Sought after by all, the notion of peace sits at the very heart of Aman, and it is the meaning of the brand’s Sanskrit-derived name. It also forms the inspiration for an enlightening three-night retreat, Journey to Peace, taking place at Aman New York, and Amangiri in the latter part of this year, helping guests on their own path to tranquility. Dedicated to teaching individuals to rediscover this elusive state, the spiritual retreat is intuitively and lovingly led by long-term Aman collaborator and renowned Buddhist monk and mindfulness coach, Master Geshe YongDong (Geshe La).
Achieving inner peace is said to enable one to better cope with anxieties, fears and worries, and can help slow down and focus the mind, show patience and tolerance. Geshe La will guide along this path, first at Aman New York (27-30 October), an urban sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan, followed by Amangiri (3-6 November), surrounded by the starkly beautiful desert scenery of North America’s canyon country. During each experience, Geshe YongDong will share the ancient lessons of the Bon Tibetan Tradition, enabling participants to find the serenity of mind and spirit they seek.
The first retreat at Aman New York, Living Mindfully, centres around finding peace in everyday life and includes bespoke training sessions on living in the present, workshops on healing anger and chanting mantra mediation classes. As part of the Journey to Peace programme at Aman New York, daily breakfast at Arva is included in addition to a closing lunch with Geshe La and one 90-minute Aman Signature Spa Treatment.
The second retreat, hosted at Amangiri, Awaken the Mind, immerses participants into the untamed wilderness of Canyon Point, with a focus on discovering the true nature of the mind. A programme of calm-stilling group sessions and mindfulness workshops, alongside guided meditation, chanting and breathwork aims to release what’s no longer needed and encourage an open embrace of the here and now. The three-night retreat includes full board meals, including a healthy mini bar and non-alcoholic beverages, a choice of a 90-minute group yoga class, sound-bowl and meditation experience, or a 90-minute spa treatment, and round-trip airport transfers.
Born in Tibet in 1969, Geshe La became a monk at just 13 years of age when he entered the Nangzhig Bonpo Monastery. A gifted scholar, he was awarded the Rajampa Geshe Degree (Doctorate of Divinity) – the highest possible monastic degree – in 1992. He also studied and practised under many masters including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as His Holiness Menri Trizin. Today, Geshe La teaches philosophy and YungDrung Bon Buddhism, and is one of only a handful of masters in the tradition worldwide. For over twenty years, Geshe La has taught in many spiritual centres and universities around the world and is the founder and spiritual director of Sherab Chamma Ling and Bon da Ling, spiritual centres in British Colombia and Costa Rica. He is vice president of the International Tibetan non-sectarian Buddhism organisation and has published several books including Calm Breath, Calm Mind.
