APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: AUGUST 12, 2022
Dates: May 2023 – May 2024
Sliding Scale: $12,000 – $2,500. Code: LP1T22

PROGRAM DATES: May 2023 – May 2024

All retreats are 8 nights and are held in-person at Spirit Rock Meditation Center:
Retreat 1: May 15-23, 2023
Retreat 2: November 2-10, 2023
Retreat 3: May 17-25, 2024

Learn more LEAP retreat details here.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

A minimum of 50 nights of silent vipassanā, and/or mettā residential retreats. (Daylongs or non-residential retreats do not count towards the prerequisites.)

PROGRAM DETAILS

“This is peaceful, this is excellent, namely the stilling of all formations, the relinquishing of all attachments, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna.” (MN 64.9)

LEAP is intended for experienced students of the Dhamma who want to explore the liberation teachings of the Buddha through practice, study, inquiry, and interactive exercises. It is a year-long program consisting of three retreats and is intended for those who have completed programs like Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP), Community Dharma Leader Program (CDL), Heavenly Messengers (HM), or an equivalent. Alternatively, long time practitioners or people who have participated in an equivalent program offered by another Vipassana teacher or organization are also eligible to apply.

The purpose of this program is to bring to life the liberating teachings of the Buddha both on retreat and in our daily practice. The three LEAP retreats will focus more on silent, intensive practice than DPP or CDL, but each retreat will include regular interactive and study sessions.

Spirit Rock is excited to offer this program again. Our previous iterations found it to be a great support to the experienced students in our community. We hope that those of you who have done DPP or CDL or have other significant study and practice experience will join us!

PROGRAM COMPONENTS and REQUIREMENTS

• Attendance at all three 8-night retreats
• Attendance at monthly small regional group meetings (in-person and Zoom options)
• Ongoing meetings with study/practice partners
• Regular Zoom meetings with LEAP teachers
• Completion of monthly homework including readings, reflections, and meditation instructions
• Commit to maintaining both meditative and daily life practice
• The practice of dana (generosity) to support program teachers, group leaders and mentoring teachers
• Meeting all financial obligations outlined in this application relating to program fees

APPLICATION TIMELINE and PROCESS

April 12 – August 12, 2022 – Period applications are being accepted.
August 12, 2022 – Deadline to submit application. All applications sent after this date will be considered for the waitlist.
September 9, 2022 – Notification status will be sent no later than this date via email.
Within 3 days of Receiving Acceptance Notification – Commitment and payment deadline; 25% deposit required at time of acceptance; $100 non-refundable, flat fee for all applicants, if cancel on or before to January 1, 2023.

Applications will be formally accepted on a rolling basis throughout the application period until the program fills, or until August 12, 2022, whichever comes first. Applications received AFTER the program is full or after August 12 (again, whichever comes first) will automatically be considered for the waitlist. You are encouraged to apply early.

TUITION

Participation in LEAP requires a financial commitment. Payment plans are available for all levels of the sliding scale. Scholarship support is available to help with payment of fees but it will be limited.

Upon acceptance to the program, you will be asked to pay a minimum 25% deposit or pay in full. The remainder of any unpaid balance may be divided into 12 monthly installments* that will start Jan. 1, 2023. Installments can only be set up on credit cards. We no longer set up installments on checking accounts. All program fees are to be paid in full by Jan. 1, 2024.

*If you join the program after Jan. 1, 2023 you may be required to pay in fewer monthly installments.

Please consider the amount you would be able to afford in order to participate in LEAP. We ask you to select the highest possible level of program fees that meet your needs, as your generosity allows for those with lesser means to attend.

Sliding Scale:
$15,000 – Supporter with guaranteed single room
$12,000 – Benefactor
$9,000 – Sustainer
$6,000 – Base Rate

Scholarship Rates:
Scholarship Rate 1 – $5,500
Scholarship Rate 2 – $4,000
Scholarship Rate 3 – $2,500

Tuition includes:

• Accommodations and meals at all three residential retreats
• All handouts and program materials
• Access to social media and online community building groups

Tuition does NOT include:

• Financial offering (dana) for Teachers
• Transportation costs to/from your home to Spirit Rock.
• Mentor teacher support (dana) for individual meetings with your mentor teacher in your area

CANCELLATION FEES
Participating in the LEAP program will require your commitment of both time and financial resources. Because this program is a progressive sequence of three retreats and other activities over a two-year period, you are committing to attend all three retreats and paying for the entire program. If you need to withdraw from the program, the following fee* structure will apply:

$100 non-refundable, flat fee for all applicants on or before Jan 1, 2023
10% fee = Jan 2 – Mar 15, 2023
20% fee = Mar 16 – May 13, 2023
40% fee = May 14 – Oct. 31, 2023
85% fee = Nov. 1, 2023 – May 13, 2024
No refunds = On or after May 14, 2024

*Fee deducted from refund; fee is a percentage of the total amount agreed to pay. These fees apply to all participants.

QUESTIONS? Please email us. 

Dates: August 26 – December 17, 2022; specific dates below.
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sliding Scale: $5000 – $750. Code ML2T22.

Description: This certificate training program is open to and designed for leaders and aspiring leaders in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. We will cultivate mindful and compassionate leadership skills and practices to embody our care for ourselves and others, with a mindset of service to community and the world.

A core pedagogical approach of this program is participating in and co-learning with a supportive community of like-minded peers both in the large group and small monthly pod meetings. Through lectures, group discussion, guided meditations, readings, reflections, experiential exercises, and personal meditation practice, we will cultivate skills and behaviors that can be applied directly to our personal and professional lives. By developing and incorporating these intentional practices, we will strengthen professional relationships and workplace environments, expanding impact beyond our own learning for the broader benefit of our work and organization(s).

This program includes training in three realms: personal, relational, and organizational. Some included themes are:

• Mindful, compassionate, values-aligned leadership
• Cultivating well-being: self-care, rest, and resilience
• Self-awareness and self-management: emotional intelligence and working with difficult emotions
• Transforming professional and personal relationships through embodied, skillful communication
• Courageous conversations
• Empowering and inspiring people and teams
• Coaching and mentoring: compassionate accountability
• Fostering and co-creating belonging

Program Includes:
Monthly large group sessions
Monthly pod sessions
Daily and monthly home practices and readings
Monthly written reflections
Optional monthly Tea and Q&A

Dates:
Program runs August 26 – December 17, 2022. Specific training dates below. All meeting times are: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time.

• Fri-Sat, Aug 26-27 (2 days); Opening Weekend
• Fri, Sept 23
• Fri, Oct 21
• Fri, Nov 18
• Fri & Sat, Dec 16-17 (2 days); Closing Weekend

Participation Commitment:

• Must attend at least 5 of 7 days
• Meditation: 20-30 min/day recommended
• Reading/Journaling: 4-8 hr/month
• Pod meetings: 1 hr/month
• Tea and Q&A: 1 hr/month (highly recommended but not required, and will be recorded)
• Attend ONE program orientation (highly recommended, especially if you have not used LearnDash before)
  • Friday, August 19; 12:00 – 1:00pm. US Pacific Time
  • Wednesday, August 24; 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. US Pacific Time

Financial Information:

Sliding Scale: $5000 – $750. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners. Any amount offered above the Base rate of $2500 is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others.

• Benefactor – $5000
• Sustainer – $3000
• Base – $2500

The following rates are available for those needing financial support:

• Supported – $2000
• Mudita/Karuna Scholarship – $1650*
• BIPOC Scholarship – $750*

*Both the Mudita/Karuna Scholarship and BIPOC Scholarship rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Both are limited and reserved for those truly experiencing financial hardship.

Have a group or team of 4+? Please email us for group rate information.

Cancellation Policy for this Dharma Training Program:

• $100 cancellation fee** – On or before August 24, by 5:00 p.m. US Pacific Time (**fees reduced for scholarship participants)
• $500 cancellation fee** – August 25 until Sept 23
• No refunds – Sept 24 and beyond

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: AUGUST 22, 2022
All applications will go through a screening process by the teachers. Deadline to apply: August 22, 2022. Important note: Scholarships are very limited and reserved for those who are truly experiencing financial hardship. Apply Early!

PROGRAM DATES: September 2022 – April 2023

All large group sessions are on the first Saturday of the month
9:00am – 4:00pm US Pacific Time
Session 1: September 3
Session 2: October 1
Session 3: November 5
Session 4: December 3
Session 5: January 7
Session 6: February 4
Session 7: March 4
Session 8: April 1

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES:

Preferred pre-requisites (encouraged, not required):

• 2 years of meditation practice
• A minimum of 10 days of any combination of: silent residential meditation retreats, daylongs, or mindfulness workshops
• For white-identified applicants, priority will be given to those who have done or are signed up to take a white awareness, antiracist, and/or racial equity training
• Priority is offered to those practicing Vipassana (Insight Meditation)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

This program is designed for meditators and Buddhist practitioners wishing to engage wholeheartedly in a deep exploration and practice of Dharma through the study and teaching of the Buddha’s “Noble Eightfold Path.” Using the classic Buddhist teachings of sīla, samādhi, and pañña (ethics, meditation, and wisdom), we will look at how we cultivate mindfulness, kindness, and balance given the inner stresses of modern life, and the outer challenges of social inequity and the pressure of climate change.

This will be a practical, experiential, and meditative program exploring the Buddha’s teachings on the eight limbs of the Dharma path: Wise Understanding, Wise Motivation, Wise Action, Wise Livelihood, Wise Communication, Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, and Wise Concentration. Through the support of these teachings we will inquire how to live and respond to life with awareness, wisdom, and compassion.

In this journey, we will create a vibrant learning community to study, meditate, and inquire into these key areas of Buddhist teaching and how to make these teachings practical and relevant in our current social milieu. Our meditation practice and what is happening around us politically, socially, and globally are not separate. As we explore the Eightfold Path teachings, we will apply what was taught 2600 years ago to what we live and experience in our contemporary lives.

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Monthly large group sessions – online (recorded)
Monthly small group sessions
Daily and monthly home practices and readings
Monthly written reflections
Monthly Q&A – online (recorded)

PARTICIPATION COMMITMENTS:

• Must attend at least 6 of 8 large group sessions live (all will be recorded)
• Meditation: 20-30 min/day recommended
• Reading, journaling, and written reflections: 4-8 hr/month
• Small group meetings: 1 hr/month
• Q&A: 1 hr/month (highly recommended but not required, and will be recorded)
• Attend ONE program orientation (highly recommended, especially if you have not used our online learning platform before)
  • Tuesday, August 30; 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
  • Friday, September 2; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. US Pacific Time

APPLICATION TIMELINE AND PROCESS:

Applications will open May 20, 2022. Close August 22, 2022.
Application Timeline Overview:
May 20 – August 22 | Application open; accepted on a rolling basis until program is full.
August 26 | Final notifications sent out
Within 3 days of acceptance notification | Deposit due

Applications will be formally accepted on a rolling basis throughout the application period until the program fills, or until August 22, 2022, whichever comes first. Applications received after the program is full or after August 22 (again, whichever comes first) will automatically be considered for the waitlist. You are encouraged to apply early.

All notifications of application statuses will be sent no later than Friday, August 26, 2022 via email.

TUITION

Sliding Scale: $3500 – $500. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners. These fees also support the teachers of this program. Any amount offered above the Base rate of $2100 is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others.

Standard Sliding Scale:
Benefactor – $3,500
Sustainer – $2,650
Base – $2,100

Scholarship Sliding Scale:*
Scholarship Rate 1 – $1,850*
Scholarship Rate 2 – $1,575*
Scholarship Rate 3 – $750*
Scholarship Rate 4 – $500* – [Limited, reserved for Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BIPOC)]
*All Scholarship rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are open to anyone needing financial support. Scholarship Rates 3 & 4 are very limited and are reserved for those truly experiencing financial hardship.

Participation in LDP requires a financial commitment. Payment plans are available for all levels of the sliding scale. Scholarship support is available to help with payment of fees but it will be limited. Upon acceptance into LDP and to secure your spot, ALL participants will be asked to pay a minimum deposit of 25% (based on the rate you select).

You may pay the entire program fee in full or set up a two payment installment plan for the remainder of the balance (after the initial 25% deposit). The two installments will be due September 1, 2022 and October 1, 2022. Installments can only be set up on credit cards. Please contact us if you have any questions.

CANCELLATION FEES

Participating in LDP will require your commitment of both time and financial resources. If you need to withdraw from the program, the following fee structure will apply.

$50 non-refundable, flat fee for all applicants July 1 – Aug 26
10% fee: August 27 – September 2
20% fee: September 3 – September 30
40% fee: October 1 – November 4
85% fee: November 5 – December 2
No refunds = On or after December 3
*Fee deducted from refund; fee is a percentage of the total amount agreed to pay. These fees apply to all participants.

Dates: Sunday to Thursday, May 22-26, 2022 (4 nights). Code 358R22.
Sliding Scale: $200-$1,920, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Registration opens approximately 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 19, 2022.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
In the storms of our lives, we need refuge – nourishment and support – a place to replenish our tired bodies and troubled hearts. When the Buddha taught meditation, his first instruction was to go sit under a tree. We will practice together in the age-old tradition of being outside in the company of the natural world. We will explore tapping into the natural stillness and dynamism that surrounds us outdoors and can teach us balance. As we integrate the stillness and movement, we will move toward being active participants in the world, while maintaining balance and ease in our hearts and minds.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

Room Occupancy Update*: Starting with our “Living with Awareness” retreat on March 27, 2022, we will return to double occupancy rooms. Most of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We will also return to offering a “guaranteed single room” rate and these will be limited (16). This rate guarantees a single room while helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. Single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; everyone has a chance of being assigned a single room.

*Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Teacher: Amana Brembry Johnson
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 21ML22.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This program is broadcast via Zoom with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

Teacher(s): Donald Rothberg.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 21WM22.

Description:
Program includes a 30-45-min sitting period, a talk, and a practice-oriented discussion. Suitable for beginners, as well as engaged practitioners.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s). Closed Captioning [CC] is available for this program.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Teacher(s): John Martin
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 18RS22.

Description:

The Rainbow Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified practitioners within marginalized gender and sexuality groups such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, gender non-conforming, and same-gender loving. Together, we’ll explore the Dharma in ways that welcome our lived experiences and build community that honors our diverse voices.

Program includes meditation, a dharma talk, and a practice-oriented discussion.

All levels of meditation experience welcome!

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s). Closed Captioning [CC] is available for this program.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Teacher(s): Grace Fisher and Friends.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 suggested). Code 21TM22.

Description:
A meditation group for women to honor the feminine using silent and guided meditation, movement, seasonal rituals on the land, and group exploration in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teachers. Closed Captioning [CC] is available for this program.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Dates: Friday to Wednesday, May 27-June 1, 2022 (5 nights). Code 360R22.
Sliding Scale: $250-$2400, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Registration opens approximately 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 27, 2022.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
The Buddha was known as “The Happy One.” However, the teachings often seem to emphasize working with suffering. Joy and happiness can seem frivolous even though joy is one of the Seven Factors of Awakening. In this retreat we will practice with an emphasis
on cultivating wholesome states to develop our natural capacity for well-being and happiness. Our own development of well-being and joy then becomes our gift to a troubled world.

The retreat includes silent sitting and walking periods with instructions in Mindfulness meditation, practice meetings with teachers, and some experiential exercises. This retreat is appropriate for both experienced and new students.

Practices will include:
Inclining the mind toward wholesome states;
The power of intention;
Mindfulness as appreciation practice (wonder and gratitude);
Transforming suffering through Compassion;
How letting go leads to true freedom;
Loving-kindness for self and others;
Mudita (sympathetic joy);
and
The joy of simply being.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

Room Occupancy Update*: Starting with our “Living with Awareness” retreat on March 27, 2022, we will return to double occupancy rooms. Most of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We will also return to offering a “guaranteed single room” rate and these will be limited (16). This rate guarantees a single room while helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. Single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; everyone has a chance of being assigned a single room.

*Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Date & Time: Saturday – Sunday, May 28-29, 2022; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
In-Person Sliding Scale: $108-$1008

*Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers and Spirit Rock. Code SB1S22 .

Please Note: This program will be offered as a hybrid: on-land and online. This is the registration page for the on-land program to be held in the Community Meditation Center.

Description:

In this two day retreat, we will explore and practice the Brahmavihāras—impartial good will, compassion, empathic joy, and equanimity—also known as “divine abodes” of the heart and mind. We will alternate between sessions of didactic explanation and sessions of contemplative practice specially formulated to cultivate these liberating mind states. We will be using the Mettā Sutta as our guide throughout the retreat. Our time together will include Dharma talks, guided meditations, discussion, Q&A, and short mindful movement practice sessions led by senior Kripalu teachers.

All experience levels are warmly welcome!

Space is very limited due to COVID protocols in place, please register here only if you can join us on the land. If you can only join us remotely online, please register for the Online version and you can participate by Zoom or watch the program later.

Teacher(s): Margarita Loinaz, MD
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 22BV22.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s). Closed Captioning [CC] is available for this program.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Teacher(s): Sean Feit Oakes
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 22ML22.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This is a Livestream program with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

View a recording of Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield & Friends…