If you had only one year to live, what would you do?

Summer Lovingkindness Retreat

August 18 - August 27, 2024
Silent meditation retreat On-Land
The Buddha’s liberating teachings on the four divine sanctuaries include meditations on universal friendliness, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity. Aimed at purifying our hearts and developing concentration, these divine sanctuaries aid our ability to both find inner peace and to powerfully engage with the world. This retreat will deepen our understanding of selfless love and how it ends suffering. Retreatants are encouraged to combine this Lovingkindness Retreat with the previous Elements Retreat to further develop concentration, purify the heart, and learn to integrate these two forms of Buddhist meditation.

Sliding Scale Pricing

We offer our retreats on a sliding scale to make the Dharma accessible to all.
By selecting the highest rate you're able to afford, you help support Spirit Rock's ability to offer lower rates and meet the growing number of scholarship requests. Your generosity sustains our nonprofit mission and ensures that these teachings of lovingkindness and wisdom remain available to everyone.

$5400

Maximum generosity.
Helps the dharma remain accessible to all.

  • Covers all costs with generous offering
  • Supports reduced rates and scholarships
  • Tax-deductible amount above Sustainer rate
  • Guaranteed single room

$4320

Generous support.
Helps the community and teachings.

  • Covers all costs with meaningful contribution
  • Supports our work and future programs
  • Tax-deductible amount above Sustainer rate
  • Higher chance of single room

$3240

Our standard rate.
The foundation of our community.

  • Covers food, lodging, and program costs
  • Supports program sustainability
  • Not tax-deductible
  • Shared or single accommodations

$2160

Partially subsidized.
Made possible by community generosity.

  • Makes programs more accessible
  • Not tax-deductible
  • Shared or single accommodations

Teacher Dāna

Please note that registration fees do not include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Meet the Teaching Team

Tempel Smith

Tempel Smith

Teacher

Tempel Smith teaches Mindfulness, Insight and mettā meditation with an emphasis on Buddhist psychology and mind-body awareness. He spent a year as a monk in Burma with Sayadaw U Pandita and Pa Auk Sayadaw. Tempel serves on the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council, organizes the Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP) and Living Dharma retreats for Spirit Rock, and teaches classes in the East Bay.

Tuere Sala

Tuere Sala

Teacher

Tuere Sala is a Guiding Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Retreat Center and has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years. Tuere has been teaching since 2010, assisting others in establishing and maintaining a daily practice.

Anushka Fernandopulle

Anushka Fernandopulle

Teacher

Anushka Fernandopulle has trained for over 35 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Her teaching is informed by nature, arts, political engagement and modern urban life. She also works as a leadership coach and organizational consultant, influenced by a BA in anthropology/religion from Harvard and an MBA from Yale.

Bonnie Duran

Bonnie Duran

Teacher

Bonnie Duran met the Dharma in 1982 and has received teachings from many Western and Thai, Burmese, and Tibetan teachers. Bonnie is a graduate of the IMS/SRMC retreat teacher-training program and is on the SRMC Guiding Teachers Council. Dr. Duran is a professor emeritus at the University of Washington

John Martin

John Martin

Teacher

John Martin has been devoted to dharma practice since 2001. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council. John teaches Vipassana, Metta and LGBTQI-themed meditation retreats. He also teaches in dedicated practitioner programs and supports practitioners in bringing practice to daily life.

Kristina Baré, MFT

Kristina Baré, MFT

Teacher

Kristina Baré is an insight meditation teacher. She invites a kind, patient, and embodied approach as a base for samadhi, loving-kindness, and insight practices.

Rasika Link

Teacher

Rasika has taught haṭha yoga since 1984, influenced by teachers in the Iyengar and Kripalu traditions. In 1999 she began vipassanā practice at Spirit Rock, which gradually shaped her yoga into a more mindful, concentrated style. She invites curiosity and gentleness in asana practice, encouraging softening around rough edges. Rasika lives in Portland, Oregon, and enjoys time with her two young grandchildren.

Brett Wheeler, PhD

Brett Wheeler, PhD

Teacher

Brett is a psychotherapist and dharma teacher living in Berkeley, California. He was formerly an academic and attorney and has been close to the dharma for a couple decades. He has taught for the past decade and is inspired by meeting others on the path together.

Helpful Info & FAQs

Cancellation Policy

Standard Cancellation Fees:*

  • $50: On or before 12 weeks 
  • $100: 8-12 weeks before
  • $175: 4-8 weeks before
  • $300: 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds less than 2 weeks before

Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:*

  • Full refund: On or before 12 weeks
  • $75: 8-12 weeks before
  • $100: 4-8 weeks before
  • $200: 2-4 weeks before
  • No refunds less than 2 weeks before

*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family

**Monthlong retreats and Dharma Training programs have specific and very different cancellation policies. Refer back to your confirmation email for this information.**

Payment Plan Option

Payment plans are available to everyone! Installments can only be set up on a credit cards, and some debit cards (we only accept VISA, Mastercard, or Discover).

You can either pay in full or pay a 30% deposit when you register. If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged monthly in equal installments using the same card you used to pay your deposit. The payment will debit on the 'same date' of the month that you paid your deposit. Full payment is due 2 weeks prior to the retreat start.

Let us know if you need to adjust a debit date or if you need to update your credit card. Any adjustments need to be done well in advance of a scheduled debit date. We are not able to 'reverse' a charge once it has been processed.

COVID and Other Illnesses

  • While on retreat, participants live closely together and are in shared spaces; so it is very important that everyone takes steps to minimize the transmission of colds, flu, or other infectious diseases. We ask individuals who are sick to please stay home! Notify the registration department as soon as possible; cancellation fees will apply. 
  • Spirit Rock does not require proof of vaccination or compulsory testing for COVID, if you feel uncertain about this policy participants are encouraged to wear a mask for your own personal comfort, but it is not required. In advance of your retreat, please consider wearing a mask while en route to Spirit Rock via public transportation of any kind. Be mindful of attending large public gatherings where the risk of exposure is increased. If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, take a COVID test, and please reconsider coming on retreat.
  • We suggest everyone practice diligent hand hygiene (20 seconds of handwashing as often as practical).
  • If a practitioner (or teacher) becomes sick while on retreat, they will be asked to mask, and if serious, leave the retreat. We will also ask that they take a COVID antigen self-test onsite, and if they test positive for COVID-19, they must exit the retreat. We will not be able to offer a refund for mid-retreat exits.

Room Occupancy

We have double and single occupancy rooms. Many of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We offer a limited number of "guaranteed single room" rates which guarantees a single room while generously helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. The remaining single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; however, they are initially prioritized for those with serious medical needs.

Participation and Attendance Guidelines

Explore the practice of being on retreat - Learn more here.

  • This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings. Explore "How Retreat Works"
  • Preparing for Your Retreat
  • We strongly encourage you to read the sub-section "Retreat Guidelines and Agreements" so you understand what is required of you as a participant on this silent retreat.
  • Review a general outline of a Retreat Schedule.
  • If you have "never meditated" before, we recommend attending two to three daylong programs first! Then "graduate" to longer retreats like a 4- or 5-night retreat.
  • We would be happy to help guide you and set you up for success, please contact the Registration Department so we may have a conversation. We want you to be prepared.

Scholarship Offerings and Types

Spirit Rock Meditation Center offers several categories of scholarship types for residential retreats. Scholarship rates are limited to those with significant financial need. A scholarship application is required to be considered for any scholarship rate below. We have many requests for scholarships and cannot honor all requests.

Muditā/Karuṇa Scholarship Rate: 

  • Muditā: supports any individual who has significant financial need; this includes our low income folks and elders (65+) on fixed incomes; or young adults who have 'aged out' of the Young Adult rate.
  • Karuṇa: supports individuals who have significant financial need and have a serious medical condition(s), or life-threatening illness.

Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color.

Toni Ko Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have a significant financial need, are 27-55 years old, AND are attending their FIRST silent residential retreat (limited to a 6-night retreat only) at Spirit Rock. This scholarship is a one-time award.

Young Adult Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who are between the age of 18-26 years old. If all the Young Adult rates are sold out, you may select one of the above options that applies to you.

Renunciate Monastics: Monastics in the Buddhist traditions are invited to attend Spirit Rock retreats without cost. Monastic discounts can be extended only to one having taken vows and abiding as a renunciate, living exclusively on donations and having no form of income through work or other sources. You will need to provide the monastery you are affiliated with upon registering. To learn more, contact the Registration Dept at: [email protected].

*Maximum annual scholarship limit is two per calendar year; and this limit is not a guarantee.