Easter Meditation Retreat, March 29–April 7, 2024
with Leigh Brasington and Rachael O'Brien
Rachael O'Brien and Leigh Brasington will lead this 10-day, 9-night Jhana and Insight Retreat in person at the beautiful St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, California. This is a rare opportunity for students to explore diverse approaches to Buddhist meditation under the guidance of two rigorous and experienced teachers.
The primary focus of the course is the Gradual Training, which describes the development of meditative stability (samatha) and insight (vipassanā) equally jointed together. This retreat is ideal for both beginning students and advanced meditators alike as they seek to cultivate greater depth in their practice. Those with no previous meditation experience as well as long-time practitioners will find great benefit in this silent meditation retreat. The course includes one-on-one interviews with students and daily dhamma talks by Leigh and Rachael. Leigh Brasington is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema, who asked Leigh to begin teaching before her death in 1997. Since then, Leigh has taught retreats almost continuously, becoming internationally known for his precise understanding and explanation of the meditative process. Notably, Leigh is the author of Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas and Dependent Origination and Emptiness: Streams of Dependently Arising Processes Interacting. More about Leigh can be found at www.leighb.com Rachael is a senior student of the late Bhante Vimalaramsi Mahathero, who asked her to begin teaching the Dhamma in 2015. For the past eight years, she has been teaching the TWIM approach to mediation through the combined practice of the Brahmaviharas and the Jhanas. Rachael is also profoundly influenced by the teachings of the late Ven. Ayya Khema. She values an ecumenical and pragmatic approach to early Buddhist practice. (Click here to learn more about Rachael and to listen to her talks from the 2023 Easter Retreat) St. Francis Retreat Center
Located 83 miles south of San Francisco International Airport, St. Francis Retreat Center is situated on a sunny hillside only a few miles from the historic town of San Juan Bautista east of Monterey Bay. The contemporary Spanish-style building complex is nestled among shade trees and vineyards on 70 acres of rolling hills and meadows. The spacious grounds and hiking paths are available for light exercise. Seated practice areas include a central meditation hall, a chapel, and contemplative areas ideal for seclusion. There is abundant indoor and outdoor space for seated and walking for practice.
Comfortable bedrooms include a private bathroom with shower with beds, pillow, linens, blankets, towels, wash cloth, and soap. A desk with reading lights provide comfortable and warm accommodation on chilly California nights. Double occupancy is available by request
The dining room offers spacious indoor and outdoor patio garden seating. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style. In keeping with the Buddha's instructions on eating, students will take a vow not eat after lunch. This practice supports optimal mental energy for mediation. Meal service offers vegetarian or meat/fish entrees with gluten-free options including salads, fruits, and side dishes. Hot and cold beverages including tea, hot chocolate, and coffee are available 24/7. Vegan entrees are not served; however, refrigerated food storage is available to those with special dietary needs.
Registration
Payment
Single Occupancy = $1575, Deposit Required = $500, Double Occupancy = $1385 per person This is a non-profit retreat. The teachings are free of charge. The fees paid only cover fixed costs for food, lodging, insurance, and travel expenses for teachers. The retreat is administered and staffed entirely by volunteers. Rachael offers the Teachings freely. Students will, however, have the opportunity to offer (Dana) a gift to her if they so choose as part of their practice of generosity. Payment / Refund Policy
Those arriving SFO by air may reserve ground transportation round trip to and from the retreat. Please email your arrival and departure information to the retreat manager. All travelers are advised to check in for departing flights 90 minutes before domestic departures and 2 hours for international departures. For more information contact admin@TWIM.Foundation.
Retreat ground transportation
For those arriving by air, a passenger van service will be contracted to provide round-trip shuttle van and driver to and from the retreat center. Ground transportation is $150 per person payable in full February 15, 202t. Sign up HERE. You will receive confirmation within 10-days. Once confirmed, please provide flight arrival and departure times to the retreat managers before booking airline or hotel reservations. Ground transportation is operated by a local airport van service that will depart from San Francisco: Friday, March 29, with one stop at the Milwood hotel then non-stop to St. Francis Retreat. Pick up Point #1: 1:00 PM. Pickup, San Francisco Airport International Terminal, Arrivals, Door 5 Pick up Point #2: 1:15 PM, Pick up, The Mlwood Hotel and Suites, 1375 El Camino Real, Millbrae, California, 94030 3:15 PM, Arrive to St. Francis Retreat for check-in and orientation Return to San Francisco: Sunday, April 7, St. Francis Retreat to San Francisco 10:00 AM, Depart St. Francis Drop-off Point #1: 11:45 AM, San Francisco airport departure terminals Drop-off Point #2: 12:15 PM, The Milwood Hotel and Suites 1375 El Camino Real, Millbrae, California, 94030 Arrivals at SFO should make flight and hotel reservations with adequate time to connect with either private transportation or ground the group transportation service described above. Late arrivals or those arriving at other airports are responsible to arrange their ground transportation at their own expense. Hotels near SFO
Early arrivals or stay-overs are advised to select a hotel from the list below. These are modestly priced hotels that offer courtesy airport shuttle service, wi-fi, and complementary breakfast. Cheaper rates may be available through Hotels.com. Kayak.com, and other Web-based portals. The hotels listed below are 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 Driving directions
St. Francis Retreat 549 Mission Vineyard Rd, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 From SFO drive south on Highway 101 for 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 mile Arrival and check-in
Check in opens at 3:15 PM. Plan to arrive at the center between 3:00 and 4:00 PM to check in on the first day. The center is closed to participants until 3:00 PM on the day of arrival. Parking is available on both sides of the lower building. The Fireside Room in the lower building is where group meditation and Dhamma talks will take place. On the first day, orientation begins at 5:00 PM followed by dinner at 6:00PM, and Opening introductions at 7:00 PM. The retreat ends after the morning meditation on the last day of the retreat with time for breakfast, socializing, taking photos, and packing. Those returning by van to SFO and neighboring hotels will depart at 10:oo AM. Emergency Contact 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 Detailed Retreat Information
*IMPORTANT COVID-19 POLICY* (PLEASE READ) All retreatants are required to test for COVID-19 before traveling to the retreat and should notify the retreat manager if they test positive. No one who tests positive for COVID-19 may remain at the Retreat Center. All retreatants are required to bring at least three COVID-19 tests with them to the retreat and to test each day for the first three days of the retreat. Anyone who tests positive must notify the retreat manager and leave the Retreat Center. All retreatants must wear a mask in all common areas, including the group sessions and teacher interviews, until three days have passed with no one testing positive for COVID-19. If no one has tested positive for the first three days of the retreat, masks become optional in common areas. It is highly recommended that all retreatants who are using mass transit to travel to the retreat wear masks during their travel. What to Wear: The weather in San Juan Bautista in March/April is typically sunny with cooler nights. The average daytime temperature is 68ºF. Nighttime average low temperature is 45ºF. Rain is only 20% likely as the area transitions from the wetter Winter to the dry Summer. Bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothes, such as sweat pants with elastic waistband. Dress in 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, umbrella for rain, and sunglasses are handy for sunny days. What to Bring for Meditation: Chairs for sitting will be provided in the meditation hall. You may wish to bring your own special chair along with meditation cushions or pillows, benches, and floor pads. House-slippers and warm socks are appropriate in the meditation hall. Bring a shawl or small blanket for both indoor and outdoor seated meditations in the gardens and patio areas. 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, 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 managers for accommodation of 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. Candles, incense, and smoking are not allowed in any building or room. Clocks and Phones: Please attend to all personal matters before coming so as not to hamper progress in meditation. To support the practice of meditative silence, participants’ cell phones and tablets, and computers will be collected at the beginning of the retreat and held in a secure area the evening before 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 Interacting with Monastics
Occasionally, monks or nuns in robes attend TWIM retreats. The following is a suggested standard of conduct appropriate while in their presence: Physical contact: Refrain from shaking hands or hugs. Greeting: The traditional greeting is to have both hands held together in an attitude of prayer. The following conduct is suggested if a monk or nun is teaching: Entering a room: Please be seated before starting a conversation. Stand up when the teacher enters or leaves the room to demonstrate respect. Remain standing until he or she is seated or has departed. Attentiveness: Please do not cross your arms or legs during the conversation. It is considered rude to point the soles of your feet at a Buddha image, monk, nun or lay teacher. Timeliness: Be present and seated at the scheduled starting time and plan your questions in advance to respect the end time. Conversation topics: Though you’re welcome to have enjoyable conversations about the dhamma and the practice, refrain from asking personal or potential non reverent questions. As an example, this includes asking for value statements about other practices or religions, about individual attainments or about potentially controversial social or political topics. Generosity: donations (dana) is gratefully accepted. Your generosity directly supports the Teacher's ability to teach. Though physical gifts are appreciated, they are impractical due to packing restrictions for travel. 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
There are currently no COVID-19 public health safety state or local mandates. There are no vaccination requirements at St. Francis Retreat Center. As a precaution, we ask that participants home-test prior to arrival. As an additional safety measure, take another home test on Friday morning, the opening day of the retreat and an additional test on the Saturday morning.
| |||||||||