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Good Friends Retreat: Easter week 2022
St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Bautista is a 2 hour dirve from San Francisco.
Dive Deep into Meditation
This is a kalyāṇa-mitta retreat. Good friends or kalyāṇa-mitta also mean admirable friends—a Buddhist concept designating spiritual friendships among peers. This is a community hosted retreat for mutual benefit with wholesome practice leading to liberation. Welcome.
The retreat begins Friday at 5:00 PM and ends on the following Saturday after breakfast and a closing circle. The retreat provides an ideal environment for self direct meditation surround with natural tranquil beauty. Practice will be conducted in meditative silence with optional participation in community dhamma discussions nightly 7-8:30 PM. The buildings and grounds are a mobile divice-free zone where they should remain in the off position until after the morning meditation on the last day when meditative silence ends. A retreat managers will be on hand to provide support and assistance.
The center is ideal for meditation, with abundant places for for seated and walking practice. Exceptional walking areas surround with woodland paths and lake trails that surround the facility. The chapel and library reading rooms offer warmth and seclusion. A modern dining hall offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian buffet style meals that may be supplemented by participants. A community refrigerator and microwave is available for those with special dietary needs or desire an evening snack.
Optional Group Sessions
Single and Double Occupancy
Registration
Complete and submit the online registration form by clicking the button below. Your registration will be processed and confirmed in the order received. A $250 deposit is required. Credit card and PayPal payments include bank processing fees. Three-day retreat options are available by special arrangement. Contact a retreat manager for details and restrictions. Pay Fees by Check or Money Order
Single Occupancy = $000, Deposit=$000 Double Occupancy = $000, Deposit=$000 Early Arrivals by special arrangement = $000, per day Make check or money order payable to UIBDS and mail to:
Retreat Manager, 315 N. Cottonwood St., #12 Woodland CA 95695 Balance due by 10/1/18 Pay fees by Credit Card or PayPal (includes 3% bank processing fee)
Single Occupancy = $008, Deposit=$008 Double Occupancy = $006, Deposit=$006 Early Arrivals by special arrangement = $00, per day Deposits are fully refundable less any processing fees until 00/0/00.
Balance of payment is due not later than 00/0/00. |
Schedule
Participants self-direct sitting and walking meditation in harmony with their individual practice requirements in silence. Bells will be rung at meal times and dhamma discussion only. FIRST DAY 3:00–4:3o pm Check-in 5:oo pm Orientation 6:00 pm Dinner 7:00 pm Opening Circle DAILY SCHEDULE 7:00 am Group sit(optional) 8:00 am (bell) Breakfast 9:00 am Group Sit (optional) 12:00 pm (bell) Mid-day meal 2:00 pm Group Sit (optional) 7:00 pm (bell) Dhamma Discussion LAST DAY 6:30 am (bell) 7:00 am Group sit (optional) 8:00 am (bell) Breakfast 9:00 - 10:00 (bell) Closing Cirecle Arrival and Departure
Plan to arrive at St. Francis Retreat Center between 3:00 and 4:30 PM for orientation followed by a buffet dinner and opining circle. Check-in and room assignment will begin at 3:30 PM. Park near the lower building where the bedrooms and central meditation hall are located. The retreat will end after breakfast and the closing circle on Saturday morning with time to socialize, take photos, and pack. All participants must depart the ground by 10:30 AM. Traffic on 101 is usually light at that time with an approximately 90-minute drive to SFO and 2 hours to San Francisco. Arrival by Air
Out-of-town participants requiring ground transportation to the retreat center should coordinate flight arrival and departure times with the retreat manager before booking. Ride sharing with local participants will be arranged by the with volunteers attending the retreat.
Participants arriving at SFO on the first day of the retreat must be available for pick-up outside baggage claim or a nearby hotel by 10:00 AM 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. Airport Hotels
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 |
Detailed Information
What to Wear:
The weather in San Juan Bautista in April is typically dry and cool with sunny days and cold nights. The average daytime temperature is 68ºF (20ºC). Nighttime average low temperature is 42ºF (5ºC). Rain may be likely and heavy at times, so bring an umbrella or other rain 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 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 optional evening gatherings. 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 meditative silence, participants’ cell phones and tablets, and computers are not allowed and are required to be in the off position during 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: 415-250-5294
St. Francis Retreat business office: 831-623-4234
St. Francis Retreat emergency after hours: 831-207-7042
What to Wear:
The weather in San Juan Bautista in April is typically dry and cool with sunny days and cold nights. The average daytime temperature is 68ºF (20ºC). Nighttime average low temperature is 42ºF (5ºC). Rain may be likely and heavy at times, so bring an umbrella or other rain 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 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 optional evening gatherings. 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 meditative silence, participants’ cell phones and tablets, and computers are not allowed and are required to be in the off position during 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: 415-250-5294
St. Francis Retreat business office: 831-623-4234
St. Francis Retreat emergency after hours: 831-207-7042
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 quiet, sheltered setting supports participants in developing 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 to those dedicated to a path of wisdom and compassion.
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 quiet, sheltered setting supports participants in developing 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 optional evening meeting. Inquiries about the retreat may be directed to a retreat manager or 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 to those dedicated to a path of wisdom and compassion.
Download the Simplicity and Renunciation print version
| simplicity_and_renunciation.pdf |