If you have any questions about anything, don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

Cancellation and Refunds

There are no refunds after 18 February, 2020, except in the event that your application is not approved. In that case, any payments you have made will be returned to you in full.

You may cancel any time before 18 February, 2020 and receive a full refund (100% of any fees you have paid) if we are able to fill your spot with another retreatant.

Retreat Schedule

This retreat will last for one week, from 1 PM on Saturday, 7 March through 3 PM on Sunday, 15 March, 2020. Retreatants will need to arrive Friday, 6 March in the evening or early on Saturday morning and attend all sessions to participate in the retreat. Retreatants can leave on Sunday, 17 February after 3 PM.  Please reserve some time to stay and clean up with the organizers if possible.

Retreatants cannot miss any of the sessions and then continue to participate in the remainder of the retreat without special permission. You may leave the retreat early, but you should not enter the retreat with that intention.

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 are unable to bring them.

Daily Retreat Schedule and Sessions

This will be an active retreat with a 12-14 hour per day schedule. Everyone is expected to remain in all teaching and practice sessions without creating disturbances. It’s OK if you need to step out briefly, for example as a result of a bathroom emergency. There are breaks between sessions, which typically last 1.5 to 2.5 hours each, with up to five sessions per day. There will be 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, for an eight-hour period at night 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 lying down resting your body for eight hours every night, whether you are at the retreat location or not.

Transportation

If you need to book flights after your application is approved, most people will travel to Helsinki, Finland.

Google maps: Wuolteen Kartano

The Food

The cost of the retreat includes three buffet style meals a day as well as limited snacks. 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 which will 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.

Attendance

Without exception students are expected to attend every session of the retreat, which will run from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm (or 8:00 am to 8:30 pm) every day. Students who leave the retreat once it is in progress are not permitted to return to the retreat. Exceptions are sometimes made in cases of emergency or when given advance written permission from the retreat director and teacher guiding the retreat.

Packing list

Here is a suggested packing list. Remember that snow and rain are possible at this time of the year in Findland.

What to Bring

• Computer (with charger) OR notebook and pens
• Toiletries
• Water bottle – covered water is the only drink allowed in the shrine
• Headlamp OR flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Ritual objects i.e., your bell and dorje, drum, mala, etc.
• Copy of The Buddha Path practice book. Contact the retreat director if you don’t have one.
• Sitting cushion or chair of choice (some chairs and cushions are available on site)
• Lap blanket (to keep knees warm for long sessions in the shrine)
• Plenty of socks and underwear
• Warm winter clothing for daytime and evenings, enough changes of clothes to get you through the retreat.
• Warm mittens, hat and scarf for outdoor practice
• Nice clothing for special occasions like Tsok feast
• Bath towel
• Slippers or woolen socks to wear while moving indoors
• Rain coat, umbrella, or poncho

What NOT to Bring

Below is a list of things not to bring:

• Cigarettes, tobacco products, or other smoking materials
• Drugs that have not been prescribed to you by your physician
• Marijuana or its derivatives in any form even if you have a prescription
• Drinking alcohol for personal consumption
• Weapons such as guns
• Fireworks
• Pets

Possession of drugs, cigarettes, personal alcohol or weapons can be grounds for expulsion from the retreat. 

Weather

When packing just before the retreat, please check the online weather forecast for Findland. This will be the middle of winter, so please plan your clothing accordingly. Bring layers just in case!

Health

Retreatants should be prepared to 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 practice schedule of the retreat. If you are taking any type of pharmaceutical that can influence your mental state (including but not limited to anti-depressants and 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 must inform the event director of your special medical conditions when you register.

Children

Because of the limited space, we regret that we cannot accommodate children at the retreat location.

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. 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.

You should bring any supplies you need with you for the entire duration of the retreat, as there may not be time for shopping. You should bring with you to the retreat adequate supplies of things like clothing, toiletries, and medicine. No pets are allowed on property.

You must have the willingness and commitment to practice with the group during all sessions of the retreat. You should have enough physical and mental stamina to sit with the group for the daily schedule, and a temperament that enables you to get along with others.

Offerings

Retreat costs do not include any payment or donation to the guiding teacher. Any offering to the teacher or to the hosting organization that you would like to make should be prepared separately from your payment for the fees for 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 offerings by retreatants to the teacher are always welcomed and needed in order to support the teacher’s Dharma activities. This is also a gesture of appreciation, respect, and aspiration for the promulgation of Buddha’s teachings.