Finding Freedom in Relationship with Ourselves, Others, and the World (228R25) - On Land

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on November 13, 2024, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on May 29, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early.

Interested in Commuting to the retreat? If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Description:

Working with the Four Establishments of Mindfulness, we will explore how we create entanglements and therefore can free ourselves from these recurring patterns. Turning towards these tangles with kindness and understanding allows the metabolizing and releasing of old habits. As we practice in this way, based on the Buddha’s wisdom, we develop increased clarity and confidence in meeting the challenges of daily life, thereby finding greater spaciousness and well-being.

This retreat is open to all genders.

The retreat is offered in keeping with the 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastic tradition. Providing the experience of “five days in the monastic life,” this retreat has some qualities not usually found on other retreats such as daily periods of devotional chanting and an adherence to the Eight Precepts (which includes not taking solid food between midday and the following dawn). This retreat will also include group sitting and walking meditation, individual practice, practice meetings with teachers, and Dharma talks.

This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

There are no late arrivals, early departures, or exits during the retreat; no exceptions. This is at the request of the nuns and out of respect for them and the retreat container.

PLEASE NOTE: Retreatants are encouraged to keep the 8 Precepts for the entire length of this retreat. For those who choose not to keep the 6th Precept, a light supper will be available. This retreat may not be a good match if you are unable to meet the limited intake of food requirement.

The Eight Precepts:
1. Not intentionally killing or harming any living creatures.
2. Not stealing, or concerning oneself with the possessions of others.
3. Not engaging in sexual activity of any kind.
4. Not lying or using speech harmfully. (On retreat this precept is usually observed as Noble Silence–keeping the silence unless there is a practical necessity to speak.)
5. Not taking intoxicating drink or drugs.
6. Not eating after mid-day. (Optional)
7. Not seeking amusements or wearing special bodily adornment. (On retreat one dresses and acts in a modest and restrained manner.)
8. Not using sleep indulgently.

*NOTE: you have the option to not take Precept 6 and to have a light supper that Spirit Rock will offer.

Community Spirit
During retreat we come together as community to support each other in our practice and daily activities. In this spirit we live by the Eight Precepts, keep Noble Silence, and participate in the daily routine mindfully and with awareness.

Attire
Out of respect for the ordained sangha, please dress modestly. Loose comfortable clothing is recommended. Clothing should cover the area of your body from the shoulders to the knees, even if the weather warms up (i.e., above the knee shorts, yoga pants/leggings, tank tops, or low cut garments, or other revealing items would NOT be appropriate). The meditation hall is well ventilated and air conditioned if necessary, so you can expect a comfortable temperature.

Nourishment
We will eat a simple breakfast and one vegetarian meal before noon each day. We will not be providing for food preferences or allowance for eating after the noon meal (unless you are not taking Precept 6). In the spirit of establishing this retreat as an environment of monastic-style training, we ask that you gratefully accept what is offered, and simply do not take any foods that you cannot eat or eat anything not offered to you after the noon meal. This is the way of practice employed by any visitor to a monastery; it should be recognized as being very much a part of the teaching/learning process, rather than an inconvenience to be skirted around if possible. Please do not bring your own food supplies. If you have a highly restrictive diet and cannot abide by these practices, this retreat may not be a good fit at this time.

Financial Details

Registration Fee & Cancellation Policy:
Spirit Rock holds this monastic retreat annually and would like to continue to do so with your support. We offer this retreat at a significantly reduced rate. A minimum $250 registration fee is required to reserve a space in this retreat and is subject to the cancellation policy below. We have determined that this discounted rate is necessary to ensure the registrant’s commitment to attending the retreat, reduce last minute cancellations, support the nuns’ efforts in planning this retreat, and support Spirit Rock in being able to financially offer this retreat.

A retreat of this length would normally cost $1800. This discounted rate covers a portion of the “value of the goods and services received” by attending this retreat. For those with greater means, the standard sliding scale is available on the registration page. This discounted rate is not tax-deductible.

On the last day of the retreat, participants will be invited to offer dana or make offerings in two categories: support for the retreat teachers and support for Spirit Rock. The word “dana” means generosity and simply translates into a heartfelt donation. Your support offered to the teachers and to Spirit Rock will help us continue to offer this unique annual monastic retreat and everything we do here. To read more about the practice of dāna, go to Dāna: The Practice of Generosity.

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Cancellation Policy (for this Monastic Retreat):
Full refund: on or before 8 weeks (April 4)
$175 fee: 4-8 weeks prior (April 5 – May 1)
No refunds: less than 4 weeks prior (May 2)