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Finding Refuge in Belonging: Annual BIPOC Retreat (340R24) - On Land

Noliwe Alexander, Leslie Booker, Gullu Singh, JD, Margarita Loinaz, MD, Jonathan Relucio and Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA

June 28 - July 4, 2024

Date and Time Details:
Friday to Thursday
June 28 - July 4, 2024 (6 Nights)
Arrival Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm US Pacific Time
Departure Time: 11:00am US Pacific Time

On Land - Main Retreat Hall

Contact: Spirit Rock Registration
registration@spiritrock.org

  • Supporter-guaranteed single. – $3,300.00
  • Benefactor-shared room. – $1,920.00
  • Sustainer-shared room. – $1,350.00
  • Basic Rate-shared room. – $870.00
  • BIPOC Scholarship Rate-shared room. – $390.00
  • Toni Ko Scholarship Rate-shared room. – $50.00

CANCELLATION POLICY:*

Standard Cancellation Fees:
  • $100 On or before 8 weeks
  • $175 4-8 weeks before
  • $300 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:
  • $75 On or before 8 weeks
  • $100 4-8 weeks before
  • $200 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before
*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family

Registration open until 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on June 27, 2024. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early.

Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.


RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

OPEN TO ALL SELF-IDENTIFIED BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR

Description:
As a BIPOC community, we come together to awaken to the possibility of our collective liberation. Knowing this liberation can only happen while in the presence of Beloved Community, we will open our hearts and minds to the true refuge of belonging.

Throughout this retreat, we will gain insight into the 10 Paramis—the perfections or attainments of heart and mind—which will guide us as a map for the recovery and reclamation of a culture of belonging and wisdom. These are qualities for navigating life, not just guidelines for meditation, and they are said to be what the Buddha was cultivating in earlier lifetimes as he slowly developed into one who could awaken fully and show others the way to freedom.

We will practice both seated and walking meditation/movement, as well as guided meditations, instructions, and Dharma offerings. All meditation levels are welcome to register.

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


Financial Details
Residential Retreat Sliding Scale:*
Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $3300
Benefactor Rate – $1920
Sustainer – $1350
Basic – $870
Toni Ko Scholarship Rate (for 1st time retreatants ages 27-55 yrs) – $50
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC) – $390
*Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s). You will be given an opportunity at the end of the retreat to offer Teacher Dana.

Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($65/night). Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “pay what you can”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings as space allows.

Room Occupancy: We have double and single occupancy rooms. Many of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We offer a “guaranteed single room” rate and these will be limited (20). This rate guarantees a single room while helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. The remaining single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; however, they are initially prioritized for those with serious medical needs.

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

CANCELLATION POLICY (Residential Retreats):**
Standard Cancellation Fees:

  • $100 On or before 8 weeks
  • $175 4-8 weeks before
  • $300 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:

  • $75 On or before 8 weeks
  • $100 4-8 weeks before
  • $200 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds as of 2 weeks before

**Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family


Retreat Commuter Option:
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is full with a waitlist.

Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:
You must have attended at least one 7-night or two 5-night silent, Insight (vipassanā) meditation residential retreats PRIOR to attending this retreat.

What is a Retreat Commuter?
A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are listed below for retreat commuters

If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org

Commuter Sliding Scale:
Commuter-Sustainer – $675
Commuter-Basic – $435


About the Teachers

noliwe-alexander

Noliwe Alexander

Noliwe Alexander has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. Throughout this time of deep devotion to the Dharma, Noliwe has become a dedicated practitioner, meditation teacher of various retreats and sitting groups, day-longs and class series programs. She dedicates her BuddhaDharma practice and teachings to the BIPOC, LGBTQIA, At Risk and […]

Learn more about Noliwe Alexander

Leslie Booker

Booker brings her heart to the intersection of Dharma, Embodied Wisdom, and Liberation; using this framework to support folks in creating a culture of belonging. She shares her offerings as a university lecturer, public speaker, and Buddhist philosophy and meditation teacher. Booker began training at Spirit Rock through the Mindful Yoga and Meditation training (2012), […]

Learn more about Leslie Booker
Gullu Singh

Gullu Singh, JD

Gulwinder “Gullu” Singh is a corporate real estate attorney and dedicated Dharma practitioner. He teaches both secular and Buddhist classes, groups and retreats. He has taught mindfulness at universities, in law firms, bar associations and corporate settings. He is a graduate the 4-year Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program and qualified to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. […]

Learn more about Gullu Singh, JD
Margarita Loinaz - Spirit Rock Visiting Teacher

Margarita Loinaz, MD

Margarita Loinaz, MD has trained in the Tibetan and Theravada traditions. She met her root teacher Kalu Rimpoche in 1977 and is a Dzogchen student of Lama Drimed Norbu. She is a graduate of the first Community Dharma Leader’s Program at SRMC and began teaching in l997 leading the Women of Color Sitting Group in Marin […]

Learn more about Margarita Loinaz, MD

Jonathan Relucio

For a decade, Jonathan Relucio taught trauma-informed yoga, meditation, and mindfulness in urban schools, mental health clinics and juvenile detention centers as a Senior Trainer for Niroga Institute. He has completed Spirit Rock's Mindfulness, Yoga and Meditation Training program and currently teaches at the East Bay Meditation Center. Jonathan facilitates transformation in social justice movements with Rockwood […]

Learn more about Jonathan Relucio

Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA

Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA, has been practicing meditation for over 25 years and studying the Dharma in the Theravada tradition for more than 15 years. Ramona Lisa considers herself a dedicated lay practitioner of the Dharma and has spent the last four years undertaking contemporary vows and living as a lay renunciate householder. She enjoys […]

Learn more about Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA

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