• 1-Month and 2-Month Insight Meditation Retreat Application February / March 2023

    Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  • We are pleased you are interested in applying for either the 1-month or the 2-month retreats.

    Open Enrollment Period: Applications are being accepted July 13 – August 31, 2022. Applications received after this date will be on a wait list for a second round of notifications if space is still available. It is very likely that scholarships will not be available for waitlisted applicants.

    Applications will be reviewed by Spirit Rock staff and teachers after the open enrollment period closes. Notifications will be sent out by October 21. You will be notified whether you have been accepted into the retreat or placed on a waitlist.

    Important Things to Know:

    • Vaccination: All staff, teachers, and practitioners must be fully vaccinated + boosted with vaccines for COVID-19. At least one booster is required. If you have had no booster yet, that booster must be received no less than two weeks before the retreat. If you have had more than one booster, then you are all set! Proof of full vaccination (including 1 booster) will be required and you will not be admitted to the retreat if not "fully vaccinated." You will be required to upload proof of vaccination during this application process.
    • COVID Safety Protocols: Please review the current safety protocols. COVID Safety protocols. Learn more.
    • Room Occupancy: We have returned to double occupancy rooms. Approximately two thirds of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We have a "guaranteed single room" rate which is limited (5). 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 conditions.
    • Prerequisites: Applicants must meet the prerequisite BEFORE applying. Online retreat experience does not fulfill the prerequisite. And "future" attendance in a retreat, does not qualify.
    • Photo Required: You will be asked to upload a photo of yourself ("selfie").
    • Insight Retreat: Practitioners are expected to follow teacher’s instructions related to Vipassana (Insight Meditation).
    • Special Consideration: We will prioritize BIPOC, Young Adults (age 18 - 32 yrs), and LGBTQIA+ applicants.

    This application may take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete depending upon your situation and your preparation. Submit only ONE application.

    To make the application process go more quickly, we recommend that you gather the necessary information to fill out the application prior to sitting down and filling it out.

    Things like: a digital photo of yourself, a digital photo of your vaccination card (with booster), a list of your retreat experience (teachers, length [# of retreat nights] for each, what style of retreat [metta, concentration, if applicable], location & year of each retreat), provide emergency contact information, therapist name & contact, if applicable.

    PREREQUISITES:

    Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have 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 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. DO NOT list retreats you will attend in the "future".

    When applying, you will need to provide the teachers' names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

    • Demographic Affiliations 

    • As part of Spirit Rock’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we hold the intention to develop and prioritize programs that appeal to and are welcoming of diverse communities. In support of the accountability of our intention, we request that you complete the following information.

    • Retreat Sliding Scale Fees 

    • Sliding scale fees allow individuals to pay what works best for their financial situation. Please consider choosing the highest level that you can afford so others who need to pay less can do so. Amounts offered above the Base Rate are considered a tax-decuctible donation. These donations help fund all that we do here at Spirit Rock including our scholarship program. Payment plan options are available for all registration fee levels and can be discussed later once accepted into the retreat. All fees must be paid in full ONE MONTH prior to the retreat.

      The rate in parentheses below is the amount you would pay for the whole retreat, not including teacher dana which is a separate donation. Retreat Staff (cooks and retreat managers) are no longer paid by dana and will be supported by the retreat fees you pay.

      For planning purposes and to be sure we allocate enough scholarship funds, select ONE sliding scale fee choice below. Your selection will not influence your chances of getting in. We will not be collecting fees during this application process; however, it is helpful for us to have a general idea of your payment intention.

    • Cancellation Policy: Once you have been accepted, cancellation fees will apply. Fees increase as it gets closer to the retreat. If you need to cancel or withdraw your application, let us know as soon as possible.

      Changes: Prior to acceptance notifications, we can adjust your application if your circumstances have changed, please advise us as soon as possible. After acceptance into a retreat, any change needs to be approved by the teachers and a space must be available.

    • Scholarship Application 

    • To apply for a scholarship, fill out the Scholarship Application below. Since scholarship funds are limited, we cannot guarantee being able to fulfill all requests for the lowest rates. Please be as candid as you can about your financial situation so we can better understand all scholarship requests.

      • Young Adult Scholarships: This scholarship is to support the financial and practice needs of meditators in early adulthood between the age range of 18 - 32 years. These spaces are limited.
      • Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarships: This scholarship is specifically for individuals who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color (BIPOC) who have limited income and require financial assistance to attend a retreat.
      • Mudita Scholarships: This scholarship provides a means for anyone who has limited/fixed income and require financial assistance to attend a retreat. Recommended scholarship for seniors on fixed incomes or adults older than 32 years. 
      • Karuna Scholarships: This scholarship is specifically for those with a serious medical condition(s) who have limited/fixed income and require financial assistance to attend a retreat.

      Scholarship Sliding Scale Rates:

      1-Month Retreat (28 Nights): $1540 - $3925

      2-Month Retreat (56 Nights): $3080 - $7850

      Each scholarship request is assessed in terms of financial need and funds availability. If the lowest rate is still not accessible for you, please let us know what amount would work for you. We cannot guarantee we can meet all requests.

    • Applicant Information 
    • Practice Meeting Questionnaire 

    • This Practice Meeting Questionnaire will be printed out for the teachers to refer to while you are on retreat, once accepted into the retreat.

      Important Note: Practice meetings with teachers during retreats are purely for the purpose of supporting more skillfully the participant's meditation practice during the retreat and are not - nor should they be construed as - a form of psychotherapy or counseling.

      Please answer the following questions about your meditation, medical, and psychological history. Your answers will be kept confidential and this form will be disposed of after the retreat.

    • 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. We encourage your candor in answering these questions.

    • Retreat Renunciation and Simplicity 

    • The Spirit Rock community is happy to welcome you to our retreat center. Retreats offer a sacred space, protected and removed from the world, intended to allow participants to quiet the mind and open the heart. Some of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences of spiritual life come from attending a silent meditation retreat. The safety and container of a retreat help participants to learn embodied patience, steadiness, loving-kindness, generosity, and wisdom. Out of this grows the insight, compassion, and freedom that are natural to the heart.

      Spirit Rock’s beautiful retreat center is designed to provide comfortable and suitable conditions. We ask that you arrive on time with a spirit of renunciation and simplicity, and stay for the full retreat. To foster this spirit of simplicity and letting go, we ask retreatants to undertake the following traditional practices, which are called by our Elders "Taking What is Offered" which includes:

      • Noble Silence – Retreatants commit to the practice of Noble Silence. This is especially important in your commitment to no note-writing or other communication between retreatants, no mail, no cellphones, and no calls, except for emergencies. Couples or good friends attending the same retreat, we ask that you not sit near each other in the hall, agree not to write notes to one another, not walk together (even in silence), or engage in speaking or even eye contact with each other.
      • Following Instructions – This retreat is offered to those who wish to learn and follow the Buddhist practices of Insight Meditation. This is not an opportunity for a self-retreat. We encourage you to embrace these practices while you are on retreat including attending instructional sits, teacher meetings and Dharma talks.
      • Taking Any Residence –Spirit Rock has to juggle many room needs. We ask participants to take the accommodation assigned and practice with whatever situation they find themselves in.
      • Taking the Food that is Offered – The cooks lovingly prepare tasty and nutritious vegetarian & vegan foods. Except for serious medical needs, the retreat practice is to take the food that is offered.
      • Serving the Community – In order to learn the art of mindfulness and for the retreat to properly function as a collaborative, all retreatants are given a daily period of simple work meditation. You will sign up for a work meditation when you check in. Your service is an important part of the training in mindfulness and generosity.

    • By typing my name in the field provided below:

      • I acknowledge that I have read and agree to undertaking these practices of Renunciation and Simplicity that are outlined above; and,
      • I am willing to undertake the training to refrain from using all electronic devices while on retreat; this includes cellphones, computers, etc.
      • I agree to arrive on time and attend the entire retreat.
    • Digital Uploads - Vax Card & Participant Photos 

    • Please upload (attach) a copy of your Vax Card and photo of yourself.

      1) Proof of COVID-19 vaccination PLUS at least one booster - required! If you have a smart phone you can take a picture of your vax card, then upload that photo.

      2) Photo of Participant - Your photo is required in case of a personal or campus-wide emergency, and for teachers and retreat staff to easily identify participants.

      HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR FILES: (you will have to upload two or three items)

      1. Click "Select Image" button
      2. Navigate to a location on your computer or your mobile device, and select a photo of your vax card or a photo of yourself. Please select a photo with only you (headshot preferred) as opposed to a group photo.
      3. DON'T FORGET -- CLICK the UPLOAD icon (the "arrow" icon - which is located above the photo next to the trash-can icon). Once you click "upload", you can check to see if your image uploaded fully by looking below the photo. It should read "Upload Complete"
    • END-THANK YOU! 
    • Should be Empty: