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Easter Retreat April 5—April 15, 2020
This 11-day, 10-night Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation retreat is a residential retreat that includes Easter weekend. This annual retreat is led by Bhant Vimalaramsi and takes place at the beautiful St. Francis Retreat Center near San Juan Bautista California. The quiet and spacious facility is nestled amid rolling green hills east of Monterey Bay.
Participants will be instructed and guided in the practice of tranquil wisdom insight meditation. This is the method taught by the Buddha and described in the earliest Buddhist texts. Tranquil wisdom insight meditation is ideal for beginning students or advanced meditators seeking to cultivate greater wisdom and insight.
Located 83 miles south of San Francisco International Airport, the St. Francis Retreat center is situated on a sunny hillside only a few miles from the historic San Juan Bautista Mission.
Accommodations
Comfortable single or double occupancy rooms with private baths are $890 for double occupancy and $1140 for single occupancy for 10 nights. Double occupancy participants must provide the name of their roommate on the registration form.
Dining
Registration
A $250 initial deposit is required for a reservation.
Pay Fees by Check or Money Order Single Occupancy = $1210, Deposit=$250, Balance Due=$960 Double Occupancy = $950, Deposit=$250, Balance Due=$700 per person Make check or money order payable to UIBDS
The Retreat Manager, will send you a mailing address for payment. Balance due by 3/14/2020 Pay fees by Credit Card or PayPal (includes 3% bank processing fee)
Single Occupancy = $1246, Deposit=$258, Balance Due=$989 Double Occupancy = $979, Deposit=$258, Balance Due=$721 per person Deposits are fully refundable less any processing fees until 3/5/2020
Balance of payment is due not later than 3/4/2020 Fees are not refundable after 3/5/2020 Arrival and Departure
If you are driving, plan to arrive at St. Francis Retreat Center between 3:00 and 4:30 pm on the first day to check in. Parking is available next to the lower building. The Fireside Room will be for group meditation and Dhamma talks. Dinner will be served at 5:00 PM followed by a group orientation at 5:45 PM. At 6:30 PM, the retreat will begin with opening comments and a Dhamma talk by Bhante. The retreat will end after the morning meditation and breakfast on the last day of the retreat with time to socialize, take photos, and pack following breakfast. Guests driving to SFO will depart between 10 and 10:30 to arrive SFO between noon and 12:30 PM.
Return transportation to SFO or nearby hotels will arrive between 11:30 noon and 12:00 noon on the last day of the retreat. Please make your flight and hotel reservations with adequate time to check in for your flight at least one hour before departure. Coordinate your arrival and departure info and shuttle service with the retreat manager.
Detailed Information
What to Wear:The weather in San Juan Bautista in November is typically sunny with cool, clear nights. The average daytime temperature is 68ºF (19ºC). Nighttime average low temperature is 42ºF (7ºC). Rain is likely so be prepared and bring and umbrella or other wet weather gear. Bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothes, such as sweat pants with elastic waistband. Be prepared with layers that can be added or removed. A warm jacket is needed for cold nights and evening walking meditation. Comfortable slip-on shoes are appropriate for walking around the compound. Headgear, such as a hat with a brim, and sunglasses are handy for sunny days. House-slippers and warm socks are appropriate in the meditation hall. Bring a shawl or small blanket for outdoor, seated meditations in the gardens and patio areas. What to Bring for Meditation: Chairs for sitting will be provided in the meditation hall. You may wish to bring your own special chair, if desired, along with meditation cushions or pillows. Please bring a few extra cushions for out of state guests who traveled by air and cannot carry these items with them. Other Necessities to Bring: Bed linens, blankets, and towels are provided by the center. You may want to bring a special personal pillow or blanket, if desired. Bring personal toiletries (toothpaste, bath soap, sunscreen, Kleenex, etc), flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries, an alarm clock or watch with an alarm, and a water bottle to be filled at the center with filtered water as needed. There will be wake up and notification bell to announce meals and group gatherings. What to Leave at Home: Do not bring valuables, nonprescription drugs or alcohol. Do not bring food, unless you have made prior arrangements with the retreat manager for accommodation of medically required special dietary needs. Avoid using scented cosmetics or perfumes that may be allergenic to others. Reading and writing are discouraged during this training period, except during the evening dhamma talks by Bhante. Candles, incense, and smoking are not allowed in any rooms. Clocks and Phones: Please attend to personal matters before coming so a not to hamper progress in mediation. To support the practice of silence, participants’ cell phones and tablets, and computers will be collected at the beginning of the retreat and held in a secure area until breakfast on the last day of the retreat. Emergency Phone Numbers: There is no public phone on the facility. If your family needs to reach you in an emergency, they may call these emergency contact numbers. Retreat Manager, Scott Jordan cell phone: 415-250-5294 St. Francis Retreat business office phone: 831-623-4234 St. Francis Retreat emergency after hours phone: 831-207-7042 |
Bhante Vimalaramsi
Bhante is a distinguished American Buddhist monk with more than 40 years of meditation practice. He is regarded as a master meditation teacher leading Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation retreats in Europe, Asia, and North America. He founded the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center near Annapolis, Missouri, after returning to the USA having practiced twelve years in Asia. He is the author of The Anapanasati Sutta: A Guide to Tranquil Wisdom Meditation, Breath of Love, and Moving Dhamma Volume 1. Bhante is the American representative to the World Buddhist Summit. 
Practice Schedule
All retreatants are required to be present and seated in the meditation hall for the 5:30 AM and 6:00 PM sessions. A daily 10-minute teacher interview will be scheduled for each person. During practice periods, retreatants will balance periods of sitting and walking meditation to suit their individual needs. Indoor and outdoor meditation practice is encouraged. FIRST DAY______________ 3:30 - 5:00 Registration 5:00 - 6:15 Dinner & Orientation 6:30 - 8:00 Introduction 8:00 - 10:00 Self-directed meditation DAILY SCHEDULE_________ 5:00 am Wake up 5:30 am Group meditation 7:00 am Breakfast 8:00 am Self-directed meditation 11:00 am Lunch 1:00 pm Self-directed meditation 5:30 pm Tea Break 6:00 pm Dhamma talk 8:00 pm Self-directed meditation 10:00 pm Further practice or sleep LAST DAY_______________ 5:30 - 7:00 Meditation & Closing 7:00 - 9:30 Breakfast & Socializing 9:30 - 10:30 Departure Hotels near SFO
If you are arriving early or staying over after the retreat, we suggest that guests select a hotel from the list below. They are near SFO, modestly priced, and offer courtesy airport shuttle service, wi-fi, and complementary breakfast. Cheaper rates may be available through Hotels.com. Kayak.com, and other Web based providers. These hotels are all located only a few miles from SFO in a commercial district with nearby restaurants. Millwood Inn & Suites 1375 El Camino Real, Millbrae, California 94030 Contact: 650-583-3935 Email: info@millwoodinn.com Days Inn San Francisco International Airport West 1550 El Camino Real, San Bruno, California 94066 Contact: 650-616-9600 Email: info@daysinnsanbruno.com La Quinta Inn & Suites, San Francisco Airport West 1390 El Camino Real Millbrae, CA 94030 Phone: 1-650-952-3200 Etiquette with
Monks and Nuns You will be interacting with a Buddhist monk or another Buddhist monastics. The attached summary includes helpful tips guide your conduct. 
Emergency Numbers
There is no public phone on the facility. If your family needs to reach you in an emergency, they may call these emergency contact numbers. Retreat Manager, Scott Jordan cell phone: 415-250-5294 St. Francis Retreat business office phone: 831-623-4234 St. Francis Retreat emergency after hours phone: 831-207-7042 Map
549 Mission Vineyard Rd,
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 From SFO drive south on Highway 101 80 miles.
1. Exit Hwy 101 onto Hwy 156 East at the San Juan Bautista/Hollister exit 2. After about 3 miles on 156, turn right at the signal onto The Alameda 3. Pass the San Juan Inn and Old San Juan Hollister Road 4. Turn left onto Mission Vineyard Road, continue straight about 0.8 miles. 5. At the indicated bend begin private drive (Retreat /Hedges). The Center is about 1.5 miles from this point. Take the second driveway and continue to the lower parking lot.
From I-5
1. Exit onto CA-152 W/E Pacheco Blvd. and continue to follow CA-152 W for 35.3 mi 2. Keep left to continue on Hwy 156 W/CA-156 W, follow signs for Hollister,14.1 mi 3. Follow Mission Vineyard Rd to your destination 2.2 mi 4. Turn left onto Old San Juan Hollister Rd 253 ft 5. Turn left onto Mission Vineyard Rd 0.5 mi 6. Turn left to stay on Mission Vineyard Rd 0.3 mi 7. Turn right to stay on Mission Vineyard Rd 1.2 mi | ||||||||||||||||||
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Download Retreat Schedule & Detailed Information
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Simplicity and Renunciation
Meditation retreats offer a sacred space that is protected and removed from the world. They allow participants a rare opportunity to look deeply inside, quiet the mind, and open the heart. Often the most beneficial and rewarding experiences of spiritual life happen at a meditation retreat. The sheltered and quiet setting is a key element that enables participants to develop patience, steadfastness, loving-kindness, generosity, joy, and wisdom.
These are the seeds that grow insight, compassion, and happiness. Participants are requested to let go of concerns for daily life and embrace an attitude of simplicity and renunciation by adopting a traditional spiritual practice that is called “taking what is offered.”
Taking What is Offered
The retreat is organized and managed by volunteers as a community service. Bhante Vimalaramsi freely gives the teachings and his time to be of service to the Buddha, the Dhamma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community).
Download the Simplicity and Renunciation print version
Meditation retreats offer a sacred space that is protected and removed from the world. They allow participants a rare opportunity to look deeply inside, quiet the mind, and open the heart. Often the most beneficial and rewarding experiences of spiritual life happen at a meditation retreat. The sheltered and quiet setting is a key element that enables participants to develop patience, steadfastness, loving-kindness, generosity, joy, and wisdom.
These are the seeds that grow insight, compassion, and happiness. Participants are requested to let go of concerns for daily life and embrace an attitude of simplicity and renunciation by adopting a traditional spiritual practice that is called “taking what is offered.”
Taking What is Offered
- Taking Any Residence – whatever quarters are offered. We ask participants to happily accept the accommodation assigned and continue to practice in this spirit throughout the retreat.
- Taking Food that is Offered – Happily accepting food that is offered is part of the practice. The cook lovingly prepares tasty and nutritious meals. Gluten-free alternatives will be available for those with medically required dietary restrictions. Participants with other special dietary needs may arrange with the retreat manager to bring supplemental food items with them to the retreat. Food items are prohibited in rooms and the meditation hall. The kitchen is restricted to St. Francis staff.
- Silence – In fostering an atmosphere of contemplation and meditation, participants are expected to embrace the practice of silence during the retreat. Living in silence is the practice of observing within and not communicating with others. This includes reading or writing, using telephones, computer, email, or text messages. Talking is permitted during the evening dhamma talks and teacher interviews when questions are encouraged. Inquiries about the retreat may be directed to a retreat manager or whenever necessary in the case of an emergency.
- Serving the Community – Participants may wish to volunteer for community work as a daily period of meditation in action. This activity acquaints yogis with meditation practice in daily activities and helps the retreat function move smoothly. A sign-up sheet for yogi jobs will be available during registration.
The retreat is organized and managed by volunteers as a community service. Bhante Vimalaramsi freely gives the teachings and his time to be of service to the Buddha, the Dhamma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community).
Download the Simplicity and Renunciation print version
| simplicity_and_renunciation.pdf |