Eight Guidelines GFR Retreat at Dharmadhara

This retreat is an invitation to relax and reflect on our practice, both internally and in dialogue with our spiritual friends. The 8 guidelines will be our framework as we explore our individual conditioning and unique creativity along with our shared values and intentions and how all this relates to being a part of the Triratna Buddhist Order.

Engaging with the guidelines through meditation, mindful communication, walking, pujas, the refuge tree and informal talks or workshops, there will be many rich opportunities to share our experience, discoveries, intentions and challenges, as well as plenty of time to quietly digest and integrate what we have learned.

The team - Amala, Vimalasara, Padmatara, and Mokshasi - look forward to spending some precious time with you.

The Eight Guidelines are as follows:

·  Going for Refuge

·  Ethical Practice

·  Meditation and Mind Training

·  Understanding the Dharma (as taught by Bhante)

·  The Mythic Context

·  Spiritual Friendship

·  Understanding the Principles of Triratna Community and Order

·  Altruistic Dimension

Required reading: the Tiratanaloka Handbook on the Eight Guidelines. 

Optional: the further study material suggested in the Handbook, and the videos here from members of the preceptors college.

This is an in-person retreat with limited spaces for women* who have requested ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Order. 

*The Triratna Buddhist movement has a long, rich history of offering women-only practice spaces. At the same time, we welcome participation from a diversity of gender identities, including trans women and those who identify as non-binary. We ask all participants to be open to this broader definition of a women-centered space. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch.

We strive to make all our retreats affordable regardless of financial circumstances.

Sliding Scale Retreat Fees: $700 | $550 | $400

• $700, our actual fee for the retreat. It is for people paying their living expenses, and who can afford occasional or regular leisure expenses such as dining out. 
• $550 for those who are paying their living expenses, though experience a consistent tightness in budget that makes extras like leisure activities or unexpected expenses difficult or impossible.
• $400 for those without an income or with an income low enough that making ends meet is a challenge.
• The Chintamani Fund is available to support those who would like financial assistance for in-person retreat participation.
• We will accept $50 Deposit to hold your place, balance due six weeks prior to the retreat
• If you would prefer to pay by check, please contact us at alokasetu@gmail.com.

Retreat Team costs are covered by our Alokasetu - Bridge of Light - Fund - please consider a one-off or monthly donation to support ordination training team costs in our region.

Dharmadhara Info 

This is an IN-PERSON retreat, no online option.  

The dates are Thursday May 23 through Saturday June 1. 

We are looking for help in organizing transportation, camping gear, and food shopping. If you live in the Bay area and would like to help with any of this, please contact Padmatara3@gmail.com.

Accommodations will be in shared rooms with 2-3 people per room. There are no private rooms available, although plenty of room for camping, and room in the shrine room and living room if necessary. We have mats and camping gear available to borrow.

Health and Safety

While we highly recommend up-to-date FDA-approved vaccines and boosters for COVID-19, this is not currently a requirement for this retreat.

There is a requirement to take a home/antigen test before leaving for the retreat (and the day the retreat begins if these are different). Please bring extra tests with you so that an additional test can be taken on day 4 of the retreat, and/or if symptoms occur.

Food and Work Periods

All food is vegan, with eggs and dairy options on the side.  Menues are provided but all cooking and cleaning will be shared between us. There is also a clean up session that we all share at the end of the retreat.

Accommodations

Dharmadhara is a rustic residence with a very beautiful shrine room, located in Lake County – about 2.5 to 3 hours North of San Francisco. The main building has a kitchen, dining room, sitting room with wood burning stove, 7 small dorms, some with 2 beds, some with 3 beds, 3 indoor toilets and 2 showers.  

Travel and Carpooling

If you need help organizing a ride please let us know and we will do our best to get you there. If you are driving and can offer rides, please also let us know. Thank you!

Flying:  When booking a flight please take into allow at least 3 hours for travel to and from Dharmadhara (see start times above). If you're flying in you may need to use Bart to get picked up.  SFO is the closest airport to the SFBC but Oakland is closer to Dharmadhara, so either will work, and both are now accessible by Bart and airtrain.  Email Padmatara if you'd like help with this.