FAQs

Who are the founders and hosts of Aperture?

Dan Harris (Author & Podcaster), Sarah Fetter (Founder, 121 Ventures) & Matt Harris (Partner, Bain Capital Ventures) co-founded Aperture. Dan Harris and Matt Harris continue to host the retreat.

How do I get there?

Aperture will take place at Troutbeck, 515 Leedsville Road, Amenia, NY 12501

  • Arrival by Car

    • Driving Directions 97 mile/2 hour drive from Manhattan via the Taconic State Parkway to US-44 East, turn right onto Leedsville Road.

    • Arrival by Car Service Morning Star Car Service | Amenia, NY 12501 | 845-493-0211 | morningstarcarservice@hotmail.com | $350 + gratuity flat rate per ride to/from NYC

    • Community in Transit  If you may be interested in carpooling to/from Troutbeck from NYC, please feel free to drop Sarah a line with your target travel days/times & she will look to connect you with any fellow travelers whose movements mirror yours for a bit of community in transit.

  • Arrival by Train Only 2 hours from Grand Central Terminal, NYC, via Metro-North Railroad to Wassaic, NY. Thirteen scheduled trains per day; train schedule here. We recommend arranging for the ~10 minute taxi from the Wassaic train station to Troutbeck ahead of time—recommended car service: Morning Star Car Service located in Amenia, NY (845-493-0211 | morningstarcarservice@hotmail.com.

  • Arrival by Plane Stewart (SWF | 55 mins), Westchester County (HPN | 75 mins), Bradley (BDL | 90 mins), Newark (EWR | 2 hours), John F. Kennedy (JFK | 2 hours), LaGuardia (LGA | 2 hours)

What time will the retreat begin and end?

The retreat will officially begin with lunch at 12.30pm on Thursday, November 19, 2026 and wrap after lunch concludes at 12.30pm on Sunday November 22, 2026. There is also an option to arrive on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 for an early arrivals dinner with our teachers beginning at 6pm. (We’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many people opt to come a day early.)

What are the Five Precepts?

While on retreat, we invite everyone to practice the five precepts, the basic code of ethics respected by lay Buddhists.
Here is a simple description of the five—with notes about the third and fifth for our time together:

  1. To refrain from killing living creatures, and to practice compassionate action.

  2. To refrain from taking that which is not given, and to practice generosity

  3. To refrain from using sexual energies unwisely or uncaringly, and to practice responsibility in all of my relationships. On retreat this translates to refraining from all sexual activity.

  4. To refrain from harmful speech, and to practice kind speech. 

  5. To refrain from the misuse of alcohol and drugs, and to practice caring for my body and my mind. On retreat, this translates to refraining from any kind of alcohol and non-medical drugs.

What is the general dharma decorum while on retreat?

  • Eye contact is discouraged during the silent portion of the retreat. If you’re passing someone & feel that you must do something, you can smile & nod.

Will we be in silence the whole time?

  • Different from a more traditional meditation retreat, Aperture includes plenty of silence and also time at the beginning and end for group meals, activities, and discussions.

  • On Thursday 11/19, the retreat will kick off with a group lunch at 12.30pm where we will all have a chance to get to know each other. We will begin our first round of meditation instruction on Thursday afternoon which will be followed by plenty of talking at dinner on Thursday night. We will then head into silence after dinner on Thursday evening through Sunday morning, although you will be able to speak with the teachers during your 1:1 and small group check-ins during this time. On Sunday morning, we’ll break the silence over breakfast, meditate one more time together, then end with a group lunch on Sunday when we can debrief together.

What type of meditation will we do?

  • Insight MeditationJoseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Will Kabat-Zinn and Sebene Selassie teach insight meditation, which is a form of Buddhist practice. We will be doing both seated and walking meditation.

  • Question & Response We will also do group question and response sessions so you can hear what your fellow attendees are encountering.

  • Silent Meal Meditations There will also be silent meal meditations which are a powerful opportunity for deepening practice, and guidance will be given for eating meditation.

  • Dharma Talks Each evening, we will join together to hear “dharma talks” where Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Will Kabat-Zinn and Sebene Selassie will discuss various aspects of the practice. These have been a real highlight from last two years. There will be notebooks and pens on hand and we will plan to capture a recording to share with you after the retreat.

  • Movement Sessions Nadia Narain will guide daily movement sessions to support long days of seated meditation.

    • Early Morning Session Simple standing practice at your meditation cushion to prepare the body for a day of sitting. Accessible to all levels.

    • Afternoon Session Gentle yoga-based practice using mats and straps. Simple movements designed to ease and support the body after long periods of seated practice. No prior experience needed.

What can I expect during the 1:1 teacher and small group teacher check-ins?

The 1:1 and small group teacher check-ins will allow you to ask any questions about your practice; personalized assignments for both your 1:1 instruction and small group teacher check-in will be shared with you directly.

  • 1:1 Instruction Time All attendees will have a 1:1 with either Joseph Goldstein or Sharon Salzberg

  • Small Group Time All attendees will have a small group check-ins with either Will Kabat-Zinn or Sebene Selassie

Which meals permit speaking and which meals will be silent?

  • Spoken Meals Speaking will be permitted for the meals that will take place before and after we enter the silent portion of the retreat on—e.g. Thursday lunch, Thursday dinner, Sunday breakfast & Sunday lunch. Since most retreats are quite large, there are few opportunities to get to know anybody. These meals will be a lovely opportunity to get to know other attendees.

  • Silent Meals / Eating Meditations All meals on Friday 11/20 & Saturday 11/21 will be in silence & served buffet style. This is a powerful opportunity for deepening practice, and guidance will be given for eating meditation.

What should I pack?

The overall vibe will be casual. Average Hudson Valley temperatures in November range from the 30s to mid 50s. Here are a few ideas of what to pack:

  • Comfortable clothing for meditative practices

  • Comfortable sneakers for walking meditations/exploration of the grounds

  • Wristwatch or a way to tell time other than your phone as we highly encourage a tech-free stay

  • Coat/sweaters for seasonably cooler temperatures in the Hudson Valley

  • Swimsuit if feeling inspired to cold plunge in the river—an impromptu highlight of 2023!

What will I sit on?

You’ll have the option to use a chair and/or zafu throughout the retreat. There will be yoga mats/blankets around as well for extra comfort. You’re welcome to bring the zafus home at the end of the retreat to continue your practice.

Can I use my phone/computer?

We highly encourage a tech-free stay. Here are a few tips to support this:

  • Emergency Number The Troutbeck Front Desk will have an attendant available 24/7. Please feel free to share this number with family, colleagues, etc. to reach you in case of emergency: 845-789-1555.

  • Clocks, Wake-up Calls & Bells

    • There will be digital clocks in the meditation hall (Ballroom) as well as where the meals will take place (Gallery, Sun & Gun Rooms).

    • Your room will have an alarm clock and you are welcome to call the front desk for a wake-up call.

    • A bell will be rung ~5 minutes before meditation sessions begin.

  • Wristwatch highly recommended

What resources do you recommend reviewing before the retreat?

While there is no preparation necessary before the retreat, here are a few suggested resources: