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Introductory
Retreats 2005, 2006
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2005
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Oct.
14-16
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Nov.
18-20
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2006
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Feb. 3–5
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March 3–5
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April 14–16
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June 2– 4
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August 4–6
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Sept. 22–24
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Oct. 20–22
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Nov. 17–19
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For anyone interested in
finding out about Serene
Reflection Meditation, we
offer Introductory Retreats
which provide instruction
in meditation practice,
an introduction to the teachings
of Buddhism and their application
to daily life, and a general
orientation to training
at Shasta Abbey.
Those coming
to train at the Abbey
for the first time are asked
to begin their stay with
an Introductory Retreat.
Arrival time is between 1:30
and 3:30 pm on the first day
of the retreat.
To apply, please
fill out an application
form and send it
to us by letter,
fax or e-mail. Click
here to
obtain
an application form or
you may obtain it
by mail from Shasta
Abbey. Please be sure
to have your completed
application to us
at least ten days
before the retreat.
We appreciate your
consideration in
notifying us well
in advance of any
cancellation.
Advanced
Retreats back
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2005
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Dec. 28-Jan. 1
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2006
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Feb. 3–5
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March 3–5
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April 14–16
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June 2– 4
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August 4–6
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Sept. 22–24
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Oct. 20–22
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Nov. 17–19
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Dec. 28---Jan. 1
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These retreats are intended
for those who have previously
attended an introductory
retreat and have experience
with Serene Reflection Meditation
and training at Shasta Abbey.
Meditation, Dharma talks,
spiritual counseling, and
ceremonial are offered to
help lay trainees deepen
their Buddhist practice
and find spiritual refuge
in the Sangha. Please apply
at least ten
days before
retreat.
Retreat
Donations back
to index
Shasta Abbey
no longer charges a set
fee for attendance at
any retreat. We would
like to foster the
practice of Dana-Buddhist
giving or generosity-for
all who attend retreats
or train as lay residents.
Over the centuries, a
relationship of mutual
support has evolved
between the lay and monastic
members of the Sangha.
This relationship,
which arises naturally
from the desire to
purify our hearts
through daily training,
has enabled Buddhism
to survive and grow.
The lay person trains
in the world and helps
support the monastery
materially because
he or she is in a
better position to
do so than those training
full-time in the monastery.
The monk trains in
the monastery, offering
spiritual support,
encouragement and example.
The monastery itself provides
a physical focus where
teaching and training
can be given, received,
understood and carried
into the world. Both
the lay person and
the monk mutually contribute
to each other's spiritual
success. We ask those
who join the monastic
community, whether
for a weekend retreat,
a week or a longer period,
to make an offering, according
to their means, to help
support the monastery
and the spreading
of the Buddhist Dharma.
We consider work-study
arrangements on an individual
basis. If you are coming
to Shasta Abbey from outside
the United States, please
bring U.S. funds (e.g.
International Money
Order).
Typical
Retreat Schedule back
to index
The daily
schedule in the monastery
varies slightly from winter
to summer. Typically during
the spring and summer months,
retreats follow this schedule:
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5:00 am
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Rising |
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5:15
am
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Meditation |
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6:15
am
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Morning Service |
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7:15
am
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Spiritual Reading |
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8:00
am
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Breakfast |
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9:00
am
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Community Work |
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10:00
am
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Retreat Lecture |
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11:10
am
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Meditation |
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12:00
pm
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Lunch |
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12:30
pm
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Rest |
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1:45
pm
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Working Meditation |
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3:00
pm
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Service and Meditation |
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3:35
pm
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Retreat Lecture |
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5:00
pm
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Medicine Meal |
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5:30
pm
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Rest |
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6:15
pm
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Question and Answer
Period |
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7:30
pm
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Meditation |
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8:00
pm
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Walking Meditation |
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8:20
pm
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Meditation and Evening
Office |
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9:15
pm
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Lights Out |
Rising time and
the morning schedule
may be 1/2 hour later in fall
and winter.
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Business
Hours
Shasta Abbey's business hours
are
9:30
a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and
3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Rather than following the
standard work week, the monastery
follows a schedule wherein
we are closed on the days of
the month ending with a 4 or
a 9.
Other days we are open for
business, however there are
occasional exceptions to the
above; at times when we are
unable to answer the telephone,
please leave a message and
we will return your call as
soon as possible.
Mail
and Phone during
your stay back
to index
To minimize distractions
while at the Abbey, please
don’t use cell phones
and lap top computers.
We
suggest that guests bring
phone cards for personal calls.
A
pay phone is available for
outgoing and incoming calls.
The number
is 530-926-9953.
Lay trainees
are welcome to use this
telephone, but we ask that
calls be made and received
during rest periods whenever
possible. Shasta Abbey does
not accept collect calls.
Lay trainees at Shasta
Abbey may have their mail
forwarded or addressed as
follows: Your Name, Shasta Abbey c/o
Guest Master, 3724 Summit Drive, Mt.
Shasta CA 96067-9102.
Health back
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We
request that guests postpone
their visit if they
have, or have been in
close contact with anyone who
has, a contagious disease
of any kind. THIS INCLUDES
COLDS AND FLU. The Guest
Master will be glad to help
arrange an alternative time
of visiting for anyone who
must cancel for this reason.
If you have questions
as to the possible contagiousness
of the illness, please
consult your doctor and call
the Guest Master. When applying
for a retreat or resident
stay, please inform us
of any physical disabilities,
limitations, allergies or other
conditions that may require
special arrangements.
Shasta Abbey does not have
group insurance for lay trainees
and is not responsible for
any illness or accidents which
guests may incur during their
stay with the exception of
those which are directly due
to our own negligence.
What to bring back
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Loose-fitting
clothing for meditation:
For
both men and women, please
bring loose-fitting, comfortable
clothing for meditation
and ceremonial. Slacks,
trousers and long skirts
are acceptable, preferably
of a subdued color; please
do not bring denim clothing
for meditation. Sweats,
athletic clothing, tank
tops and T-shirts with
slogans are not suitable.
We request a respectful
attitude of mind in the
wearing of clean, modest clothing.
The Guest Department has
meditation clothing available
for those who have nothing
suitable.
Work clothes:
Please bring a change
of clothing for work,
including a sturdy pair
of shoes.
Incidentals:
Sleeping
apparel, a watch, indoor
slippers, a towel, rubber
bath slippers, and toilet
or personal items sufficient
for your stay.
Winter clothing:
During
the colder months of the year, which
generally run from November to May,
we recommend bringing a warm winter
jacket, water repellent boots, gloves,
a warm hat, warm socks, long underwear
and sweaters. Winter temperatures
are usually in the 20 degrees and
30 degrees. Regardless of the time
of year, it is advisable to bring
some warm clothing given that cool
or cold days can occur in any month.
Phone Card (optional):
If you may need to make phone calls,
you may want to bring a phone
card.
Not appropriate: Cell phones,
Palm Pilots and laptops.
If you find that you have
these items with you when
you visit, they may be stored
in the Guest Office.
Books back
to index
Lay trainees coming to Shasta
Abbey for the first time
can benefit from the writings
of Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett.
In particular we recommend
the books
Serene
Reflection Meditation and Zen
is Eternal Life. The
booklet An
Introduction to the Tradition
of Serene Reflection Meditation is
available upon request, and
contains material covered
during the lectures given
at introductory retreats.
We request that guests do
not bring reading material
other than Shasta Abbey Press
publications. All the books
we recommend may be ordered
from Village
Books Mt. Shasta.
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Guest
Application Form
Our
complete Guest
Application Form is available
on this web site for you to print
and mail.
MAP back
to index
Shasta Abbey is
north of the town of Mt.
Shasta, California, as you
travel on Interstate 5.
For more information
on Shasta Abbey and
the Order of Buddhist
Contemplatives please
call, fax, write or email for
our guest information:
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Travel Arrangements
and Transportation
Transportation
by Bus:
Greyhound
bus connections are to
Mt. Shasta and Weed. Please
notify the Guestmaster
in advance that you will
be arriving by bus, the
time and place, so that
we can arrange to pick
you up.
By Train:
Amtrack stops in Dunsmuir
during the night. Please
arrange to stay overnight
in Dunsmuir, and notify
the Guestmaster of the
time and place you can
be picked up the following
day, after 8 am.
Airline Service:
There are
airports in Redding, CA
and Medford, OR. Please
arrange to make bus connections
from these towns to either
Mt. Shasta or Weed. Car
rental service is
available at both airports.
By Car:
Please refer
to the map below, and
come to the Shasta Abbey
Visitors' gate, which
is gate 4, the northern-most
of four gates.
During
winter, a heavy snowfall
sometimes
closes Interstate 5 temporarily
to cars without
chains or 4WD. It is advisable
to call the CHP or Caltrans
for road conditions in
the winter.
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Monastery
Rules back
to index
Shasta Abbey
is a Buddhist monastery
and all guests are asked
to respect the rules during
their stay. The purpose of
these rules is to assist
trainees in their efforts
to meditate by minimizing
distractions and promoting
harmony within the
community. Please read these
rules carefully before visiting
the Abbey.
- The activities
of our daily life
have a profound spiritual
significance and it
is an important part of
Buddhist practice to perform
all actions with reverence
and gratitude.
We ask all guests to follow
the daily monastic schedule,
being punctual and participating
fully in each scheduled
event. By following
the schedule, we learn
to drop our opinions of
what is important and unimportant,
and this helps us live in
accordance with the Truth
that the Buddha Nature
can be found in all places
and at all times.
It is understood
that some people will
not be able to follow the
schedule completely
because of poor health
or age.
We will do all
we can to accommodate
anyone with a sincere
desire to train. If
necessary, consult the
Guest Master about your
situation.
- During your
stay at Shasta
Abbey, please refrain
from religious practices
other than Buddhist
training as
taught at the Abbey.
- Please
dress in a respectful
manner while at
the monastery.
For safety, shoes should
be worn outdoors. Out
of consideration for
others, please do
not sunbathe or use
cosmetics, perfume,
or scented lotions.
- Please
be as silent as possible
during your stay at
the Abbey. There should
be no unnecessary talking
during work or other
activities. Social
conversation during
retreats is limited
to scheduled evening
teas.
- Please do not
bring the following
items to the monastery:
tobacco, illegal drugs,
alcohol, chewing gum,
cell phones, laptop
computers, musical
instruments, radios,
firearms, pets, plants,
furniture, or books
other than those available
from Shasta Abbey.
Please consult with
the Guest Master if
you have questions
about the advisability
of
bringing any particular
book or other item
to Shasta Abbey.
- Except
in an emergency, please
do not leave the grounds
unless special permission
has been given by
the Guest Master.
Some areas of the
Abbey are for the
private use of monks;
please consult the
Guest Master if you
are uncertain about
which areas are closed
to guests.
- Due to fire
hazard, we ask that guests
only offer incense
and light candles
at the altars specified
by the Guest Master.
Please do not operate
the wood stoves.
- Meals
are usually held formally
and eaten in silence.
Meals at the Abbey
are vegetarian (including
eggs and dairy products).
Please take as much
food as you need but
do not waste any food.
- Please
do not rise before the wake-up
bell has rung unless
you need to use the
lavatory.
All trainees
must be in bed by
the lights-out time
in the evening.
- Rooms should
be kept clean and tidy.
- Lay
guests should not visit
each other's rooms.
- A monastery is not an
appropriate place to engage
in flirtation or to seek
a sexual relationship.
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