Maraṇasati: Mindful of Death, Awakening to Life (272R27) - On Land

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on September 2, 2026, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on October 26, 2027. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early.

Applying for a residential scholarship? – see our Financial Support FAQs.
Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.

Description

The Buddha highly valued and taught Mindfulness of Death (maraṇasati) as a preparation for our own death and a doorway to awakening. He encouraged maraṇasati practice as a way to cultivate the qualities needed to live an awakened life, such as appreciation of the preciousness of human birth/life; insight into impermanence and change; freedom from rigidity and clinging; and equanimity with the difficulty of human existence.

This retreat will be grounded in the traditional practices of mindful awareness and compassion. The instructions will be woven together with an understanding and recognition of the impermanence and change that occur naturally in every moment of our lives. We will utilize the skills of awareness and investigation in our sitting practice, with some guided visualization and a period of contemplative (interactive) inquiry each day.

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

Financial Details

Sliding Scale fees are for 5 nights including food and lodging. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock’s efforts in offering lower sliding scale rates and supporting the large number of scholarship requests.

Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $3,225
Benefactor Rate – $2,575
Sustainer Rate – $1,925
Basic Rate – $1,300
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $500
Present Parent Scholarship (low-to-modest income parent/legal guardian raising children under 18) – $50*
*See eligibility requirements here>> Financial Support FAQs

Pay in full or Payment plan: You can either pay in full or pay a minimum 30% deposit when you register. Payment plans are available to everyone! If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically set up and charged to your payment card in equal installments on a monthly basis. Full payment is due two weeks prior to the retreat start.

Cancellation Policy (Residential Retreats):**
Standard Cancellation Fees:

• $50: On or before 12 weeks
• $100: 8-12 weeks before
• $175: 4-8 weeks before
• $300: 2-4 weeks before
• No refunds as of 2 weeks before

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:

• Full refund: On or before 12 weeks
• $75: 8-12 weeks before
• $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

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 accommodation at their own expense. 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.

The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is FULL with a waitlist. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (e.g. staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you. (“Personal circumstances” could be situations like if you are a sole caregiver, or parent w/young children where you need to be home each night, for example.)

Prerequisite for Commuters:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation PRIOR to attending this retreat.

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

Commuter Sliding Scale:
Sustainer-Commuter – $975
Basic-Commuter – $650

Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats