November Meditation Retreat, November 1–8, 2014
Registration is open for the November and limited to 20 participants, The retreat begins at 2:00 PM Saturday, 11/1/14 to 2:00PM Saturday, 11/8/14 at the beuatiful St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Bautista, California. The retreat is ideal for beginners and advanced meditators. Weekend participants are welcome but should have previous experience in tranquil wisdom insight meditation. The week long program is ideal for experienced meditators of Vipassana, Zen, and similar wisdom traditions.
Meditation practice during the retreat is self-directed and includes daily optional group practice sessions. There are no appointed teachers or instructions; however, there are experienced participants with advanced practice skills and meeting areas available for discussion about practice. The previous retreat was November 2012. This is what participants have said about it: It was perfect. The only thing that could be better is me staying longer. – E. Jensen, San Francisco Sign me up for the next one. I had an amazing retreat. – Adam Eurich, Long Beach, CA I really love the way it was a bridge between a more hardcore, structured retreat and regular daily life. The benefits are still unfolding. – D. Sarason, Arcata, CA About Jikoji Jikoji Retreat Center is located approximately one hour southwest of San Francisco in the scenic Santa Cruz mountains. It offers spacious grounds with indoor and outdoor walking areas, a central dining room, two meditation halls, a library, two dormitories with clean community bathrooms, and private and semi-private rooms. There are beautiful hiking trails and outdoor sitting areas for meditation. See the Jikoji web page for details at http://www.Jikoji.org. General Guidelines
All participants are expected to observe a minimum of five precepts and conduct themselves with integrity at all times. Although the retreat will be largely in silence, taking the Noble Silence precept is optional. Wearing a purple ribbon will identify those who practice Noble Silence.
The schedule will include several daily group practice sessions; however, none are obligatory. An optional collective reading of the refuges and five precepts will be followed by seated meditation before breakfast. There will be an optional group seated meditation in mid-morning and another in the early afternoon. A facilitated group meeting will take place each evening for housekeeping announcements and discussion as needed. The sitting room and library is open 24/7 to read and meet others for conversation. Cost
The basic cost for the week is $425, which includes meals, snacks, and dormitory accommodations. Private single- and double-occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost on a first-come, first-served basis. The two-day weekend retreat is from Friday evening November 22 through Sunday afternoon November 24 for $140. This is a not-for-profit retreat made affordable to people from all meditation traditions.
Download the registration form below for more details. 
Meals and Accommodations
Breakfast, lunch, and a light evening meal will be buffet style. The community kitchen is available to those with special dietary needs for personal food storage and preparation. Meal preparation will be a shared community activity. Food is not permitted in the bedrooms or meditation halls.
Arrival, check-in, orientation, and departure
Registration is 4:00–6:30 pm on Moday, November 18 and Friday, November 22. Accommodations will be assigned upon check-in unless otherwise arranged in advance. Orientation is at 7:00 pm. Participants may leave anytime with advance notice to the retreat managers. The retreat ends after lunch on Sunday, November 24.
Serving the Community: At registration, participants will be assigned a yogi job to help keep the retreat space tidy. This is a short daily work period of simple service to the community in the kitchen or doing basic housekeeping. This practice allows us to collaborate to help the retreat function smoothy and to keep the cost affordable. |
Other retreats in California
Tranquil Insight Wisdom Meditation with Bhante Vimalaramsi April 1-11, 2015 at the St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Bautista, California. http://eastermeditationretreat2015.com
Bhante Vimalaramsi is a distinguished American Buddhist monk with nearly forty years of meditation practice. He is regarded as a master meditation teacher and leads 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 was the American representative to the World Buddhist Conference in Kobe, Japan, in 2007.
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Preparation
The average temperature in the Santa Cruz Mountains can be in the 50s and sunny one day, and overcast or rainy the next. Bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothes, such as sweat pants with elastic waistbands. Be prepared with layers that can be added or removed, a warm jacket, rain gear, hats for sun and cold, and shoes that are comfortable for walking. Slip-on shoes, house slippers, heavy socks, and gloves are handy. Chairs for sitting will be provided. Bring your own meditation cushions, benches, or special chair if you prefer. Jikoji Center will have most of what you need. A shawl or blanket to wrap around your shoulders during practice may be useful.
Bring personal toiletries (toothpaste, bath soap, sunscreen, kleenex, etc.), insect repellant if desired, flashlights and extra batteries, an alarm clock, and a water bottle to be filled at the center with filtered water as needed. The center provides towels, bed linens, blankets, and pillows; however, bring a favorite pillow, blanket, or sleeping bag if it enhances your sleeping comfort.
Do not bring valuables, nonprescription drugs, or alcohol. Avoid scented cosmetics or perfumes, which may cause allergic reactions for others. Candles, incense, and smoking are not permitted in any cabins or rooms.
Schedule (Participation is optional except meal times, which are fixed.)
6:00 AM Early Bird Jikoji's residents Zazen in the main Zendo led by
Shoho Michael Newhall
7:00 AM Seated group meditation in the small Zendo followed by continuing
self-directed practice
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM Taking of refuges and precepts followed by sitting and walking
meditation
12:30 PM Mid-day meal
2:00 PM Seated group meditation followed by continuing
self-directed practice
6:30 PM Evening meal followed by community meeting for announcements
and discussion as needed
7:30 PM Seated group meditation followed by continuing
self-directed practice
Directions to Jikoji Center
From San Francisco or SFO:
Go south on I-280. Exit Page Mill Road in Palo Alto. Go west on Page Mill up the mountain to Skyline Boulevard (Hwy 35). Turn left and travel 4.5 miles. Watch for a small sign on the right at the mailbox marked 12100 Skyline Blvd, also marked Ward Road. Go downhill on a dirt road about 1/2 mile and park.
Bring personal toiletries (toothpaste, bath soap, sunscreen, kleenex, etc.), insect repellant if desired, flashlights and extra batteries, an alarm clock, and a water bottle to be filled at the center with filtered water as needed. The center provides towels, bed linens, blankets, and pillows; however, bring a favorite pillow, blanket, or sleeping bag if it enhances your sleeping comfort.
Do not bring valuables, nonprescription drugs, or alcohol. Avoid scented cosmetics or perfumes, which may cause allergic reactions for others. Candles, incense, and smoking are not permitted in any cabins or rooms.
Schedule (Participation is optional except meal times, which are fixed.)
6:00 AM Early Bird Jikoji's residents Zazen in the main Zendo led by
Shoho Michael Newhall
7:00 AM Seated group meditation in the small Zendo followed by continuing
self-directed practice
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM Taking of refuges and precepts followed by sitting and walking
meditation
12:30 PM Mid-day meal
2:00 PM Seated group meditation followed by continuing
self-directed practice
6:30 PM Evening meal followed by community meeting for announcements
and discussion as needed
7:30 PM Seated group meditation followed by continuing
self-directed practice
Directions to Jikoji Center
From San Francisco or SFO:
Go south on I-280. Exit Page Mill Road in Palo Alto. Go west on Page Mill up the mountain to Skyline Boulevard (Hwy 35). Turn left and travel 4.5 miles. Watch for a small sign on the right at the mailbox marked 12100 Skyline Blvd, also marked Ward Road. Go downhill on a dirt road about 1/2 mile and park.