Half Day Retreat Information
Arrival
Please plan to arrive at least 10-15 mins early. 8:45am
Please make yourself at home. You can come as early as 8am and make yourself a cup of tea in the kitchen or just enjoy the land. You also are welcome to lay down a yoga mat in the temple and stretch out a bit before we begin. No need to knock on the door of the main house or temple just be at ease as this space is open for all of us.
Fragrance
Please refrain from wearing fragrances including fragrant deodorants. Many people are quite sensitive to the chemicals in deodorants and perfumes and colognes so we ask everyone to refrain from using these on themselves or their clothes.
Clothes
Wear comfortable clothes with available layers in case it is cold. Also some kind of warm slip on shoe can be helpful as we take our shoes off for each sitting portion of the day.
Silence
We will do basic silence from arrival until noon. Please arrive in silence and if this is your first time here I will give you a quick orientation when you arrive. Retreat silence is also called noble silence and it relates to limiting eye contact as well. You don’t have to be too anxious with this, but in general let yourself be in your own space and don’t worry about saying hello or greeting people. In general on retreats we refrain from eye contact and connecting with one another to allow for greater levels of mental stillness. This can feel awkward at first which is fine and then the awkwardness usually fades into a certain feeling of peace.
Meditation
During the sitting meditation try to be as still as possible. If you have to sneeze or cough or shift do it and don’t worry about it. No problem! But also try and remain very still or quiet so as to support the stillness of other peoples practice.
Refrain from sighing or controllably loud breathing. In Tibet this is called 'chi nang tab la sor be’ "the mind follows the body”. Stilling the body will help to still the mind.
Plan on not moving for each 30 min sit.
Lunch
We will be having a very simple meal at noon. Please feel free to stay and join us. It will just be a pot of gluten free kitcheri (a classic healthy Indian dish). You are welcome to bring some food to share if you want but we also encourage you to keep your life and your Sunday simple and not bother bringing anything.
Pets and Children
Please no children during retreat days and sadly as always no pets.
Let me know if you have any questions and the main thing is to relax, work diligently, and revel in the safe harbor of the practice.
And thanks again for being a part of our joyful effort!
with gratitude for your practice, Will--
Tobacco:
Because of a very potent plant virus found in tobacco products we ask that no tobacco of any kind come onto the property and if you are a tobacco user please refrain from using tobacco before you come and please wear clean clothes that you haven’t used tobacco in. I know this seems a bit odd but a number of small lavender farms have lost their entire farms because one person carried this virus onto their farms. The tobacco mosaic virus is particularly deadly to lavender plants. Thank you for taking this seriously.
Please plan to arrive at least 10-15 mins early. 8:45am
Please make yourself at home. You can come as early as 8am and make yourself a cup of tea in the kitchen or just enjoy the land. You also are welcome to lay down a yoga mat in the temple and stretch out a bit before we begin. No need to knock on the door of the main house or temple just be at ease as this space is open for all of us.
Fragrance
Please refrain from wearing fragrances including fragrant deodorants. Many people are quite sensitive to the chemicals in deodorants and perfumes and colognes so we ask everyone to refrain from using these on themselves or their clothes.
Clothes
Wear comfortable clothes with available layers in case it is cold. Also some kind of warm slip on shoe can be helpful as we take our shoes off for each sitting portion of the day.
Silence
We will do basic silence from arrival until noon. Please arrive in silence and if this is your first time here I will give you a quick orientation when you arrive. Retreat silence is also called noble silence and it relates to limiting eye contact as well. You don’t have to be too anxious with this, but in general let yourself be in your own space and don’t worry about saying hello or greeting people. In general on retreats we refrain from eye contact and connecting with one another to allow for greater levels of mental stillness. This can feel awkward at first which is fine and then the awkwardness usually fades into a certain feeling of peace.
Meditation
During the sitting meditation try to be as still as possible. If you have to sneeze or cough or shift do it and don’t worry about it. No problem! But also try and remain very still or quiet so as to support the stillness of other peoples practice.
Refrain from sighing or controllably loud breathing. In Tibet this is called 'chi nang tab la sor be’ "the mind follows the body”. Stilling the body will help to still the mind.
Plan on not moving for each 30 min sit.
Lunch
We will be having a very simple meal at noon. Please feel free to stay and join us. It will just be a pot of gluten free kitcheri (a classic healthy Indian dish). You are welcome to bring some food to share if you want but we also encourage you to keep your life and your Sunday simple and not bother bringing anything.
Pets and Children
Please no children during retreat days and sadly as always no pets.
Let me know if you have any questions and the main thing is to relax, work diligently, and revel in the safe harbor of the practice.
And thanks again for being a part of our joyful effort!
with gratitude for your practice, Will--
Tobacco:
Because of a very potent plant virus found in tobacco products we ask that no tobacco of any kind come onto the property and if you are a tobacco user please refrain from using tobacco before you come and please wear clean clothes that you haven’t used tobacco in. I know this seems a bit odd but a number of small lavender farms have lost their entire farms because one person carried this virus onto their farms. The tobacco mosaic virus is particularly deadly to lavender plants. Thank you for taking this seriously.
