As part of Spirit Rock’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we hold the intention to develop and prioritize programs that appeal to and are welcoming of diverse communities. In support of the accountability of our intention, we request that you complete the following information.

Sliding scale fees allow individuals to pay what works best for their financial situation. Please consider choosing the highest level that you can afford as your generosity allows for those with lesser means to attend. Amounts offered above the Sustainer Rate are considered a tax-deductible donation. These donations help fund all that we do at Spirit Rock including our scholarship program and supporting staff with a living wage. 

Payment plan options are available for all fee levels and can be discussed later once accepted into the retreat. All fees must be paid in full ONE MONTH prior to the retreat.

The rate in brackets below is the amount you would pay for the whole retreat and does not include teacher dana which is a separate donation.

Select ONE choice below. We will not be collecting fees during this application process; however, it is helpful for us to understand your payment intention. We also want to be sure we allocate enough scholarship funds.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Once you have been accepted and register, cancellation fees will apply. If you need to cancel or withdraw your application, let us know as soon as possible.

February or March One-month Retreat Cancellation Policy:

$250 fee* = on or before 8 weeks prior
$500 fee* = 4-8 weeks prior
$750 fee* = 2-4 weeks prior
NO REFUNDS = less than 2 weeks prior (applies to ALL participants)
*Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier.

Two-month Retreat Cancellation Policy:

$350 fee* = on or before 8 weeks prior
$600 fee* = 4-8 weeks prior
$850 fee* = 2-4 weeks prior
NO REFUNDS = less than 2 weeks prior (applies to ALL participants)
*Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier.

Changes: Prior to acceptance notifications, we can adjust your application if your circumstances have changed. Please advise us as soon as possible. After acceptance into a retreat, any change needs to be approved by the teachers and a space must be available.

Once accepted into the retreat, this Practice Meeting Questionnaire will be printed out for the teachers to refer to while you are on retreat.

Please answer the following questions about your meditation, medical, and psychological history. Your answers will be kept confidential and this form will be disposed of after the retreat.

Important Note: Practice meetings with teachers are required during retreats are purely for the purpose of supporting more skillfully the participant's meditation practice during the retreat and are not - nor should they be construed as - a form of psychotherapy or counseling.

Prerequisite reminder for your reference

Prerequisites for One-Month Retreats (28-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Prerequisites for Two-Month Retreat (56-night retreat): BEFORE applying, you must have already completed at least 21 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of three (3) silent residential retreats with each of these six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats DO NOT qualify for these retreat prerequisites. DO NOT list retreats you will attend in the future.

Intensive retreat can be physically and psychologically challenging. To support retreatants in those rare cases when difficulties do arise, having information regarding the following questions will help teachers respond to the situation more effectively. We encourage your candor in answering these questions.

The Spirit Rock community is happy to welcome you to our retreat center. Our beautiful retreat center is designed to provide comfortable and suitable conditions. Retreats offer a sacred space, protected and removed from the world, intended to allow participants to quiet the mind and open the heart. Some of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences of spiritual life come from attending a silent meditation retreat. The safety and container of a retreat help participants to learn embodied patience, steadiness, loving-kindness, generosity, and wisdom. Out of this grows the insight, compassion, and freedom that are natural to the heart.

In the spirit of renunciation, simplicity, and letting go, please carefully and mindfully review the list of commitments below.

• I will follow the retreat guidelines and Buddhist precepts (precept 6 is optional). These will be read during the first days of the retreat.
• I agree to practice "taking what is offered" with regards to rooms and food. This kind of renunciation cultivates simplicity for oneself and generosity for others.
• I agree to arrive on time, stay for the entire retreat and commit to participating as fully as I am capable. I understand partial attendance is not allowed. I agree to stay on Spirit Rock grounds for the duration of the retreat.
• I will not schedule work meetings, job interviews or any other kind of appointments during the retreat.
• During the retreat, I agree that I will not use my cell phone, tablet, or computer anywhere on the Spirit Rock grounds. (An Emergency phone is available in the retreat coordinators’ office.) I agree to set aside email, listening to music, reading and writing while on retreat.
• I will maintain Noble Silence for the duration of the retreat and limit my speech to practice discussion meetings with teachers, Q&A in the hall, and functional speech needed for my work meditation or to get support from the Spirit Rock staff. If you are coming as a couple or with a good friend, we ask that you agree to give each other the gift of a fully silent, solitary retreat.
• I agree to meet with a teacher as scheduled for practice discussion meetings. These are not optional and an important way for the teachers to support your practice.
• I agree, subject to my physical abilities, to engage in my assigned daily mindful work activity. Jobs include vacuuming residence halls, dusting and sweeping, washing dishes and pots, dining room cleanup, mopping floors, or cleaning bathrooms, and many other options. (Registration does not track these. You will choose your option on arrival.)
• I agree to not use any scented products as a compassionate and generous act for others with these sensitivities. (If you use scented products for your laundry, please prepare your retreat clothing such that they are pre-washed with UNSCENTED products before arriving.)
• I understand that meals include breakfast, lunch, and a light supper and all meals are lacto-ovo (egg and dairy) vegetarian with wheat-free and vegan alternatives at all meals. I understand that Spirit Rock cannot accommodate individual dietary preferences.
• I agree that I will not use any non-pharmaceutical psychoactive substances on the Spirit Rock grounds including without limitation: Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, LSD, Mescaline, Peyote, iboga, San Pedro, etc.

Please upload (attach) a copy of a photo of yourself.

Your photo is required in case of a personal or campus-wide emergency, and for teachers and retreat staff to easily identify participants.

Please use a "headshot-style" photo that only includes your face. Do not include a group picture or scenery photos that are far away. Also, with high tech photos, please do not send a "live" photo if possible. They can be difficult to upload due to the large amount of data it requires. Ask your family or friends for help if you aren't sure how to do this.

HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR FILE:

• Click "Browse Files" button
• Navigate to a location on your computer or your mobile device, and select a photo of yourself ONLY.
• DON'T FORGET -- CLICK the UPLOAD icon (the "arrow" icon - which is located above the photo next to the trash-can icon).
• Once you click "upload", you can check to see if your image uploaded fully by looking below the photo. It should read "Upload Complete"