Living Dharma Program: Exploring and Integrating the Eight-fold path in Daily Life (LDP3) - Application

Deadline to apply: September 27, 2023. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Important note: Scholarship Rates are limited and reserved for those who are experiencing significant financial hardship. Apply early!

PROGRAM DATES: September 2023 – May 2024

All large group sessions:
Saturdays
9:30am – 4:00pm US Pacific Time

Program Opening: September 30 (Required) – 9:30am-11:30am PT
Session 1: October 14
Session 2: November 4
Session 3: December 2
Session 4: January 6
Session 5: February 3
Session 6: March 2
Session 7: April 6
Session 8: May 4

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES:

Preferred pre-requisites (strongly encouraged, not required):

• A minimum of 10 days of any combination of: silent residential meditation retreats, daylongs, or mindfulness workshops
• At least 2 years of meditation practice
• For white-identified applicants, priority will be given to those who have done or are signed up to take a white awareness, antiracist, and/or racial equity training
• Priority is offered to those practicing Vipassana (Insight Meditation)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

This program is to be held entirely online and designed for meditators and Buddhist practitioners wishing to engage wholeheartedly in a deep exploration and practice of Dharma through the study and teaching of the Buddha’s “Noble Eightfold Path.” Using the classic Buddhist teachings of sīla, samādhi, and pañña (ethics, meditation, and wisdom), we will look at how we cultivate mindfulness, kindness, and balance given the inner stresses of modern life, and the outer challenges of social inequity and the pressure of climate change.

This will be a practical, experiential, and meditative program exploring the Buddha’s teachings on the eight limbs of the Dharma path: Wise Understanding, Wise Motivation, Wise Action, Wise Livelihood, Wise Communication, Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, and Wise Concentration. Through the support of these teachings we will inquire how to live and respond to life with awareness, wisdom, and compassion.

In this journey, we will create a vibrant learning community to study, meditate, and inquire into these key areas of Buddhist teaching and how to make these teachings practical and relevant in our current social milieu. Our meditation practice and what is happening around us politically, socially, and globally are not separate. As we explore the Eightfold Path teachings, we will apply what was taught 2600 years ago to what we live and experience in our contemporary lives.

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• Monthly large group sessions (recorded)
• Monthly small group sessions
• Daily and monthly home practices and readings
• Monthly written reflections
• Monthly Q&A (recorded)

PARTICIPATION COMMITMENT:

• Must attend Program Opening on September 30, 2023 – required!
• Must attend at least 6 of 8 large group sessions live (and access recordings of any missed sessions)
• Meditation: 20-30 min/day recommended
• Reading, journaling, and written reflections: 4-8 hr/month
• One small group meeting with teachers (held during a large group session)
• Q&A Sessions: 1 hr/month (highly recommended but not required, and will be recorded)
  • Wed, Nov 15 – 10:00am PT
  • Wed, Jan 10 – 6:00pm PT
  • Thurs, Feb 15 – 10:00am PT
  • Wed, March 20 – 6:00pm PT

APPLICATION TIMELINE AND PROCESS:

April 28 – September 27, 2023: Applications open and accepted on a rolling basis until program is full.
September 28: Final notifications sent out
Deposits due: Within 3 days of acceptance notification

All applications will go through a screening process by the teachers and will be formally accepted on a rolling basis throughout the application period until the program fills, or until September 27, 2023, whichever comes first. Applications received after the program is full or after September 27 (again, whichever comes first) will automatically be considered for the waitlist. You are encouraged to apply early.

All applicants will be notified of their status no later than September 20, 2023, via email.

TUITION

Sliding Scale: $2100 – $3500. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports the teachers of this program as well as Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners. Any amount offered above the Base rate of $2100 is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others.

Standard Sliding Scale:
Benefactor – $3500
Sustainer – $2650
Base – $2100

Scholarship rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are open to those who truly need financial support.
Scholarship Rate 1 – $1950
Scholarship Rate 2 – $1650
Scholarship Rate 3 – $790
Scholarship Rate 4 – $525 (Reserved for BIPOC)*
*Scholarship Rate 4 is limited and reserved for BIPOC folks only who may be experiencing acute financial hardship. If closer to the program start there are unallocated scholarships for this rate, these may become available for non-BIPOC folks.

Participation in LDP requires a financial commitment. ALL participants have the option of paying in full, or a 30% deposit at the time of acceptance. Payment plans are available for all levels of the sliding scale.

If you choose to pay a deposit, you will have the option to make monthly installments for the remaining balance. All program fees must be paid in full no later than December 30, 2023. Installments can only be set up on credit cards. Please contact us if you have any questions.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Participating in LDP will require your commitment of both time and financial resources. If you need to withdraw from the program, the following fee structure will apply. Cancellation fee is deducted from the program fees paid; fee is a percentage of the total amount agreed to pay. These fees apply to all participants.

$50 non-refundable, flat fee for all applicants August 1 – September 15
10% fee: September 16 – September 29
25% fee: September 30 – October 14
50% fee: October 15 – November 4
No refunds = On or after November 5

Go Here to Learn More: Living Dharma Program Details