• Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP7) Application

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  • Thank you for your interest in Spirit Rock’s seventh Dedicated Practitioner Program (DPP7). This is a two year program for serious practitioners of Insight Meditation to deepen understanding of the  Dharma, strengthen practice, and integrate compassion and wisdom into our day-to-day lives. This program is designed as an intensive lay practice period and offers a comprehensive curriculum on the  Buddha's teachings. In addition to attending all five 6-night training/residential retreats, participants commit to maintaining meditative practice, monthly coursework, monthly group meetings, and contact with a mentoring teacher. 

    Through this program, we study traditional texts and Buddhist suttas; and use the dharma, our meditation practice, and our sangha to understand ways suffering and freedom is created in our hearts, our lives, our communities, and the world. Integral to this program is an exploration of the gross and subtle manifestations of social suffering and its impact on personal and collective well-being. Our intention is to create a diverse and vibrant community of practitioners who support each other in waking up and in bringing more wisdom and compassion into the world. 

     

    Residential Retreat Schedule (Scheduled to be in-person) 

    - April 30 – May 6, 2022 Spirit Rock Meditation Center
    - November 11 – 17, 2022 Spirit Rock Meditation Center
    - April 15 – 21, 2023 Spirit Rock Meditation Center
    - November 11 – 17, 2023 Spirit Rock Meditation Center
    - April 28 – May 4, 2024 Spirit Rock Meditation Center

     

    Application Timeline & Process

    June 1 – September 1, 2021 – Applications accepted between these dates. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. 
    September 1, 2021 – Deadline to submit application. All applications sent after this date will be put  in a waitlist reserve to only be reviewed if space opens up in the program. 
    October 1, 2021 – Notification of your status will be sent no later than this date via email.
    November 1, 2021 – Commitment and payment deadline; 25% deposit required at time of acceptance; $100 non-refundable fee, if cancel prior to Jan 1, 2022.

    When completing this application, please answer all questions. When completing narrative questions please provide brief, thoughtful responses. We encourage you to respond truthfully, from the heart, in a straightforward way rather than being concerned about creating a particular impression.

     

    Program Tuition* 

    Sliding scale:
    $13,700 - Benefactor
    $10,700 - Sustainer
    $7,700 - Base

    Scholarship sliding scale:
    $5,700 - Scholarship Rate 1
    $3,700 - Scholarship Rate 2

    *Payment plans are available for all levels of the sliding scale.

    Tuition includes:  

    - Accommodations and meals at all five residential retreats 
    - Handouts and program materials 
    - Access to social media and online community building groups 

    Tuition does NOT include: 

    - Teacher support (dana) at all retreats 
    - Texts and some supplemental books required by the teaching team 
    - Transportation costs to/from your home to Spirit Rock 
    - Mentor and monthly group teacher support (dana) for meetings with a mentoring teacher

     

    Please complete by September 1, 2021. This is an online application only. You will receive a copy of your submitted application upon its completion.
    - Allow yourself at least 30 minutes to complete this entire application.
    - Gather details on your previous retreat experience; you will have to list your retreat time; Example format: date (month/year), location of retreat (what center), teacher(s), style of retreat (metta or vipassana, etc.), # of nights.
    - Get prior approval from your sponsoring teacher before listing them on the application. You will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation from the sponsoring teacher.
    - All information is confidential to the teaching and management teams of this program.
    - If you have any questions, please contact our DPP7 Administrative Coordinator at DPP7@spiritrock.org.

     

  • *SPONSORING TEACHER -- A sponsoring teacher is someone who currently teaches at Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, East Bay Meditation Center, Gaia House, or other Insight meditation centers or sanghas. They should know you and your meditation practice, and be supportive of your application to DPP7. They should submit a brief statement of endorsement for you as a student for your application to be complete. IMPORTANT: please send this link to your sponsoring teacher for them to complete. Otherwise, your application will be incomplete and cannot be considered.

    Link: https://form.jotform.com/211461736818156

  • **MENTORING TEACHER -- You do not need a mentoring teacher to apply for the program. A mentoring teacher provides approximately 6-12 interviews during the course of the program. If you do not already have a mentoring teacher, we can support you in your process of finding one. Please be sure to get prior approval from your mentoring teacher before listing them on this form.

  • Demographic Information

    The following questions are included to help ensure diversity in DPP7, and to support assigning a mentoring teacher if needed. Please indicate a reason for not responding to a question.

  • Upload a File
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  • Dharma and Practice History

  • Creating a Healthy Inclusive Sangha

    A large part of DPP7 are the regional sanghas regularly meeting together. The sanghas need to be diverse, inclusive, welcoming and supportive for each member. We will be actively engaged in what it means to create and maintain a healthy inclusive sangha made of many people from many different communities and backgrounds.

  • Personal Information – Physical and Mental Health

    Intensive retreat can be physically and psychologically challenging. To support retreatants in those rare  cases when difficulties do arise, having information regarding the following questions will help teachers respond to the situation more effectively.  

    Your answers to these questions will be read only by teachers and will be destroyed after the program. We encourage your candor in responding. If you would like to discuss any particular question with a teacher rather than write your response, please indicate that and we'll arrange for a private meeting.

  • Financial Assistance & Program Tuition

  • We offer a sliding scale tuition. Carefully consider the amount you would be able to afford in order to  participate in DPP7. We ask you to select the highest possible level of tuition that meets your needs, as your generosity allows for those with lesser means to attend. Please note that the scholarship funds are  limited. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee the full amount of scholarship support you may have requested. 

    Sliding scale:
    $13,700 - Benefactor
    $10,700 - Sustainer
    $7,700 - Base

    Scholarship sliding scale:
    $5,700 - Scholarship Rate 1
    $3,700 - Scholarship Rate 2

  • Upon acceptance into DPP and to secure your spot, all participants will be asked to pay a minimum deposit of 25% (based on the rate you select). Should you need to cancel prior to Jan 1, 2022, all of the deposit is refunded except for $100 non-refundable fee.


    You may pay the entire program fee in full or set up an installment plan for the remainder of the balance (after the initial 25% deposit). The payment plan will start Jan 15, 2022; and debit over 12 monthly installments during the first year of the program. Installments can only be set up on credit cards. We can no longer set up debits on checking accounts. Please contact us if you have any questions.

  • Cancellation Fees

    Participating in DPP7 will require your commitment of both time and financial resources. 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, 2022
    10% fee* = Jan 2 - Feb 28, 2022
    15% fee* = Mar 1 - Apr 28, 2022
    20% fee* = Apr 29 - Nov 9, 2022
    40% fee* = Nov 10, 2022 - Apr 13, 2023
    60% fee* = Apr 14 - Nov 9, 2023
    80% fee* = Nov 10, 2023 - Apr 26, 2024
    No refunds = On or after April 27, 2024
    *Fee deducted from refund; fee is a percentage of the total amount.

  • Final Agreement

    By typing my name in the space below, I agree, to the best of my ability, to participate and commit  fully in the Dedicated Practitioner Program, if I am accepted. This includes: 

    -Attending all five 6-night residential retreats of the program 
    -Attend all five retreats with the same degree of integrity and undivided attention as a silent retreat. This means coming and staying for the full retreat, and not scheduling family or work  related responsibilities during retreat time. 
    -Completing all monthly readings, practices and reflections 
    -Attending all monthly group meetings with a teacher either in my area or online
    -Being available for six or more individual meetings with my mentoring teacher per year
    -Meeting monthly with my dharma buddies 
    -Meeting all financial obligations outlined in this application relating to program fees  

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