NOTE: This is a Lottery Retreat. To be eligible for the Lottery, all forms, including payment information, need to be received by 4pm on Wednesday January 30, 2013.

This retreat is about developing holistic awareness: an awareness that includes the intelligence of body, heart and thought. Instructions will be given in Qi Gong, chanting and mindfulness of breathing. Through the application of this awareness, we are able to refer to our bodies, attitudes and mind-states in a way that supports balance and release.

Retreatants will be expected to observe the Eight Precepts, maintain silence and participate fully in the daily routine of group meditation and simple chores. There will also be opportunities for personal guidance in small group interviews with Ajahn and Ayya.

Spirit Rock offers this retreat on a dana basis. The word "dana" means generosity, and simply translates into a heartfelt donation. This retreat has no registration fee. (Our normal cost of a retreat this length would be $1575 - $810 sliding scale, plus dana to teachers and retreat staff). Instead, participants are invited to offer dana donations in three categories: first to support the retreat teachers, second to support the retreat cooks and retreat managers, and third to cover Spirit Rock's operating expenses so that we can continue to offer a yearly monastic retreat on a dana basis.

Due to the difficulties caused by the increasing number of late cancellations in recent years, a deposit policy has been instituted for our Monastic retreats. A refundable registration deposit of $150 is required to register for this retreat. For those who attend the retreat or who cancel at least 30 days in advance, the deposit can be refunded upon request or it can be offered as a freewill donation to Spirit Rock. The deposit cannot be refunded to those who cancel after April 30, 2013.
Out of respect for others, please register only when you can make a clear and whole hearted commitment to attend.

We hope that a dana approach will make our monastic retreats accessible to more people, and that a cycle of generosity and gratitude will contribute to the sustainability of this offering.

Online Bulletin Board for Ride Sharing

Also remember that the cost above is priced as a sliding scale. Please pay at the highest level of the sliding scale that you can afford. This allows others who need to pay less the opportunity to attend. Fee is for room and board. Teaching and staffing of the retreats is by donation at the end of the retreat. For more information, see Retreat FAQ.