Is the monastery open to the public? With the exception of two ten-day periods when we hold our monastic Searching of the Heart retreat, and during the entire month of January, we welcome visitors to the monastery. We ask, however, that you first contact the Guestmaster by email or by phone to make arrangements for your visit.
Is it possible to have a tour of the grounds? Yes, this is a good introduction to the Abbey. We ask that you first contact the Guestmaster to make arrangements for your visit.
The Abbey has four gates. Which one should I use when I come to visit or on a retreat? Please come to the Visitors' Gate (Gate 4) which is at the Vimalakirti Hall, our Guest House. This Gate is the fourth gate on the right if you are coming up Summit Drive from the South, or the first gate on your left is you are coming from the North on Summit Drive.
I don't know much about Buddhism. What should I know before I come either for a visit or for a retreat? Don't worry. Just come with an open heart and a willingness to follow the schedule.
What time should I arrive at the monastery for an Introductory Retreat? Please plan to arrive between i:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. unless you have made other arrangements with the Guestmaster.
What does it cost to stay at the Abbey for a reatreat? or as a lay resident? We do not charge fees. Your prudent generosity and support allow us to continue to be able to offer the Dharma to others.Even the smallest offering helps.
What is a traditional offering to bring to a monastery? Traditionally the Four Requisites for monks are food, medicines, clothing and shelter. We are grateful for any offerings that allow us to continue to support the monastic community and to be able to offer the Dharma to others. Please check our Alms List or talk with the Guestmaster to find out about our current needs.
If I come for a retreat, will I have a room of my own? Depending on the size of the retreat you are coming to, you may be asked to share a room. If there are reasons you should have a private room, please contact to the Guestmaster. Those reasons might include snoring or medical conditions.
Is there a private bath in my room? No. But if there are reasons you should be in a room close to the bathroom, please talk to the Guestmaster.
Do we have to bring our own bedding or linens? We have a sufficiency of pillows, sheets and blankets. You may want to bring your own orthopedic pillow if you use one. Towels are available for your use. However, if it is convenient to bring your own, it helps save on laundry.
What should I wear? We ask that you wear modest clothing with muted colors. It is good to dress in layers to accomodate the variable Mount Shasta weather. Please, no tank tops or shorts. For meditation it is good to wear loose fitting clothing.
Why should I bring work clothes? Working meditation is a part of our way of life. It often involves outdoor work. If you have any difficulty in doing the assigned working meditation, or if there are health considerations we should be aware of, please talk to the Guestmaster.
I experience discomfort when I sit cross legged - are there other options for meditation? Besides the traditional meditation cushion (zafu), options for meditation here at the Abbey include sitting on a meditation bench or a chair with a wedge. We have further accomodations for those with back problems.
What if I have food allergies? Within our vegetarian diet, we can accomodate most diets - non-dairy, non-soy, gluten free. Please advise the Guestmaster of your allergies.
What if I'm lactose intolerant? Our kitchen regularly offers soy milk and soy-based products. Please advise the Guestmaster of your need in this regard.
What if I'm hard of hearing? We have a Williams Sound Hearing Assistance System for Dharma Talks and discussions.
May I bring a service dog? Please talk to the Guestmaster about this.
With the Abbey buildings so spread out, I'm not sure I can walk the distances. Can I still participate in a retreat? We have wheelchairs available if necessary. Please talk to the Guestmaster to make arrangements for this.
I'm used to walking or exercising regularly. Are there provisions for walking? or yoga? With 17 acres to care for we do a lot of outside work that provides a very good workout. And there are paths for walking on the monastery grounds. Please talk to the Guestmaster regarding yoga practice.
I have a large group of students interested in visiting the monastery. What should I do? We welcome groups interested in visiting the monastery. Please contact the Guestmaster in advance to make arrangements for your visit.
I have a large group of friends who would like to come with me. What should I do? We welcome groups interested in visiting the monastery. Please contact the Guestmaster in advance to make arrangements for your visit.
I just wish to visit the monastery grounds. Is this possible? We ask that you contact the Guestmaster in advance to make arrangements for your visit.
Does the monastery offer programs for young people? We welcome young people in our scheduled retreats and ceremonies. If you would like to come to a retreat and are under 18, you will need parental permission. If you would like to come to a retreat and are under 16, please contact the Guestmasteras well.Children of all ages are welcome to attend ceremonies, Dharma talks, teas, and tours with their parents.
Are there any age limits for those attending retreats? We ask that young people under the age of 18 have parental consent for their stay at the Abbey. There is no upper age limit.
Is there a "Sunday School" for younger children? Not at the current time, but please let us know if you would be interested in this.
Can I come to a retreat with my girlfriend/boyfriend? You are welcome to come together. We ask, though, that you individually take the opportunity to enter into the retreat schedule in silence throughout the weekend. A monastery is not a place to pursue a romantic relationship.
Can I attend a retreat if I practice in a different Buddhist Tradition? You are welcome to come, and we ask that you follow our practice while you are here.
Can I do a private retreat at the Abbey? No. Training together is an important part of our practice. It is through training with others that we learn and have the opportunity to practice the Four Wisdoms.
Can I park my car on the grounds? Yes, you can park within the monastery gates. Carpools are appreciated.
If I come by bus, can someone pick me up at the bus station? Yes. 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, either at the bus station or another location, anytime between 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Please phone the Guestmaster before starting your travel to make arrangements for pick up.
If I come by train, can someone pick me up at the bus station? Yes. The Amtrak train stops in Dunsmuir, CA, about 20 miles away. Coming from the north, the train is scheduled to arrive in Dunsmuir about 12:30 a.m. If you are coming from the south, train is scheduled to arrive about 5 a.m. In our area, Amtrak often runs far behind schedule: the train can arrive from 1/2 hour to 7 hours late. You 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 anytime after 7:30 a.m.. Please phone the Guestmaster before starting your travel to make arranegments for pick up. Please call when you get to the station to let the Guest Office know you've arrived.
What airports are closest to the Abbey? 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 for the roundtrip is available at both airports.
Do you have WiFi? We ask those staying at the Abbey to put aside the distractions of daily life, including internet access, pdas, and cell phones. Please talk to the Guestmaster if there is reason to use any of these items.
Can I use my cell phone? my computer? my pda? We ask those staying at the Abbey to put aside the distractions of daily life, including internet access, pdas, and cell phones. Please talk to the Guestmaster if there is reason to use any of these items.
Can I take notes during talks? Yes, and sometimes it is good to simply listen.
What if English is not my first language?
Dharma Talks, instructions and spiritual counseling are offered in English, so a basic understanding of English is necessary.
Can we talk at meals? During retreats our meals are formal meals eaten in silence. During Celebratory Retreats (at Wesak or over New Year) our meals are informal, with the opportunity to talk with monks and lay trainees. During non-retreat times there are both formal and informal meals.
Do we keep silence ALL THE TIME? During retreats we look to keep the mind of meditation in all our activities. We try to keep a mindful focused attitude in all we do. Of course you can ask questions during discussions and as otherwise necessary during your stay. And we ask that you give yourself the gift of silence, as well as respect the silence of others. During non-retreat times there are times to talk with monks and other lay trainees.
I hear you have a lot of ceremonies at the Abbey. Is ceremonial was a big part of Zen practice? Liturgy and ceremonial, chanting and singing are an important part of our practice, and are considered to be "meditation in action". Why Do Ceremonial? by Rev. Master Meian Elbertmay be helpful to you inanswering this question.