The Dzogchen Spring Retreat
April 20-27, 2008

Retreat Details, Conditions and Policies

Last updated: February 11, 2008

Timing

This year there is a single retreat duration option available for the full week (3 PM on Sunday, April 20 through 3 PM on Sunday, April 27, 2008). Retreatants will need to attend all sessions to participate in the retreat. In other words, retreatants cannot miss any of the sessions and then continue to participate in the remainder of the retreat without special permission.

After your application is approved, if you need to book flights, most people are flying into the nearest airport just outside Eugene, Oregon (EUG) which is about an hour drive from the retreat center. A few people have flown into Portland, Oregon (PDX), with is nearly three a three hour drive away, and coordinate with sangha members in the Portland area or rent a car from there. The retreat director can help you arrange a ride from and back to the airport if you provide your itinerary to him well in advance.

There is also a shuttle service from the Eugene airport which costs about $50 each way called Omnishuttle. Additional people in the same ride are only about $10 each. The Omnishuttle website has details about their service. They request 48-hour or more notice to provide service. Again, the retreat director will help coordinate shuttle rides in order to keep costs to a minimum.

What is Included

The fee includes: 

The Food

The cost of the retreat includes three buffet style meals a day as well as some snacks at tea time. The food will be primarily vegetarian, though not necessarily vegan. Sangha money from retreat fees will not be used for the purchase of meat, but individual Sangha members have the right to donate meat to be made available to the omnivore members of the Sangha. Tea and water will always be available.

Retreatants with special dietary needs should note that during their retreat registration and also discuss this with the Retreat Director.

Accommodations

Sleeping accommodations are somewhat rustic and most are dormitory style. The weather may be wet and cold.  Bring your own bedding such as a warm sleeping bag, extra blankets and a pillow. Most mattresses are singles, and so you can alternately bring sheets, blankets and a pillow.

Attendance

Students without exception will be expected to reside at the retreat center for the duration of the retreat.   Specifically, we have a rule that students who leave the retreat once it is in progress are not permitted to return to the retreat. Exceptions can be made in case of emergency or given the advance permission of the teacher guiding the retreat.

Transportation

Students should arrange their own transportation to and from the retreat center. If flying, we suggest you fly into Eugene, Oregon (EUG) since this airport is only about a 50 minute drive from the retreat center. The second closest major airport is Portland, Oregon (PDX) which is about three times as far at 2-1/2 hours away. If you are driving or taking a shuttle, the Event Director will send you a link with printable driving directions.

What to Bring

Below is a suggested packing list. The weather will be wet and cold.  Please bring appropriate sleeping gear and appropriate warm, dry clothing and shoes.

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow and pillow case
• Extra blanket or comforter
• Tent if you are tent camping (ground cloth)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Toiletries
• Water bottle – water is the only drink allowed in the shrine room. 
• Ritual objects i.e., your bell and dorje, drum (a puja table will be provided)
• Copy of The Buddha Path practice book (you can purchase a copy at the retreat)
• Sitting cushion or chair of choice
• Lap blanket, hat, gloves, and scarf
• Warm clothing for daytime
• Warm clothing for sleeping
• Water-proof shoes/boots
• Slippers for inside
• Plenty of socks
• Rain coat/umbrella/poncho
• Heavy coat
• Enough change of clothes to get you through the full retreat (no access to washer / dryer). 
• Notebook and pens

What NOT to Bring

Below is a list of things not to bring:

• Food (All food will be provided for you. Because food may attract wild animals, no food is allowed in tents, RVs, cars or on your person.  All food brought to the Retreat Center is to be brought to the kitchen and offered to the cook to be shared by all)
• Cigarettes, tobacco products, or other smoking materials
• Drugs that have not been prescribed to you by your physician
• Weapons such as handguns or other firearms
• Fireworks
• Drinking Alcohol
• Pets

Weather

When packing just before the retreat, you can check the weather forecast online for the nearest town (Veneta, OR) to get an idea of the 10-day weather outlook and historic averages. For the scheduled week of the spring retreat the average high is around 63°F, the average low is around 41°F and the average mean is around 52°F. The record high is around 82°F, the record low is around 29°F for that week. April historically gets a fair amount of precipitation, so pack along warm clothing and rain gear.

Health

The retreat provides a healthy environment of good air, good food, enough hours of sleep, and positive activities and effort. Apart from that there are no professional medical facilities within about an hour trip from the retreat center. Retreatants should take care of their own health, bring along any emergency supplies such as antidotes to any life-threatening allergies, and expect to be able to handle the somewhat rigorous teaching and meditation schedule of the retreat. If you are taking any type of pharmecutical that can influence your mental state (including but not limited to anti-depressant, diabetes and thyroid medications), we require that you bring an adequate supply for your entire visit here, and that you consistently follow the usage pattern and medical advice prescribed by your physician. You should inform the Event Director of your special medical conditions when you register.

Children

Children are much-beloved, however we have no special program or supervision for children at the retreat. In the past, children have attended these retreats, but have only been able to do so as full, conscious, responsible participants under the immediate supervision of their parents. If you would like to bring children to the retreat, please call the Event Director first before registering and discuss this with us in detail. Anyone less than 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present during the entire retreat. Daycare facilities are currently not available.

Meditation and Sitting Practice

Meditation practice will be incorporated and keyed to the daily teaching subjects, with the goal of moving from a superficial understanding of the Buddha's teachings to a profound and incontrovertible realization of their truth in our present moment thinking.

During teaching and meditation sessions you are welcome to sit in a chair, but most people choose to sit on a cushion on the floor. Many people bring their own personal seating, but chairs and cushions are available here for those who can’t pack them.

Daily Retreat Schedule and Sessions

This will be an active retreat with a 24-hour schedule. Everyone is expected to remain in all teaching and practice sessions without creating disturbances, but it’s okay if you need to briefly step out, for example as a result of a bathroom emergency. There are breaks between sessions. The sessions typically last one and a half to two and a half hours each, with up to five sessions per day. There will be about eight to ten hours of scheduled practices and teachings per day. In addition, during break times, Yoga, music, dancing, art, and other Dharma activities may take place.

As part of your daily practice, from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM you will be required to maintain a vow of silence and not engage in any normal waking activities except using the bathroom. These times may vary from day to day, but the idea is that you will be laying down resting your body for 8 hours every night and not unnecessarly disturbing other people.

Additional Requirements

Everyone will be expected to follow the rules of the retreat which are outlined on this page. The rules are subject to revision. Also you must adhere to the schedule of the retreat and unless sick, attend all the scheduled events of the retreat. Yes, you may leave the retreat at any time, but you cannot leave the retreat and then return to the retreat.

To attend the retreat one has to be a non-smoker, drug-free, and mentally stable. Possession or use of smoking materials, illegal or mind-altering drugs, or non-prescribed pharmaceuticals are not permitted. You may of course bring with you and ingest any prescribed medication except medicinal marijuana which is not permitted.

There will be no shopping trips, so you should bring any supplies you need with you for the entire duration of the retreat.  You should bring with you to the retreat adequate supplies of things like clothing, bedding, toiletries and medicine.

Except for pets belonging at the retreat center, no pets from visiting guests are allowed on property and no pets living in students cars or quarters during the retreat are permitted.

You must have the willingness and commitment to practice with the group during all sessions of the retreat.  You should have good enough physical and mental constitution to be able to sit with us for the daily schedule, and a good enough temperament to be able to get along with others. 

Payments

Your payment in full is due upon the acceptance of your application and must be paid in full by April 11, 2008. In the event that your application is not approved, any retreat payments you have made will be returned to you in full. Your prompt payment when you register will help us to purchase supplies for the retreat in advance.

Visit the Payment Options page for more information on how to pay.

Cancellation and Refunds

You may cancel any time prior to April 11, 2008 and receive a refund of 100% of any fees you have paid. There will be no refunds after April 11, 2008.

Scholarships

No scholarships or work-study options are available at this time. However, ordained sangha (Buddhist monks and nuns) can make an application to the Dzogchen Buddha Institute to attend this event free-of-charge. These applications will be reviewed and applicants informed of availability prior to retreat. We are soliciting donations to help make some limited scholarships available.

Please contact the retreat director if you are able to contribute to the scholarship fund. We aspire to assist diligent students who are have financial need of assistance.

Donations

Retreat costs do not include any payment or donation to the guiding teacher. Any donation to the teacher or to the hosting organization that you would like to make should be prepared outside of your payment for the cost of this event.

The Buddhist teachings during the retreat are free, but note that within Dzogchen Buddhist tradition, the teacher does not charge the organizers for the teaching services, and therefore individual donations by retreatants to the teacher are always welcomed in order to support the teacher's Dharma activities. This is also a gesture of appreciation, respect and aspiration for the perpetuation of the teachings.

Q&A

If you have any questions, or are just wondering if this event is for you, you should contact us in advance to discuss. This page will be updated with some of the answers to questions posed, so questions are very much welcomed.

If you have any questions about anything, don’t hesitate to contact the retreat director. Email is the preferred way, since Hazlitt will be outside of cell range during much of the time leading up to the retreat.

Dzogchen Buddha Institute
Hazlitt, Spring Retreat Director
Email: hazlitt@gmail.com
4I5-846-36I8 - cell
202-657-4108 - Dzogchen Retreat Center

How to Register Today

Reservations are required and are currently being accepted. Everyone is welcome to register by filling out the online registration. We need to process as many applications, and receive deposits, as early as possible in order to properly prepare for the retreat. We hope you can help us with this. Retreatants need to register early order to reserve limited attendance and bed space.

Return to the Retreat Announcement Page.