Weekend Meditation Retreat at Dharmadhara
Mindfulness of the Buddha
This retreat is inspired by the Satipatthana Sutta, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. This is one of the most influential meditation texts in Buddhism, and can support us to live with more embodied awareness, contentment and insight.
Paramabodhi will continue the theme of his four week Sangha Night series, taking the practices even deeper.
This is a Sangha Retreat – open to Order Members, Mitras, and Friends practicing at the SFBC. We will observe some periods of silence throughout the retreat to support mindfulness and deepen our meditation practice, while still allowing space for guidance, connection, and questions as needed.
Registration will open in May.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Please check all our requirements here.
FOOD AND WORK PERIODS
All food is vegan, with eggs and dairy options on the side. To simplify cooking and cleaning in silence we have a cook to organize lunch and dinner, and everyone on the retreat chooses a task that they can do every day – either preparing breakfast, chopping vegetables, or cleaning dishes. If you have a preference please let us know in advance. There is also a clean up session that we all share at the end of the retreat.
ACCOMMODATION
Dharmadhara is a rustic residence with a very beautiful shrine room, located in Lake County – about 2.5 to 3 hours North of San Francisco. The main building has a kitchen, dining room, sitting room with wood burning stove, 7 small dorms, some with 2 beds, some with 3 beds, 3 indoor toilets and 2 showers. There are no private rooms and we ask that you come prepared, with good earplugs and a willingness to practice forbearance towards your roommate/s. If you do not feel comfortable sharing a room with others we may be able to find space in the living room or shrine room for one or two people, but this is not guaranteed, so please get in touch about this before you register. There is also the option to camp, although it will be cold, and possibly raining or snowing.
TRAVEL AND CARPOOLING
We encourage carpooling. If you need help organizing a ride please let us know and we will do our best to get you there. If you are driving and can offer rides, please also let us know. Thank you!
TIMING AND COST
The retreat is 2 nights, beginning with dinner at 6pm Friday August 28, and ending Sunday August 30 at 2pm.
The cost is a sliding scale of $300 to $200. To reserve your space please pay the full amount or a $100 deposit. Deposits becomes non-refundable after the booking deadline of August 15.