Insight Meditation 2-Month Retreat Application - 2024

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

PREREQUISITE:
Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

RETREAT DESCRIPTION:
February
An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, through a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.

March
“The Still Heart of Awareness”
Awareness, or consciousness, is the very heart of sentient life, the faculty that reveals all the events of our experience. Yet in our dharma practice we may not have learned how to meditate directly on this fundamental aspect of our minds.

In this retreat we will explore the nature of awareness in three stages. We’ll begin by developing greater stability of mind through mindfulness of breathing. Next we’ll introduce a regular practice of lovingkindness, allowing the beautiful and responsive qualities of heart to unfold. Then, with these foundations, we’ll start to explore the nature of awareness, this mysterious capacity of knowing. These practices open the door to emptiness, profound understanding, and great freedom.

Special Note for 2024: When registering for the 2-Month retreat, please be aware that the March retreat will feature very different themes from the February retreat in the meditation instructions and talks, unlike in prior years. Please read the descriptions carefully for both months before registering. Participants in March will be expected to follow the instructions as offered for that retreat. If you are not interested, the teachers kindly ask that you not sign up for this retreat.

These extended retreats (as with all retreats at Spirit Rock) are NOT open for self-retreats.

February Teaching Team:
Andrea Fella, John Martin, Devin Berry, James Baraz, Jaya Rudgard, Tara Mulay, Kim Allen (assistant), Rasika Link (movement)

March Teaching Team:
Guy Armstrong, Sally Armstrong, Dawn Scott, Susie Harrington, Tuere Sala, Jaya Rudgard, Kodo Conlin (assistant), Eleni Monos (trainee), Rasika Link (movement)

Sliding Scale: $3,080-$23,240
Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $23,240
Benefactor – $16,800
Sustainer – $12,320
BASE – $8,120
Scholarship Rate (YA, BIPOC, M/K) – $3,080
PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).

PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. These protocols may change between now and the start of the retreats.

CANCELLATION POLICY – Two-month Retreat:

• $350 fee* = on or before December 9, 2023 (> 8 weeks)
• $600 fee* = December 10, 2023 – January 6, 2024 (4-8 weeks)
• $850 fee* = January 7 – 20, 2024 (2-4 weeks)
• No refunds = January 21, 2024 or after (applies to ALL participants)

*Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier.