JUNE 28 – JULY 7, 2020, KINDNESS AND WISDOM 9-DAY RETREAT
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St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Bautista, California
Cost: $1065 (double) to $1435 (single) plus dāna 
Doug Kraft's teaching focuses on cultivating kindness, tranquility, insight, and wisdom along the path described by the Buddha in the earliest texts. The retreat provides an integrated environment for optimizing meditation practice and is held in supportive silence
HIS APPROACH EMPHASIZES
The majority of your daily meditation is self-directed, including long blocks of time for sitting and walking meditation. Daily individual interviews with Doug are especially helpful for new meditators and those new to the Easing Awake style of meditation. Those with a lot of experience in this style of practice may interview every other day or every third day if they prefer. These personal discussions with Doug help you fine-tune your practice. He is also available at mealtimes to respond to questions and concerns about your practice. An optional daily discussion group will be led by advanced students for an hour before lunch. Doug will facilitate a Dhamma Discussion each evening in place of the traditional lecture-style dhamma talk. The discussions will focus on topics important to meditation: an overview of the practice, using hindrances as tools for insight and wisdom; engaging dependent origination; unfolding stages (jhānas) of practice; selflessness; non-dual awareness; integrating meditation into daily life; and more. Every other evening he will introduce the evening’s topic with a story, exercise, or guided meditation followed by discussions designed to draw on the wisdom and experience of all participants. On alternate evenings he will rely exclusively on questions and comments yogis have left in the question box or bring up during the evening programs. The purpose of these formats is to see if this more dynamic and engaged style will facilitate deeper understanding. The retreat will be conducted in silence except for the recitation of refuges and precepts, individual interviews, the discussion group, the evening program, and emergencies. Speech all too easily leads to mental proliferation. It may feel good in the moment, but it interferes with the capacity of the mind to settle into a deeper and more subtle awareness. So we ask all yogis to honor the silence and discover how it enriches. Whether you are a beginning student or an advanced meditator, the retreat offers a richly supportive environment to deepen your practice.
Participants can enjoy the expansive natural beauty surrounding the center along with a comfortable furnished room and outstanding meals prepared with a wide variety of dietary choices.. The grounds and facilities are open 24/7. There is more information about St. Francis Retreat on their website at www.stfrancisretreat.com
Meals and Dining
Meals are served in the dining room at 8:00 AM and 12:30 PM. The vegetarian menu is posted each day for breakfast and lunch. There is no evening meal in this program, though a 5:30 PM tea and juice break is provided.
The food bar is self-service and offers breakfasts with a variety of fruits, yogurts, hot and cold cereals, egg dishes with home fries, French toast, or pancakes. Lunches feature eclectic vegetarian variations of California style, Asian, Italian, and Mexican entrees along with conventional entrees with meat or fish. Salads and fruits, hot and cold beverages, and desserts are available with each meal. The standard menu is an omni menu which includes provisions for dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan diets. St. Francis does a very good job accommodating as many dietary limitations as possible. Participants with further special needs are encouraged to bring supplementary snacks or prepared dishes to accommodate their individual needs. Refrigeration is available in the dining hall along with a microwave oven, plates, and eating utensils. Preparing and cooking in the kitchen is not allowed by the center. Bottled spring water is available throughout St. Francis. If you like, bring a bottle with a screw cap for refills at the many water dispensers. Standard size ceramic cups that are available in the dining room are small so you may consider bringing a mug for hot beverages. This also reduces the use of paper cups that are not recycled.
Some scholarships are available. Please ask. Weekend rates may be available for returning participants at $145 for single occupancy. The One-Day rate (no overnight lodging) is $60 per day including meals. These rates include room and board.
Teacher support: At the end of the retreat you will have an opportunity to offer dāna (donations) to support the teacher, who is not salaried as such. Retreat participants are invited to donate dana to support his hours and years of preparation devoted to research, study, dhamma presentations, mentoring and leading the retreat. Easing Awake and Doug Kraft are grateful for whatever you are able to contribute to make these retreats possible. SCHEDULE
FIRST DAY_______________________
3:00-4:30 pm Check in and room assignments 5:00 pm Opening circle and orientation 6:00 pm Dinner 7:00 pm Dhamma talk 8:00 pm Sitting and walking meditation DAILY SCHEDULE__________________ 6:00 am Wake up 6:30 am Sitting meditation 8:00 am Breakfast 9:00 am Sitting and walking meditation 11:30 am Optional Discussion Group 12:30 Lunch 2:00 pm Sitting and walking meditation 6:00 pm Tea time 6:30 pm Dhamma talk and discussion 8:00 pm Sitting and walking meditation 10:00 pm Further practice or sleep LAST DAY_______________________ 6:00 am Wake up 6:30 am Sitting meditation 8:00 am Breakfast and pack up 9:00 am Group meditation and closing 11:30 am Group photos 12:00 Noon Lunch and departure Arrival and Departure:
If you are driving, plan to arrive at St. Francis Retreat Center between 3:00 and 4:30 pm on Sunday, June 28 to check in and get settled. Parking is available next to the lower Retreat Hall near to where rooms will be assigned. An opening group circle and orientation begins at 5:00 PM with a dinner at 6:00 PM. At 7:00 PM, the retreat will begin with a Dhamma talk What to Wear: The weather in San Juan Bautista in June is typically dry with warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights. The average daytime temperature is in the mid-70s with nighttime temperatures in the low 50s. There is usually very little rain in June. Bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothes, such as sweat pants with elastic waistband. Be prepared with layers that can be added or removed. Light clothing is recommended for warm, sunny daytime weather. A warm jacket is needed for cool 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 bright 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. Local participants are encouraged to bring a few extra cushions for those who traveled by air and cannot carry these items with them. Other Necessities to Bring: Bed linens, blankets, and towels are provided. You may want to bring a special personal pillow or blanket, if desired. Bring personal toiletries (toothpaste, bath soap, sunscreen, Kleenex, etc.), insect repellant if desired, flashlight 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. An opening group circle and orientation begins at 5:00 PM with a dinner at 6:00 PM. At 7:00 PM, the retreat will begin with a Dhamma talk. The retreat will end after lunch on Tuesday, July 7. There will be time to socialize, take photos, and pack following breakfast. What to Leave at Home: Do not bring valuables, nonprescription drugs or alcohol. 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 rooms. Clocks and Phones: Please be punctual for all group events. Turn off the sound on clocks and watches. There is no public phone on the facility. Computers and note books are discouraged during the retreat. Safe and secure storage for personal computers and cell phones will be provided. Emergency Phone Numbers: St. Francis Retreat business office phone: (831) 623-4234 St. Francis Retreat emergency after hours phone: (831) 207-7042 Onsite Retreat Manager: Claudia Kenney Carey (916) 320-2141 |
Retreat LeaderDoug Kraft began meditation training in 1975 and is just as enthusiastic about meditating today as he was then. He is a senior student of Bhante Vimalaramsi. He has also studied with other Theravada teachers including John Travis, Ajahn Tong, Larry Rosenberg, Corrado Pensa, Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Christopher Titum, Joanna Macy, and Andy Olendski to name a few. Doug has also trained with Korean Zen Master, Sahn Seung, Tibetan Mingur Rinpoche, and Siddha Yoga guru Muktananda, and (back in the day) Ram Dass, Pir Vilat Khan, Salvador Rouchet, Emmanuel, and Jean Houston.
Doug Kraft
But behind it all, Doug loves delving into human nature and teaching meditation. He leads meditation classes and retreats in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. Doug is the author of Befriending the Mind (2019), Meditator’s Field Guide (2017), Buddha's Map, (2013), Beginning the Journey, (2013), Circling Home (2010), and Gods and Consciousness (2001). He is also a counselor, therapist, and retired Unitarian Universalist Minister who lives with his wife and cat.
Buddha’s Map provides an overview of the Buddha’s meditation including personalized descriptions of how higher states feel and detailed instructions about how to practice effectively at all stages. www.BuddhasMap.com
Meditator’s Field Guide offers reflections on subtle insights that naturally arise along the path but and yet fade all too easily. www.MeditatorsFieldGuide.com
Befriending the Mind is about discovering the clarity and wisdom that is inherent in us. It can easily be obscured. As meditators, our job is not to get a grip on the mind. It is to discover the clarity and wisdom that is inherent in it.
* * *This residential retreat is limited to 25 participants and includes instruction, guidance, and meals with accommodations for 9 nights.
Doug is the guiding teacher of the Sacramento based Easing Awake Sangha, a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization. * * *How to RegisterFees: A $250 deposit is required to hold a reservation until May 30 when full payment is due. Fees are 100% refundable until May 30.
Single-Occupancy Room $1435 + teacher support Double-Occupancy Room $1065 + teacher support These fees are for room and board only. There will be an opportunity to offer dāna (donations) to support the teacher at the end of the retreat. Make checks Payable to:
Easing Awake and mail to Easing Awake 1126 McClaren Drive Carmichael, CA 95608 OR Pay by credit card or PayPal A 3% bank service charge will be passed on to you for Credit Card or PayPal charges Click this button to register online and indicate how you want to pay the registration. For more information contact:
info@easingawake.com or Easing Awake 1126 McClaren Drive Carmichael, CA 95608 |
