This is How Civilizations Heal: The Alchemy of the Three Poisons (234X25) - Lottery

Lottery application opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on February 6, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on February 27, 2025.

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

Open to self-identified BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)

Description:

Greed, aversion, and delusion, collectively known as the three poisons, are mind states that cloud the heart and mind. But these energies contain information that can lead us to a healing that can mitigate the chaos of the world.

Toni Morrison wrote, “I know the world is bruised and bleeding. And though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge, even wisdom. That is how civilizations heal.” By clearly recognizing the three poisons, we can meet them with their antidotes of generosity, mettā, and wisdom. Generosity can expand our ability to feel connected and remind us that we belong to each other. Mettā opens the heart, protecting us from both inner and outer harm, while wisdom allows us to see things right sized as we move through the world.

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

Financial Information:

Sliding Scale fees are for 7 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.*

Supporter Rate (guaranteed single room) – $3850
Benefactor – $2240
Sustainer – $1785
Basic – $1015
BIPOC Scholarship Rate (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $665
Young Adult Scholarship Rate (for young adults ages 18-26 years) – $665
*Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an opportunity to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Important Notes:
Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee and are limited to those with significant financial needs. 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, we invite you to email us if the lowest rate does not fit your circumstance.

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2024 – Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats have been updated..

Selection Details:
Applications are accepted between February 6 – 27, 2025 (end of the day). Applications received after the close date are automatically placed on the wait list (and will not be included in the first round of selections); however, will be considered as soon as spaces open up. 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!

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).

You will be notified about the selection results within two weeks of the initial 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 (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:
Sustainer-Commuter – $1260
Basic-Commuter – $840