2026 Spirit Rock Monthlong Retreat Application Logo
  • One-Month and Two-Month Insight Meditation Retreat Application February / March 2026

    Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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    PREREQUISITES

    Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats: 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: 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. DO NOT list retreats you will attend in the future.

     

    APPLICATION TIMELINE

    Application Period: First round applications are accepted May 13 - June 24, 2025. Any application received after this date will be reviewed for eligibility and placed on a wait list for a second round of notifications if space is still available. It is likely that scholarships will not be available for waitlisted applicants, but we still encourage you to apply.

    Application Review: Spirit Rock staff and teachers will review all applications for eligibility. First round notifications will be sent between July 3 - 10, 2025. Applicants will be notified whether you have been accepted into the retreat or placed on a wait list.

     

    IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

    • Prerequisites: Applicants must meet the prerequisite BEFORE applying. Online retreat experience does not fulfill the prerequisite. Attendance in a future retreat also does not qualify. The prerequisites are strict, so DO NOT apply even if you are close to meeting them.
    • Insight Retreat: Practitioners are expected to follow teacher’s instructions related to Vipassana (Insight Meditation).
    • Length and Cost of One-month Retreats: The length and cost of the February and March retreats are slightly different from each other this year. Please complete this application with care when choosing which retreat and rate you are interested in.
    • COVID Safety Protocols: Learn about current protocols.
    • Room Occupancy: All two-month attendees will have a guaranteed single room. For single-month attendees, those paying at the Supporter Rate will have a guaranteed single room. All other registrations will receive either a single or double room. We are not able to assign everyone a single room, so those that are willing and able to share a room will be considered first. We will have a limited number of single rooms which will be prioritized for those with serious medical condition(s) or other needs.
    • Photo Required: You will be asked to upload a photo of yourself.
       

    This application may take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete depending upon your situation and your preparation. Submit only ONE application. If you need to make a change to an already submitted application, contact us.

    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.

    You will need: a digital photo of yourself, a list of your retreat experience (including teachers' names, length [# of retreat nights] for each, dates/years of each retreat, what style of retreat [metta, concentration, if applicable], and location), emergency contact information, therapist name & contact if applicable.

    • Participant Name, Contact Info, and Basic Details 
    • Retreat Sliding Scale Fees & Cancellation Policies 
    • Sliding scale fees allow individuals to pay what works best for their financial situation. Please consider choosing the highest level that you can afford, as that generosity allows for those with lesser means to attend. Amounts offered above the Sustainer Rate are considered a tax-deductible donation. These donations help fund all that we do at Spirit Rock, including our overwhelming number of scholarship requests. 

      Payment plan options are available for all 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 below is the amount you would pay for the whole retreat and does not include teacher dana, which is a separate donation.

      We will not be collecting fees during this application process; however, it is helpful for us to understand your payment intention. We also want to understand the volume of scholarship funds needed.

    • CANCELLATION POLICY:

      Once you have been accepted and register, cancellation fees will apply. If you need to cancel or withdraw your application, let us know as soon as possible.

      >>February and March One-month Retreat Cancellation Policy:

      $125 fee* = on or before 12 weeks prior
      $250 fee* = 8-12 weeks prior
      $500 fee* = 6-8 weeks prior
      $750 fee* = 4-6 weeks prior
      NO REFUNDS = less than ONE MONTH prior (applies to ALL participants)
      *Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier.

      >>Two-month Retreat Cancellation Policy:

      $175 fee* = on or before 12 weeks prior
      $350 fee* = 8-12 weeks prior
      $600 fee* = 6-8 weeks prior
      $850 fee* = 4-6 weeks prior
      NO REFUNDS = less than ONE MONTH prior (applies to ALL participants)
      *Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier. 

      >>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, a space must be available, and a switching fee may apply if you have already paid.

      >>Switching Fees for Monthlongs: If you need to cancel and would like to switch to another monthlong, the following fee will apply in lieu of the above cancellation fee: $100 fee = non-scholarship participants and $50 fee = scholarship participants. Switching is all dependent upon available space in the retreat switching to. If you cancel after switching, the regular cancellation fee will apply. 

    • Scholarship Request & Application 
    • Scholarships are needs-based as they have always been and are designed for those who are experiencing financial hardship. For simplicity, we have transitioned to a singular scholarship rate; however, our allocation process remains the same. We prioritize those with the greatest financial need, while equitably distributing scholarship funds in alignment with our core values.

      To apply for a Scholarship Rate, fill out the Scholarship Application below. Scholarship funds are limited and we cannot guarantee we will be able to fulfill all requests for scholarships. We ask that you be as candid as you feel comfortable in sharing your financial situation so we can better understand all scholarship requests. Remember that payment plans are available for scholarship rates as well.

    • Meditation Background 
    • Prerequisite reminder for your reference

      Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats: 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: 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. DO NOT list retreats you will attend in the future.

    • Accessibility and Physical Well-being 
    • Our center has limitations, so if you are a person with a disability, we would greatly appreciate a conversation with you in advance of your arrival. This way, we can better understand what is needed to support you.

      We would like you to be able to participate in this retreat as fully as possible; however, we are not always able to meet every need. Some of our buildings are of an older generation.

    • Mental and Medical Health Questions 
    • Silent meditation retreats can be beautiful and transformative, but they may also bring up challenging emotional and mental states. If you have experienced severe trauma or recent emotional loss, such as the death of a loved one, or if you are in early recovery from substance abuse, a silent retreat might not be suitable for you at this time. We recommend consulting with a mental health or recovery specialist to determine if this is the right moment for you to attend. Spirit Rock is not a treatment center nor are we mental health professionals.

    • If yes, you may want to discuss your attendance on this silent retreat with your mental health professional BEFORE attending.

    • Retreat Agreements 
    • PLEASE CAREFULLY READ EACH AGREEMENT:

      • I will follow the retreat guidelines and precepts
      • I agree to practice “taking what is offered” with regards to rooms, food, and other retreat amenities. This kind of renunciation cultivates simplicity for oneself and generosity for others.
      • I agree to arrive on time, stay for the entire retreat and commit to participating as fully as I am capable.
      • I agree to stay on Spirit Rock grounds for the duration of the retreat, only exception is if I am registered as a commuter.
      • I agree to not schedule work meetings, job interviews, or any other kind of appointments during the retreat.
      • I will maintain Noble Silence for the duration of the retreat and limit my speech to practice discussion meetings with teachers, Q&A in the hall, and functional speech needed for my mindful work activity, or to get support from the Spirit Rock staff. If I am coming as a couple or with a good friend, I agree to give that person the gift of a fully silent, solitary retreat.
      • During the retreat, I agree that I will not use my cell phone, tablet, or computer anywhere on the Spirit Rock grounds, unless I have a medical device that requires I have it. (An emergency phone is available in the retreat coordinators’ office.)
      • I agree to set aside listening to music, reading, and writing while on retreat.
      • I agree to meet with a teacher as scheduled for practice discussion meetings. These are NOT optional and an important way for the teachers to support my practice. I will do my best to follow the instructions and guidance of the teachers.
      • I agree, subject to my physical abilities, to engage in my assigned daily mindful work activity. (Jobs can include vacuuming residence halls, dusting and sweeping, washing dishes and pots, dining room cleanup, mopping floors, or cleaning bathrooms.)
      • I agree to not use any scented products.
      • I understand that meals include breakfast, lunch, and a light supper and all meals are lacto-ovo (egg and dairy) vegetarian with wheat-free and vegan alternatives at all meals. I understand that Spirit Rock cannot accommodate individual dietary preferences.
      • I agree that I will not use any non-pharmaceutical psychoactive substances on the Spirit Rock grounds including without limitation: Cannabis, Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, Mescaline, Peyote, iboga, San Pedro, etc..
      • In the event of a medical or mental health emergency, I agree to follow the instructions and recommendations of teachers and staff.
    • Participant Photo Upload 
    • Your photo is required in case of a personal or campus-wide emergency, as well as for teachers and retreat staff to easily identify participants. Please select a recent photo where your face is clearly visible and preferrably ONLY YOU in the photo as opposed to a group photo.

       

      HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR FILE/PHOTO:

      1. Click the "Browse Files" (or Drag and Drop)
      2. Navigate to a location on your computer or your mobile device, and select a photo to upload.
      3. It should upload automatically and you should see an image of your photo in, or under, the preview area. If you need to change the image you uploaded, there is a "trash can" icon to the right of the photo. Just click that icon and you can start over.
      4. If you encounter an error during the upload, simply click the "trash can" icon and start over. It is possible that the photo is too large of a file, such as a "Live Photo" from your iPhone. Try selecting a different photo, or edit your photo and turn OFF "Live Photo". Use Google, or a tech savvy friend, to help with how to do this.
      5. If you continue to have difficulties uploading, click the "Save" button to the left of the Submit button. You can send us the link to your document by email: registration@spiritrock.org.
    • Browse Files
      Drag and drop files here
      Choose a file
      Cancelof
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