About the Retreat
Important Notice
All retreat participants must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. We can not make any exceptions. Thanks!
In the weeks before the retreat we will be putting out additional specific information about Covid-19 health protocols that we will follow on the retreat.
About Silent Retreat Practice
We ask that you carefully read this section. It includes important information about the Eight-Day Retreat and the silent retreat process. It is important that applicants consider each of the items discussed here.
You’ll note that the material in this section, as well as the Retreat Application, have been adapted from the website for the Insight Meditation Society Forest Refuge Retreat Center.
Application Requirements
The Eight-Day Retreat is for advanced dharma practice. The retreat is structured for meditators with an established and ongoing commitment to meditation practice, including long-term retreat experience. We recommend that retreatants have practiced insight meditation for at least two years. You should have had instruction in the fundamentals of insight meditation and have a regular meditation practice. It is suggested that retreatants who are new to this kind of intensive silent practice have attended a weekend residential retreat or a minimum of three daylong retreats in the insight meditation form..
Please note that each retreat application is carefully reviewed. The teacher may exercise his discretion in accepting or declining applications.
Intensive Silent Retreat Practice
At an intensive silent meditation retreat, the practice can be strenuous and requires stability of physical and psychological health. If you have recently experienced considerable trauma, significant depression or anxiety, or are currently experiencing strong PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or other severe or debilitating mental health issues, a silent personal retreat may not be appropriate for you at this time in your life. To help you decide whether this kind of retreat is suitable, we urge you to discuss your situation with the teacher and/or therapist. Please be in touch with the teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
Communication
During the retreat, the buildings and grounds are in silence at all times, apart from the kitchen and some other areas where retreatants may be participating in yogi jobs.
Your cell phone should be off for the duration of your retreat. We also request that you leave behind your laptop and other communication devices so that you can commit to your retreat time wholeheartedly. This includes refraining from sending or receiving emails or texts.
Please take care of all personal and business obligations prior to the start of the retreat, so that communication with the outside world can be kept to an absolute minimum.
Any personal business that requires time away from your practice or from the retreat center grounds should be discussed with the retreat teacher first.
Medical issues
All retreat participants must be mentally stable and physically able to care for themselves. Everyone needs to have health insurance or be able to cover her/his own expenses in case of illness or medical emergencies. Any special needs must be discussed and agreed to in advance with the teacher.
In the event of a medical emergency, we will call 911. If an illness is acute, you will need to leave the retreat to recuperate.
Emergency Contact Person
Every retreatant must provide the name and contact details of an emergency contact person in order to attend the retreat. We will make every effort to communicate with this person in the event of an emergency. This person should be someone who can either collect you from the retreat center or help to make transportation arrangements if you need to leave the retreat early.
Application
We ask that every student please complete the retreat application. By understanding the retreat process and following these guidelines you help us greatly in providing for the most beneficial retreat experience for all who participate. Thank you so much.
Click here for the application form.
Important Notice
All retreat participants must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. We can not make any exceptions. Thanks!
In the weeks before the retreat we will be putting out additional specific information about Covid-19 health protocols that we will follow on the retreat.
About Silent Retreat Practice
We ask that you carefully read this section. It includes important information about the Eight-Day Retreat and the silent retreat process. It is important that applicants consider each of the items discussed here.
You’ll note that the material in this section, as well as the Retreat Application, have been adapted from the website for the Insight Meditation Society Forest Refuge Retreat Center.
Application Requirements
The Eight-Day Retreat is for advanced dharma practice. The retreat is structured for meditators with an established and ongoing commitment to meditation practice, including long-term retreat experience. We recommend that retreatants have practiced insight meditation for at least two years. You should have had instruction in the fundamentals of insight meditation and have a regular meditation practice. It is suggested that retreatants who are new to this kind of intensive silent practice have attended a weekend residential retreat or a minimum of three daylong retreats in the insight meditation form..
Please note that each retreat application is carefully reviewed. The teacher may exercise his discretion in accepting or declining applications.
Intensive Silent Retreat Practice
At an intensive silent meditation retreat, the practice can be strenuous and requires stability of physical and psychological health. If you have recently experienced considerable trauma, significant depression or anxiety, or are currently experiencing strong PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or other severe or debilitating mental health issues, a silent personal retreat may not be appropriate for you at this time in your life. To help you decide whether this kind of retreat is suitable, we urge you to discuss your situation with the teacher and/or therapist. Please be in touch with the teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
Communication
During the retreat, the buildings and grounds are in silence at all times, apart from the kitchen and some other areas where retreatants may be participating in yogi jobs.
Your cell phone should be off for the duration of your retreat. We also request that you leave behind your laptop and other communication devices so that you can commit to your retreat time wholeheartedly. This includes refraining from sending or receiving emails or texts.
Please take care of all personal and business obligations prior to the start of the retreat, so that communication with the outside world can be kept to an absolute minimum.
Any personal business that requires time away from your practice or from the retreat center grounds should be discussed with the retreat teacher first.
Medical issues
All retreat participants must be mentally stable and physically able to care for themselves. Everyone needs to have health insurance or be able to cover her/his own expenses in case of illness or medical emergencies. Any special needs must be discussed and agreed to in advance with the teacher.
In the event of a medical emergency, we will call 911. If an illness is acute, you will need to leave the retreat to recuperate.
Emergency Contact Person
Every retreatant must provide the name and contact details of an emergency contact person in order to attend the retreat. We will make every effort to communicate with this person in the event of an emergency. This person should be someone who can either collect you from the retreat center or help to make transportation arrangements if you need to leave the retreat early.
Application
We ask that every student please complete the retreat application. By understanding the retreat process and following these guidelines you help us greatly in providing for the most beneficial retreat experience for all who participate. Thank you so much.
Click here for the application form.