90-day Rains Retreat in 2022
The 90-day Rains Retreat is an annual retreat whose origins date back to the time of the Buddha. It is a time for Buddhist monastics to deepen their studies, practice, healing, and transformation. In the Plum Village tradition, we also welcome lay practitioners to join us and participate in the 90-days of practice alongside the monastics. This creates a joyful, community experience, and a time for collective healing and transformation.
**Currently guests may register for shorter Personal Retreats, as the 90-day Rains Retreat has already begun. Please see the following page for more information about Personal Retreat.**
Please apply if you are able to carry out the following requirements for staying, and can also commit to:
- Practicing wholeheartedly with the monastic and lay community of Magnolia Grove, by following the daily schedule and attending sangha activities.
- Offering your time and energy to serve voluntarily to support the daily functions and tasks of the community.
- Practicing to live in harmony and respect towards each other through practicing the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
A unique experience:
The 90-day Rains Retreat is a great chance to stay longer at Magnolia Grove, with a full and stable program of practice. It’s an opportunity to get to know the Magnolia Grove community and our way of life better, and it’s a good way to explore whether you may like to extend your stay as a long-term practitioner in 2024.
The Rains Retreat is a wonderful way to deepen your personal practice of mindfulness in the context of community. The emphasis is on practicing as a community as we live, practice, study, and serve. At Magnolia Grove, you will have a chance to cultivate siblinghood and form the heart of the lay community during the three months.
As a 90-day retreatant, Magnolia Grove will be your home. In that spirit, we request that all retreatants join the monastics to joyfully contribute to Sangha service in and around the monastery during the retreat (during the daily service meditation time), such as mindfully pot-washing and mopping floors; helping outdoors in the gardens; cleaning bathrooms; sorting recycling, and so on. Those who are more experienced in Plum Village practice will also have an opportunity to facilitate practices where needed.
Mental health:
Many friends have experienced lessened anxiety, a lifting of depression and improvements in general wellbeing through mindfulness practice. However, we urge all friends to continue any medication or treatment prescribed by your health care practitioner during your stay.
If you suffer from any chronic long term mental or physical illnesses, please let us know in the application form, and ask your doctor if it is advisable for you to attend a retreat of this length with us. Please be aware that we cannot provide any professional care and should we see that it becomes appropriate to reach out for professional help, we may ask you to leave and seek proper help.
How much:
The contribution towards the 90-day Rains Retreat is $2,400 per person. This contribution goes towards your full participation of the Rains Retreat schedule, and includes your accommodation and food. The contribution can be paid in full as one payment before you arrive or can be arranged into installments.
Financial reduction:
We hope to make the retreat accessible to all. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you need additional financial support to attend this retreat and/or if you have any special needs or concerns.
Dates:
– Arrival day: Wednesday, November 1st, 2023
(arriving a few days early to settle in and prepare)
– Opening Ceremony: Sunday, November 5th, 2023
– Closing Ceremony: Sunday, February 4th, 2024
– Departure Day: Sunday, February 4th, 2024
Accommodation:
Bed in gender-separated shared rooms, based on whether practicing with the Brothers or practicing with the Sisters. For couples, we have a very limited number of cabins.
Extra documents:
After submitting the 90-day application form, please send to our office:
- a recent individual photo of just yourself, fully visible (i.e., not a group photo, no sunglasses, etc.)
- a copy of your health insurance
- a copy of your ID
Questions:
If you have any questions, please email office@magnoliagrovemonastery.org.
Please apply if you are able to carry out the above requirements for staying, and can also commit to:
- Practicing wholeheartedly with the monastic and lay community of Magnolia Grove, by following the daily schedule and attending sangha activities.
- Offering your time and energy to serve voluntarily to support the daily functions and tasks of the community.
- Practicing to live in harmony and respect towards each other through practicing the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
**Currently guests may register for shorter Personal Retreats, as the 90-day Rains Retreat has already begun. Please see the following page for more information about Personal Retreat.**