True Happiness: The Heart of Awakening (206R25) - On Land

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on September 26, 2024 and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on January 25, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early.

Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.

Retreat to be held on the land in the Community Meditation Center.*

Description

The nature of awareness lies at the heart of awakening and the experience of true happiness. The capacity to know intimately the presence of awareness is a powerful yet often overlooked gift. During this retreat we will explore the nature of mind and awareness and inquire into what supports and what obscures our experience of freedom. Together we will foster steadiness of mind, ease of body, and confidence of heart. By stabilizing our attention in the present moment, we will expand our trust in loving awareness and learn to rest in our innate capacity to awaken.

This retreat will alternate periods of silent stillness and movement meditation, guided instruction, Dharma talks, and meetings with the teachers. All are welcome.

*This retreat is a parallel retreat and will be held in the Community Meditation Center while another retreat is being held in the upper Retreat Center. It’s an opportunity to practice at Spirit Rock in a more intimate size retreat setting.

A Special Invitation and Aspiration!
Our aspiration for this retreat is to have a 50/50 ratio of BIPOC to non-BIPOC participants. Our strategy to achieve this while meeting the needs of Spirit Rock is to hold 50% of the spaces until November 15th for BIPOC retreatants. We are prioritizing all BIPOC folks. If you cannot register by November 15th, we encourage you to reach out to us even if the retreat might be full as we may have some funding in reserve. Please be aware that this retreat may fill quickly as it is a parallel retreat so the retreat size is smaller than usual. After November 15th, any remaining unfilled spots will be open to all.

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.*

Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $300
Benefactor Rate – $2400
Sustainer – $1800
Basic – $1200
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $475
*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.

Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee. These rates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and 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 residential retreats, we invite you to email us if the lowest rate does not fit your financial circumstance.

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

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 – $900
Basic-Commuter – $600