Thank you for your interest in the SFBC's fourth Month-Long Meditation Immersion Retreat, led by Viveka. It is currently full but this can change so please go ahead and read the following information and if you decide you would like to attend or you have any questions send us an email and we'll get back to you if a space opens up.
Who is it for?
The retreat is open to members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community.
While we do everything we can to provide supportive conditions, this month of silence is most suited to people with a sound meditation and dharma practice, previous experience of working well with themselves and others in silence on longer retreats (a week or more), and a willingness to stay present and investigate whatever arises in their experience.
Silence
We will ease into a communal practice of silence to support rest and regeneration as well as a quality of presence and listening essential to spiritual insight. Appreciating that we are gathering after many years of pandemic, we are programming in options every few days for those wishing for mindful conversation with another person to connect during the afternoon break, away from communal areas. After the midpoint of the retreat we’ll be asking for the co-creation of extended noble silence, inclusive of break times. There will also be occasional structured opportunities to connect in small groups and in 1:1 meditation reviews about practice. With this approach we hope to harmoniously support the range of needs from maintaining silence to the need for touchpoints of communication to sustain emotional positivity.
TIMING AND COST
The retreat begins Sunday June 1, with registration at 5pm. It ends Saturday June 28 by 12 noon. The cost is $2000 to $1600.
Please pay the highest amount you are able within the range. This helps us to cover the retreat fee for the retreat leader, the cook, and others needing help with costs.
There will be a few spaces for people who can only come for the first two weeks - Sunday June 1 to Saturday June 14, and the cost will be $975 to $1300. (13 nights).
Dana is traditionally offered separately for the retreat leaders, organizers, and cook.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
We ask everyone to take reasonable precautions to protect against infection in the days leading up to the retreat. Please check all our requirements here.
If you consider yourself at increased risk you should not attend.
ACCOMMODATIONS
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. Please be prepared to share and bring good earplugs or to camp.
There is plenty of space for tents, and the weather is usually fine in June. We can also help to some extent if you would like to borrow camping gear.
TRAVEL AND CARPOOLING
We encourage carpooling and if you would like us to help you find a ride please let us know on your registration. If you are driving and can offer rides, please also let us know. Thank you!
Unfortunately we cannot arrange airport or train station pickups.
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 head cooks to plan and organize lunch and dinner, and organizers to help with the smooth running of the retreat. Everyone else takes on a simple daily task - 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.
FREE TIME
There will be free time to hike or stroll around the area or relax.
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT
We will ask you to pay an initial deposit of $100 by September, 2024. The next payment of $400 will be due by January 31, 2025, with the full amount payable by May 1 2025. We are open to other arrangements, for example setting up a monthly payment leading up to the retreat, if this helps you.
In the event that we need to cancel we will refund all payments. If there is a waiting list and you have not paid the amount due by each date we will do our best to contact you but if we don't hear back we will give your place to someone else. Deposits are non-refundable after Jan 31, 2025.