The Doorway to Freedom and Peace: The Three Characteristics (358X24) - Lottery

Lottery application opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on April 2, 2024 and closes 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on April 23, 2024.

Admission for this retreat is by application and a lottery-style selection in order to maintain a diverse community of practitioners – see Lottery Selection Details below for more information.

Description:
The radical premise of the Buddha’s teaching is that realizing the truth—what Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki called “things-as-it-is”—is the doorway to freedom and peace. During this retreat, we will engage mindfulness and compassion to turn toward the living truth that arises each moment, with an emphasis on the Three Characteristics of Reality: all things are impermanent (aniccā), ultimately unreliable (dukkha), and ownerless (not “me or mine” (anattā)). Our time together will include periods of silent meditation and movement, along with instructions, Dharma talks, and meetings with teachers. All are welcome.

Financial Information:
Sliding Scale: $720-$1800; 3 nights including food and lodging. Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s). You will have an opportunity to offer dana at the end of the retreat.

Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners. Any amount offered above the Sustainer rate is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others. These fees DO NOT include dana for the teachers.

Supporter Rate (guaranteed single room) – $1800
Benefactor – $1440
Sustainer – $1080
Basic – $720
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship Rate (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $195
BIPOC Scholarship Rate (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $195
Young Adult Scholarship Rate (for young adults ages 18-26 years) – $195

Important Notes:
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 “no one turned away”-type scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

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 also 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.

*Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ Updates on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Selection Details:
Applications are accepted between April 2 and April 23 (end of the day). All applications are assigned a random number for the selection process. The lottery-style selection process helps us balance many factors to create equity, diversity, inclusion, and access across our community of practitioners. The factors include: age, gender, scholarship needs & availability, affinity group participation, and stage of practice (new to experienced). Applications received after the close date are automatically placed on the wait list (and will not be included in the first round of selections). Notification rounds can move quickly in the first few weeks following the first acceptances, so we recommend staying ready. You may be accepted sooner than you realize!

You will be notified about the selection results within two weeks of the application close date. If you have been offered a space, you will have two days to pay a deposit to accept/hold the space. If you don’t accept the space within this deadline, we will offer it to the next person in line.

Cancellation Policy for 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 – $540
Commuter-Basic – $360