Length: 8+ nights (residential)

Dates: Wednesday to Wednesday, December 27, 2023 – January 3, 2024 (7 nights). Code 306R23.
Sliding Scale: $1435-$3640, Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Applications Open: August 8, 2023

Registration for this retreat is by application and a lottery-style selection in order to balance many variables – see Selection Details below for more information. Registering for a lottery does not ensure a space in the program. Applications are accepted through the end of the day on August 29. 2023. First round notifications will be sent out approximately 2 weeks after the lottery closes. You will be asked to complete your registration details and pay your fees within 48 hours of the offer.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
This is a traditional Insight Meditation (vipassanā) retreat with sitting and walking in silence, and regular meetings with teachers. Each day there will be systematic meditation instructions, Dharma talks, and movement practice. We will mark the turning of the year with a late evening sitting and simple ceremony on New Year’s Eve. In celebration of the New Year, our focus will be on cultivating loving awareness and embracing each moment as fresh and new. All are welcome.

This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

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

Financial Information:
Sliding Scale: $385-$3640; 7 nights including food and lodging.*
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 is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others. Fees do not include dana for the teachers.

Supporter Rate (guaranteed single room) – $3640
Benefactor – $2870
Sustainer – $2205
BASE – $1435
Reduced Rate – $910
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $385
BIPOC Scholarship (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $385
Young Adult Scholarship (for young adults age 18-26 years) – $385
*Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s)

Selection Details:
Applications are accepted between 08/07/23 – 08/28/23. All applications are assigned a random number. Together with the random number we are balancing many additional variables to create equity, diversity, inclusion, and access. Those factors include: scholarship needs & availability, affinity group “membership”, age, gender balance, and experienced or new practitioners. Applications received after the close date are automatically placed on the wait list (and will not be included in the first round of selections). Notification rounds can move quickly in the first few weeks following the first acceptances, so we recommend staying ready. You may be accepted sooner than you realize!

You will be notified about the selection results within two weeks of the application close date. If you have been offered a space, you will have two days to pay a deposit to accept/hold the space. If you don’t accept the space within this deadline, we will offer it to the next person in line.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($55/night). Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “pay what you can”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings as space allows.

Room Occupancy Update*: 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 “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. 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.

*Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.

Dates: Wednesday to Wednesday, December 27, 2023 – January 3, 2024 (7 nights). Code 306R23.
Sliding Scale: $1435-$3640, Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Applications Open: August 8, 2023

Registration for this retreat is by application and a lottery-style selection in order to balance many variables – see Selection Details below for more information. Registering for a lottery does not ensure a space in the program. Applications are accepted through the end of the day on August 29. 2023. First round notifications will be sent out approximately 2 weeks after the lottery closes. You will be asked to complete your registration details and pay your fees within 48 hours of the offer.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
This is a traditional Insight Meditation (vipassanā) retreat with sitting and walking in silence, and regular meetings with teachers. Each day there will be systematic meditation instructions, Dharma talks, and movement practice. We will mark the turning of the year with a late evening sitting and simple ceremony on New Year’s Eve. In celebration of the New Year, our focus will be on cultivating loving awareness and embracing each moment as fresh and new. All are welcome.

This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

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

Financial Information:
Sliding Scale: $385-$3640; 7 nights including food and lodging.*
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 is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others. Fees do not include dana for the teachers.

Supporter Rate (guaranteed single room) – $3640
Benefactor – $2870
Sustainer – $2205
BASE – $1435
Reduced Rate – $910
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $385
BIPOC Scholarship (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $385
Young Adult Scholarship (for young adults age 18-26 years) – $385
*Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s)

Selection Details:
Applications are accepted between 08/07/23 – 08/28/23. All applications are assigned a random number. Together with the random number we are balancing many additional variables to create equity, diversity, inclusion, and access. Those factors include: scholarship needs & availability, affinity group “membership”, age, gender balance, and experienced or new practitioners. Applications received after the close date are automatically placed on the wait list (and will not be included in the first round of selections). Notification rounds can move quickly in the first few weeks following the first acceptances, so we recommend staying ready. You may be accepted sooner than you realize!

You will be notified about the selection results within two weeks of the application close date. If you have been offered a space, you will have two days to pay a deposit to accept/hold the space. If you don’t accept the space within this deadline, we will offer it to the next person in line.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($55/night). Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “pay what you can”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings as space allows.

Room Occupancy Update*: 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 “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. 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.

*Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.

Dates: Saturday to Saturday, February 3 – March 2, 2024 (28 nights). Code 318R24.
Sliding Scale: $4,060-$11,620, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Supporter Rate w/ guaranteed single room – $11,620
Benefactor – $8,400
Sustainer – $6,160
BASE – $4,060
Scholarship Rate (YA, BIPOC, M/K) – $1,540

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Visit the link below for:
March 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)
Two-Month (Feb/Mar) Insight Meditation Retreat (56 Nights)

PREREQUISITE:
Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

RETREAT DESCRIPTION:
An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, through a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.

APPLICATION PROCESS and DETAILS:
Applications available Wednesday, July 12, 2023; closes end of the day on Wednesday, August 31.

Participants will be selected from the pool of applicants including priority towards: BIPOC and Young Adults (whether scholarships are requested or not).

First round notifications will be sent via email by September 29; please refrain from calling before this deadline. We will need this time to process all the applications, make selections, coordinate with teachers, and allocate scholarship funding. If you are selected, you will be sent an email with a special link to register and pay your retreat fees online. If you end up on a waiting list, you will be notified of your relative position on the waitlist.

FOR ALL APPLICANTS: To be included in the first round of notifications, your application must be complete including prerequisites already met and submitted by the deadline. No exceptions.

If you submit an application after the deadline:
We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after the initial deadline of August 31st; applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list.

Scholarships:
We receive many more requests for scholarships than we have funding so we cannot guarantee you will receive scholarship funding. Scholarship funding is offered to anyone needing financial assistance to attend. Additional scholarship funding has been offered to support practitioners who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color (BIPOC). We have scholarship rates at $55 per night. For the month-long retreats only: Spirit Rock extends the upper age limit of the Young Adult scholarship rate to individuals 18-32 years of age. This special rate is also $55 per night. A limited number of these special YA rates will be available.

If you need scholarship funds to attend, once the application is available, please complete the Scholarship Section; funding may likely not be available later. Scholarship requests do not influence your acceptance.

PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. These protocols may change a few times between now and the start of the retreats in 2024.

Dates: Saturday to Saturday, February 3 – March 30, 2024 (56 nights). Code 316R24.
Sliding Scale: $8,120 – $23,240, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 pm
Departure Time: 11:00 am

Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $23,240
Benefactor – $16,800
Sustainer – $12,320
BASE – $8,120
Scholarship Rate (YA, BIPOC, M/K) – $3,080

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Visit the link below for:
February 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)
March 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)

PREREQUISITE:
Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

RETREAT DESCRIPTION:
February
An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, through a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.

March
“The Still Heart of Awareness”
Awareness, or consciousness, is the very heart of sentient life, the faculty that reveals all the events of our experience. Yet in our dharma practice we may not have learned how to meditate directly on this fundamental aspect of our minds.

In this retreat we will explore the nature of awareness in three stages. We’ll begin by developing greater stability of mind through mindfulness of breathing. Next we’ll introduce a regular practice of lovingkindness, allowing the beautiful and responsive qualities of heart to unfold. Then, with these foundations, we’ll start to explore the nature of awareness, this mysterious capacity of knowing. These practices open the door to emptiness, profound understanding, and great freedom.

Special Note for 2024: When registering for the 2-Month retreat, please be aware that the March retreat will feature very different themes from the February retreat in the meditation instructions and talks, unlike in prior years. Please read the descriptions carefully for both months before registering. Participants in March will be expected to follow the instructions as offered for that retreat. If you are not interested, the teachers kindly ask that you not sign up for this retreat.

TEACHING TEAMS
February Teaching Team:
John Martin, Andrea Fella, James Baraz, Jaya Rudgard, Devin Berry, Tara Mulay, Kim Allen (assistant), Rasika Link (movement)

March Teaching Team:
Guy Armstrong, Sally Armstrong, Dawn Scott, Susie Harrington, Tuere Sala, Jaya Rudgard, Kodo Conlin (assistant), Eleni Monos (trainee), Rasika Link (movement)

APPLICATION PROCESS and DETAILS:
Applications available Wednesday, July 12, 2023; closes end of the day on Wednesday, August 31.

Participants will be selected from the pool of applicants including priority towards: BIPOC and Young Adults (whether scholarships are requested or not).

First round notifications will be sent via email by September 29; please refrain from calling before this deadline. We will need this time to process all the applications, make selections, coordinate with teachers, and allocate scholarship funding. If you are selected, you will be sent an email with a special link to register and pay your retreat fees online. If you end up on a waiting list, you will be notified of your relative position on the waitlist.

FOR ALL APPLICANTS: To be included in the first round of notifications, your application must be complete including prerequisites already met and submitted by the deadline. No exceptions.

If you submit an application after the deadline:
We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after the initial deadline of August 31st; applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list.

Scholarships:
We receive many more requests for scholarships than we have funding so we cannot guarantee you will receive scholarship funding. Scholarship funding is offered to anyone needing financial assistance to attend. Additional scholarship funding has been offered to support practitioners who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color (BIPOC). We have scholarship rates at $55 per night. For the month-long retreats only: Spirit Rock extends the upper age limit of the Young Adult scholarship rate to individuals 18-32 years of age. This special rate is also $55 per night. A limited number of these special YA rates will be available.

If you need scholarship funds to attend, once the application is available, please complete the Scholarship Section; funding may likely not be available later. Scholarship requests do not influence your acceptance.

PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. These protocols may or may not change between now and the start of the retreats in 2024. Check this page regularly.

Dates: Saturday to Saturday, February 3 – March 2, 2024 (28 nights). Code 318R24.
Sliding Scale: $4,060-$11,620, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Supporter Rate w/ guaranteed single room – $11,620
Benefactor – $8,400
Sustainer – $6,160
BASE – $4,060
Scholarship Rate (YA, BIPOC, M/K) – $1,540

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Visit the link below for:
March 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)
Two-Month (Feb/Mar) Insight Meditation Retreat (56 Nights)

PREREQUISITE:
Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

RETREAT DESCRIPTION:
An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, through a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.

APPLICATION PROCESS and DETAILS:
Applications available Wednesday, July 12, 2023; closes end of the day on Wednesday, August 31.

Participants will be selected from the pool of applicants including priority towards: BIPOC and Young Adults (whether scholarships are requested or not).

First round notifications will be sent via email by September 29; please refrain from calling before this deadline. We will need this time to process all the applications, make selections, coordinate with teachers, and allocate scholarship funding. If you are selected, you will be sent an email with a special link to register and pay your retreat fees online. If you end up on a waiting list, you will be notified of your relative position on the waitlist.

FOR ALL APPLICANTS: To be included in the first round of notifications, your application must be complete including prerequisites already met and submitted by the deadline. No exceptions.

If you submit an application after the deadline:
We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after the initial deadline of August 31st; applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list.

Scholarships:
We receive many more requests for scholarships than we have funding so we cannot guarantee you will receive scholarship funding. Scholarship funding is offered to anyone needing financial assistance to attend. Additional scholarship funding has been offered to support practitioners who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color (BIPOC). We have scholarship rates at $55 per night. For the month-long retreats only: Spirit Rock extends the upper age limit of the Young Adult scholarship rate to individuals 18-32 years of age. This special rate is also $55 per night. A limited number of these special YA rates will be available.

If you need scholarship funds to attend, once the application is available, please complete the Scholarship Section; funding may likely not be available later. Scholarship requests do not influence your acceptance.

PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. These protocols may change a few times between now and the start of the retreats in 2024.

Dates: Saturday to Saturday, February 3 – March 30, 2024 (56 nights). Code 316R24.
Sliding Scale: $8,120 – $23,240, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 pm
Departure Time: 11:00 am

Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $23,240
Benefactor – $16,800
Sustainer – $12,320
BASE – $8,120
Scholarship Rate (YA, BIPOC, M/K) – $3,080

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Visit the link below for:
February 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)
March 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)

PREREQUISITE:
Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

RETREAT DESCRIPTION:
February
An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, through a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.

March
“The Still Heart of Awareness”
Awareness, or consciousness, is the very heart of sentient life, the faculty that reveals all the events of our experience. Yet in our dharma practice we may not have learned how to meditate directly on this fundamental aspect of our minds.

In this retreat we will explore the nature of awareness in three stages. We’ll begin by developing greater stability of mind through mindfulness of breathing. Next we’ll introduce a regular practice of lovingkindness, allowing the beautiful and responsive qualities of heart to unfold. Then, with these foundations, we’ll start to explore the nature of awareness, this mysterious capacity of knowing. These practices open the door to emptiness, profound understanding, and great freedom.

Special Note for 2024: When registering for the 2-Month retreat, please be aware that the March retreat will feature very different themes from the February retreat in the meditation instructions and talks, unlike in prior years. Please read the descriptions carefully for both months before registering. Participants in March will be expected to follow the instructions as offered for that retreat. If you are not interested, the teachers kindly ask that you not sign up for this retreat.

TEACHING TEAMS
February Teaching Team:
John Martin, Andrea Fella, James Baraz, Jaya Rudgard, Devin Berry, Tara Mulay, Kim Allen (assistant), Rasika Link (movement)

March Teaching Team:
Guy Armstrong, Sally Armstrong, Dawn Scott, Susie Harrington, Tuere Sala, Jaya Rudgard, Kodo Conlin (assistant), Eleni Monos (trainee), Rasika Link (movement)

APPLICATION PROCESS and DETAILS:
Applications available Wednesday, July 12, 2023; closes end of the day on Wednesday, August 31.

Participants will be selected from the pool of applicants including priority towards: BIPOC and Young Adults (whether scholarships are requested or not).

First round notifications will be sent via email by September 29; please refrain from calling before this deadline. We will need this time to process all the applications, make selections, coordinate with teachers, and allocate scholarship funding. If you are selected, you will be sent an email with a special link to register and pay your retreat fees online. If you end up on a waiting list, you will be notified of your relative position on the waitlist.

FOR ALL APPLICANTS: To be included in the first round of notifications, your application must be complete including prerequisites already met and submitted by the deadline. No exceptions.

If you submit an application after the deadline:
We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after the initial deadline of August 31st; applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list.

Scholarships:
We receive many more requests for scholarships than we have funding so we cannot guarantee you will receive scholarship funding. Scholarship funding is offered to anyone needing financial assistance to attend. Additional scholarship funding has been offered to support practitioners who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color (BIPOC). We have scholarship rates at $55 per night. For the month-long retreats only: Spirit Rock extends the upper age limit of the Young Adult scholarship rate to individuals 18-32 years of age. This special rate is also $55 per night. A limited number of these special YA rates will be available.

If you need scholarship funds to attend, once the application is available, please complete the Scholarship Section; funding may likely not be available later. Scholarship requests do not influence your acceptance.

PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. These protocols may or may not change between now and the start of the retreats in 2024. Check this page regularly.

Dates: Saturday to Saturday, March 2 – March 30, 2024 (28 nights). Code 320R24.
Sliding Scale: $4,060-$11,620, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Supporter Rate w/ guaranteed single room – $11,620
Benefactor – $8,400
Sustainer – $6,160
BASE – $4,060
Scholarship Rate (YA, BIPOC, M/K) – $1,540

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Visit the link below for:
February 1-Month Insight Meditation Retreat (28 Nights)
Two-Month (Feb/Mar) Insight Meditation Retreat (56 Nights)

PREREQUISITE:
Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

RETREAT DESCRIPTION:
The Still Heart of Awareness: A Retreat for Experienced Practitioners

Awareness, or consciousness, is the very heart of sentient life, the faculty that reveals all the events of our experience. Yet in our dharma practice we may not have learned how to meditate directly on this fundamental aspect of our minds.

In this retreat we will explore the nature of awareness in three stages. We’ll begin by developing greater stability of mind through mindfulness of breathing. Next we’ll introduce a regular practice of lovingkindness, allowing the beautiful and responsive qualities of heart to unfold. Then, with these foundations, we’ll start to explore the nature of awareness, this mysterious capacity of knowing. These practices open the door to emptiness, profound understanding, and great freedom.

Special Note for March Retreat: This coming year (2024) “Awareness” practice will be the focus during the March retreat. All participants of the March retreat (whether the single month or the 2-Month) are expected to follow the instructions as offered for this month. If you are not interested, the teachers kindly ask that you not sign up for this retreat.

APPLICATION PROCESS and DETAILS:
Applications available Wednesday, July 12, 2023; closes end of the day on Wednesday, August 31.

Participants will be selected from the pool of applicants including priority towards: BIPOC and Young Adults (whether scholarships are requested or not).

First round notifications will be sent via email by September 29; please refrain from calling before this deadline. We will need this time to process all the applications, make selections, coordinate with teachers, and allocate scholarship funding. If you are selected, you will be sent an email with a special link to register and pay your retreat fees online. If you end up on a waiting list, you will be notified of your relative position on the waitlist.

FOR ALL APPLICANTS: To be included in the first round of notifications, your application must be complete including prerequisites already met and submitted by the deadline. No exceptions.

If you submit an application after the deadline:
We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis after the initial deadline of August 31st; applications received after this date will be put on a waiting list.

Scholarships:
We receive many more requests for scholarships than we have funding so we cannot guarantee you will receive scholarship funding. Scholarship funding is offered to anyone needing financial assistance to attend. Additional scholarship funding has been offered to support practitioners who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color (BIPOC). We have scholarship rates at $55 per night. For the month-long retreats only: Spirit Rock extends the upper age limit of the Young Adult scholarship rate to individuals 18-32 years of age. This special rate is also $55 per night. A limited number of these special YA rates will be available.

If you need scholarship funds to attend, once the application is available, please complete the Scholarship Section; funding may likely not be available later. Scholarship requests do not influence your acceptance.

PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. These protocols may or may not change between now and the start of the retreats in 2024. Check this page regularly.