Daylong Buddhist Recovery Retreat with Kevin Griffin and Karson Koshin

Kevin and Karson will teach this retreat in person in Sacramento.

This daylong retreat offers participants a chance to explore the Three Refuges of Buddhism—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—as anchors for healing and recovery.

Buddha – finding refuge in the possibility of awakening, transformation, and our own potential for recovery.

Dharma – turning toward the teachings and practices that help us stay grounded, compassionate, and free.

Sangha – resting in the support of community, walking the path together with others who understand.

Through guided meditation, dharma reflections, group sharing, and embodied practices, we’ll explore how these timeless refuges mirror the foundations of recovery: faith in change, reliance on guiding principles, and connection with community.

This retreat is open to all—whether you are in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking a deeper refuge in your own life. Participants will leave with practical tools, renewed courage, and a felt sense of belonging.

Format:

• Guided meditation and meditation instruction: seated, standing, walking.

• Dharma talks & reflections

• Recovery-focused small group sharing

Come as you are. Wear comfortable clothing. Please bring a bag lunch, a covered container for water, and optional masks at your discretion. SBMG will provide hot water and tea as well as cushions and chairs.

We offer this program on a sliding scale of $30 - $150, which includes a donation for the teacher. However, we turn no one away for lack of funds. We have a sliding-scale option for individuals who pay below our registration range.

Note: if you need a scholarship, contact the coordinator, Tom Hopkins, at [email protected].

Kevin Griffin is an innovative Buddhist teacher and author, best known for his 2004 book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. He has been in recovery since 1985 and a Buddhist practitioner for over 40 years. He teaches in a broad range of venues, from Dharma centers and universities to treatment centers and professional conferences. The author of seven books, he is the co-founder of the Buddhist Recovery Network. He has been featured in Tricycle Magazine, Lion’s Roar, and Inquiring Mind and has appeared on the podcasts 10% Happier, On Being, and many others. His website is www.kevingriffin.net

Karson Koshin is a Buddhist teacher whose work bridges Zen, Theravāda, and secular mindfulness traditions. He serves as guiding teacher of the SIM Buddhist Recovery Sangha and co-facilitates the SBMG Hiking Sangha. In recovery since 2007, he has been teaching mindfulness and meditation since 2013. Karson’s practice is grounded in study with his root teacher, Kevin Griffin, as well as his Soto Zen teacher, Kyōsho Valorie Beer, from whom he received lay entrustment in 2024. He is also a graduate of Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield’s two-year meditation teacher training. Karson holds a PhD in philosophy from Rutgers and has previously served as board president of SBMG. Currently, he is engaged in White Plum koan study with Berry Crawford and sits with Bob Rosenbaum at Sacramento Ordinary Mind Zen.
Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group is a 501(c)(3).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sacramento Dharma Center, 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, United States