RETREAT DESCRIPTION

 

Our minds wander in circles and patterns. We repeat them over and over, giving birth to me-ing and my-ing, followed by egoistic decay and death. This is the meaning of “saṃsāra.” Skillful Dhamma practice looks carefully into the nature of how minds, thoughts, memories, emotions, and narratives wander and spin. Skillful inquiry and insight leads to disentangling. When mindfulness, focused attention, compassion, joy, and understanding are thus unencumbered, we awaken to the stillness we’ve been longing for — even when everything around us is swirling and churning madly.

Within a framework of mindful living, formal meditation, noble silence, dedication, and sangha we will explore the saṃsāras we habitually find ourselves in. Dhamma teachings will guide contemplations that shed light on the concocted nature of these patterns and thus reveal the unconcocted potential that is always right here. Some of these teachings will be drawn from a new book by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu, Seeing with the Eye of Dhamma.

To support deepening contemplation, we cultivate mindfulness, wise effort, and calm focus. Experienced meditators can do so using the meditation practices they know best. In addition, guidance in mindfulness with breathing and other grounding practices will be provided. A schedule of sitting and walking sessions will support group harmony. Supported by the safe, friendly, and beautiful space for retreat that Cloud Mountain provides, we will enjoy wholesome living, healthy food, noble silence, and community of practice. Santikaro will be available for one-on-one and small-group practice interviews.

 

Partial attendance is not offered on this retreat. Additionally, please consider attending this retreat only if your current life circumstances allow you to engage in an important modern renunciation practice of staying offline and off phone/text during the entire course of the retreat (some exceptions related to pressing family situations may be granted.)

2023 CURRENT COVID-19 PROTOCOLS:
A vaccination requirement is still in place for all participants on this retreat. Follow this link for more information about the vaccine requirement, including an avenue for medical exemption.

Participants will be housed in single sleeping rooms.

We require the following schedule of rapid testing with negative results: 1)  on the Tuesday prior to the retreat stat; 2)  on the Friday start-day of the retreat; and 3) on Monday during the retreat for any retreats longer than 3 nights.

We continue to require all retreatants, **teachers and staff to remain masked until all participants conduct the Monday testing with negative results. At that point masking becomes optional. (**With consent of the group, teachers will teach without masks starting the first night but remain masked along with the group at all other times.)

The retreat container will be constructed in accordance with the current covid-19 conditions at the time to maximize individual and group health.  All participants will be required to follow all covid-19 health and safety guidelines in place at Cloud Mountain. We reserve the right to adjust expectations of acceptable behaviors within the retreat environment to respond most appropriately to covid-19 conditions. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

SCHOLARSHIP INFO
Scholarship funds are available on all retreats to assist those with financial challenges. For more information, read the Scholarship section of our overview information.

RETREAT COST

Subsidized fee : $420 plus dana offerings to teacher(s) and staff

Sustaining fee : $480 plus dana offerings to teacher(s) and staff

Supporting fee : $540 plus dana offerings to teacher(s) and staff

Following in the Buddhist tradition, none of your registration fee will go to the teacher(s). Please consider offering teacher dāna at the event to support their livelihood. (Dāna is a term for generosity, or freely offered giving. You can find more information about this way of offering the teachings and the "economy of gifts" on our Donation page.)

TEACHERS

To learn more about a teacher, please click on their photo.

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