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Retreat Dates
and Detailed Information
Those coming to train
at the Abbey for the first
time are asked to begin
their stay with a Beginners or Refuge Retreat. Arrival time
is between 1:30 and 3:00
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.
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.
Retreat
Donations back
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Shasta Abbey no longer
charges a set fee for
attendance at any retreat.
Instead, we live by and try to foster
the Buddhist practice of Dana—mutual giving or generosity—for
all who attend retreats
or train as lay residents.
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.
Background: 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.
If you are coming to Shasta
Abbey from outside the
United States, please
bring U.S. funds (e.g.
International Money Order).
Typical
Beginners Retreat Schedule
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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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5:30
am
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Meditation |
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6:15
am
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Morning Service |
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7:30
am
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Spiritual
Reading |
|
8:30
am
|
Breakfast |
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9:00
am
|
Community
Working Meditation |
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10:45
am
|
Retreat Dharma Talk |
|
12:00
pm
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Formal Noon Meal |
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12:50
pm
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Quiet Rest Period |
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2:45pm
|
Evening Service and Meditation |
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3:30
pm
|
Retreat Dharma Talk with Dharma Discussion following |
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5:15
pm
|
Formal Medicine Meal |
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5:50
pm
|
Quiet Rest or Kitchen Clean-up |
|
6:45
pm
|
Great Silence begins |
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7:45
pm
|
Meditation |
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8:05
pm
|
Walking
Meditation |
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8:10
pm
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Meditation |
8:30 pm |
Evening Office |
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9:00
pm
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Lights
Out |
This is a typical schedule and may vary.
Prerequisites
We prefer that a person's first introduction to the Abbey start with a Beginners Retreat, as this helps make sure your questions are answered adequately and provides some familiarity with what is involved in our Buddhist practice as well as with how to participate in the monastic schedule.
Each week-long retreat may have its own specific prerequisite.
Guest
Application Form page up
Our complete Guest
Application Form is
available on this web
site for you to print
and mail.
Guestmaster, Shasta
Abbey
3724
Summit Drive,
Mt. Shasta, CA 96067-9102
USA
Telephone (530) 926-4208;  
Fax
(530) 926-0428  
Email: 
Please await confirmation of your application before making travel plans. If you have not received an email response within a week to ten days of sending in your application, please email us to inquire.
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Phone Answering
Between
8:30
a.m. - 11:30 a.m. &
2:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. there are monks available to answer the phone. If a monastic responsibility should keep us from answering the telephone,
please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
We check our message machines every 2 hours.
Also, rather than following
the standard work week,
the monastery follows
a schedule wherein we
are
on a renewal schedule on the days
of the month ending with
a 4 or a 9.
Your Mailing Address & Phone during your stay
Lay trainees at Shasta Abbey may have their mail forwarded or addressed as follows: Your Name, Shasta Abbey
c/o Guestmaster, 3724 Summit Drive, Mt. Shasta CA 96067-9102.
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.
Lay trainees are welcome
to use the telephone in the Vimilakirti Hall (Guest House),
but we ask that calls
be made and received during
rest periods whenever
possible. Shasta Abbey
does not accept collect
calls.
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 Guestmaster 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 Guestmaster.
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.
Wheel-chair Accessibility
All of the buildings accomodating retreats are wheel-chair accessible, and a covered cloister goes to most buildings at the Abbey.
Insurance
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.
Please have medical insurance
or funds available for
possible medical emergencies.
What
to bring back
to index
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. 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 Office 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. Shoes that slip on and off easily can be helpful.
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. The Abbey no longer has a pay phone.
Regarding cell
phones, Palm Pilots and
laptops.
To minimize
distractions while at
the Abbey, please don’t
use cell phones and lap
top computers. If you
find that you have these
items with you when you
visit, they may be stored
in the Guest Office.
Books back to top of page
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 book Zen is Eternal Life, the book Serene
Reflection Meditation (click title to view) and the booklet Introduction
to the Tradition of Serene
Reflection Meditation (click title to view), which 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.
Many of these publications may be ordered online from Village
Books Mt. Shasta
( http://www.villagebooks-mtshasta.com/bookfromshas.html ).
MAP
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Shasta
Abbey is 3 miles 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 explore this website, and the Order's website at www.obcon.org
By Car: Please refer to the map, 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 4 wheel drive. It is advisable to check on road conditions in the winter:
Road Information is at www.mountshasta.com
and at
Caltrans 1-800-427-7623
California Highway Patrol in Yreka: 530-842-4438
or for Oregon road conditions, call 503-588-2941.
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Weather
Summer weather in the mountains of northern California is usually warm or hot during the day and can be a little cool at night. Therefore you may want to bring summer clothing with some layers so that you are prepared for cooler evenings and mornings. For our occasional rainy periods, it’s a good idea to bring a warm sweater or jacket and hat.
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.
For travel or weather information, see www.mountshasta.com
Travel Arrangements and Transportation
Transportation by Bus: The Greyhound bus stops in a somewhat rural bus station in Weed, CA a town about 4 miles away. We would be glad to pick you up in Weed, at the bus station or another location anytime between 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Please phone the Guestmaster (530-926-4208) as early as possible to arrange a time and location for pick-up.
By Train: The Amtrak train stops in Dunsmuir, CA, about 20 miles away. Coming from the north, the train is scheduled to arrive in Dunsmuir , California about 12:30 a.m. If you are coming from the south, the train is supposed to arrive about 5 a.m. In our area, Amtrak often runs far behind schedule: the train can arrive anywhere from 1/2 hour to 7 hours late. One can get updates by phone before departing.
If your train arrives during the night, we suggest that you might like to stay at a motel in Dunsmuir for the night. We would be glad to pick you up in Dunsmuir at anytime between 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Please phone the Guestmaster (530-926-4208) as early as possible after 8:30 a.m. on your day of arrival to arrange a time and location for pick-up or leave a message with a phone number if you wish to call us before that.
You would be welcome to rest during the day here at the Abbey if you arrive early.
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.
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Monastery
Rules    back
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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 Guestmaster 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 Guestmaster 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 Guestmaster. Some areas of the Abbey are for the private use of monks; please consult the Guestmaster 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 Guestmaster. 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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