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Finding Refuge in our True Nature: Dharma, Wisdom, and Compassion (290R23) - On Land

Noliwe Alexander, John Martin, Louije Kim, Victoria Cary, Kimber Simpkins-Nuccio and Mario Castillo

October 17 - 22, 2023

Date and Time Details:
Tuesday to Sunday
October 17 - 22, 2023 (5 nights)
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30pm
Departure Time: 11:00am

On Land - Main Retreat Hall

Contact: Spirit Rock Registration
registration@spiritrock.org

  • Supporter-guaranteed single – $2,600.00
  • Benefactor-shared room – $2,050.00
  • Sustainer-shared room – $1,575.00
  • Base Rate-shared room – $1,025.00
  • Reduced-shared room – $650.00
  • Mudita/Karuna Scholarship-shared room – $275.00
  • BIPOC Scholarship-shared room – $275.00
  • Young Adult Scholarship-shared room – $275.00

Cancellation Policy:* Standard Cancellation Fee Schedule:

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

Scholarship Rates (and Commuter) 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 October 16, 2023. 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: Self-identified LGBTQIA+

Description:
Taking refuge in the inherent goodness of our true nature, we deepen in awareness, lovingkindness, and wisdom. We explore what refuge can truly mean for us, both individually and in our collective circles. As wisdom and compassion grow and weave together, they lead toward a rich and fruitful harvest, naturally opening and nurturing our hearts and minds. Making room for spacious inquiry, we’ll practice traditional meditation instructions, combining the brahmavihāra practices with Dharma talks, seated and walking meditations, and group practice discussions with the teachers. This retreat supports all levels of practice and inclusivity for our LGBTQIA+, GNC, and non-binary communities.

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 – $2600
Benefactor Rate – $2050
Sustainer Rate – $1575
Base – $1025
Reduced Rate – $650
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult) – $275
*Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s).

Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($55/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 Update**: 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 (16). 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.

**Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.

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

Cancellation Policy for Residential Retreats:***
Standard Cancellation Fee Schedule:

  • $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:
Benefactor – $1025
Sustainer – $770
Base – $515


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

John Martin

John Martin has been devoted to dharma practice since 2001, and has been teaching since 2014. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council. John teaches Vipassana, Metta and LGBTQI-themed meditation retreats. He also teaches in dedicated practitioner programs and supports practitioners in bringing practice to daily life. John's spiritual path […]

Learn more about John Martin

Louije Kim

Louije Kim, LMFT, is a San Francisco Bay Area based dharma practitioner, teacher and licensed psychotherapist. They have completed dharma study programs including Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioners and Community Dharma Leader programs, and recently graduated from Spirit Rock’s four-year Teacher Training in 2020. Louije has taught in various dharma centers locally and across the U.S. […]

Learn more about Louije Kim

Victoria Cary

Victoria Cary is a Dhamma teacher and leader who co-founded the San Francisco Black Indigenous People of Color Insight Sangha and continues as one of its core teachers. She loves the Dhamma and is interested in supporting people in their practice by focusing on integrating Dhamma into everyday life. Her identity as a queer, bi-racial […]

Learn more about Victoria Cary

Kimber Simpkins-Nuccio

Kimber Simpkins-Nuccio (she/they) is a white, cis, queer mom and writer who taught yoga and mindfulness in the San Francisco Bay area for more than twenty years, bringing a body love and social justice perspective to her teaching and learning. She has completed the Dedicated Practitioner’s Program at Spirit Rock, teacher training at the Mindfulness […]

Learn more about Kimber Simpkins-Nuccio

Mario Castillo

Mario Castillo (he/him) identifies as a queer, cis man of color on a spiritual path and has been a dedicated Buddhist practitioner in the Theravāda and Vipassanā traditions for nearly 15 years. Mario began attending the East Bay Meditation Center’s Alphabet and People of Color Sanghas in 2009. He later co-founded two peer-led Deep Refuge […]

Learn more about Mario Castillo

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