechanics of attention, letting go, and concentration training.
3-Day In-person Retreat – Krabi, Thailand
This is a 3-day (2-night) program held in Southern Thailand in the Krabi area, typically at a quiet wilderness resort near the Khao Phanom mountain range. You arrive the day before, train for three days, and we finish after dinner on day three.
- Language – English
- Age – 18 and up – younger, accompanied by parent is fine
- Health – good general health recommended
- Format – small group, 1 teacher
- Setting – nature locations such as waterfalls, viewpoints, forest areas, quiet parks, and other calm spots
For individual students in 1 on 1 retreats, the program is customizable based on your ability and preferences. Expect some walking and short drives to practice locations. Some sessions may happen near streams, on viewpoints, or in other quiet outdoor spots, as long as it supports the work.
Location
The usual base is Phanom Bencha Mountain Resort in Krabi Noi, just outside Krabi Town. Krabi International Airport code is KBV and the drive is roughly 17 km to the resort area.
Address – 42/2 Krabi Noi Moo 7, Krabi 81000, Thailand
Dates are flexible. You come yourself, or bring up to 8 people in a small group. Once you reserve with a deposit, rooms can be pre-booked for you.
Online Retreat via Google Meet
If you cannot travel to Thailand, we can run the same approach in live video sessions. This is not a casual talk series. It is guided practice, diagnosis, and correction in real time.
- Live guided sits plus immediate correction
- Plateau diagnosis and a clear personal practice plan
- Skill testing so you know what is improving
- Accountability so you do not drift back into comfort mode
Requirements – quiet room, stable internet, and willingness to keep the method simple. Typically retreats are held Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday.
Typical Daily Schedule
The exact schedule is flexible because it largely depends on how many participants we have. For on-site programs we choose locations based on weather, energy, and what you need that day.
This is not a 100% silent program. Silence is used during practice sessions, but questions are encouraged outside of sits because that is how we fix your sticking points fast. You can choose extra early sits, or to skip meals, or to add more self-practice if you want.
Food and Accommodations
If you stay at the wilderness resort, accommodations are typically private bungalow-style huts near limestone cliffs, with electricity and Thai-style bathrooms. Only one bungalow has air conditioning and it may not be available. All rooms have fans and porches with hammocks. Cooler months (May through January/early February) are generally more comfortable.
- Meals – three per day by default, but you can skip meals if you prefer
- Food styles – vegetarian, plus common Thai options including eggs, chicken, seafood, and pork
- Internet – can be inconsistent at the remote resort, good enough for basic messaging and email after 2130 hours
Devices, Clothing, and Rules
You can bring your phone and other electronics. We’ll keep them until 2130 hours daily. The idea is to reduce noise. If you are on-call for work or family emergencies, we’ll give you a phone number where someone can reach you quickly.
- Devices – keep them for personal time after evening sessions
- Clothing – loose and comfortable, no loud graphics or text-heavy shirts, hats
- No ordination, no rituals, no religious requirements
Teacher
The program is hosted by meditation coach and author Vern Lovic. You will have direct access for questions throughout the program. Teaching is pragmatic and mechanics-focused – we care about what works, not superstitions or what sounds spiritual.
Pricing, Deposit, and What Is Included
Pricing can vary depending how many people attend. A typical fee for personalized 1 on 1 3-Day On-Site Retreat program is $2700 USD (about 86,000 Thai baht.). For those who bring a group, this can be as low as $1400 per person.
For the 2-Day Online Retreat, it can be as low as $388 for members of a group, or $948 if you’d like a private 1:1 retreat without other participants.
- Deposit – 30 percent to reserve your dates and lodging for On-Site Retreats
- Online Retreats require full payment at least 2 weeks before the retreat begins.
- Included – instruction, daily talks, guided sessions, planning, transportation, food, and lodging.
- Flex – dates are flexible, and we tailor the program to you or your group
Fees can change over time, but when you place a deposit, your price is locked. Discounts are available for couples or groups if you bring the group.
Transportation and Logistics
Fly into KBV – Krabi International Airport. Pickup and drop-off can be arranged to and from the retreat location. During the program, transportation is used to reach quiet practice spots around the area.
There is a major international hospital (Nakharin) within about 20 km. Stores are close enough if you need essentials. In your afternoon personal time we may offer a trip to the waterfall, a hike, or climbing the Tiger Cave Temple steps for the view. You can choose to take part or to simply rest and practice.
Bonus Materials
If you join either retreat, you can request PDF copies of my meditation books for free by email. No need to buy anything separately.
Ready to Stop Coasting?
If you are done with comfortable stagnation and want your meditation to improve again, apply now. Tell me your background, what your daily practice looks like, and exactly where you feel stuck.