Win a 10-Day Solitary Retreat

I assembled the Solitary Retreats Team yesterday to tell them “my” idea about a drawing, in which participants can win a 10-day cabin retreat.

We met in the Great Meadow, where a frog I’ve come to know sat in silence near the creek, not even blinking. Together with the three does and yearling twins foraging in deep grass, we officially had a quorum.

“Guys, we have two new executive directors in the House, and have to look like we are being innovative,” I explained. “And while a drawing is somewhat gimmicky, it’ll help out Karmê Chöling and get the word out about solitary retreats.”

And so I unfurled the plan, which I had stolen from a Front Desk volunteer with far less political savvy than I. Here’s how it works:

Tickets for the drawing cost $100 each, which can be applied to your next Karmê Chōling program — win or lose. You’d be helping Karmê Chöling, supporting a lucky fellow practitioner and accumulating merit for yourself — which we trust you’ll promptly dedicate.

And, gimmicks aside, solitary retreat is some of the best practice you can do. An opportunity to observe your mind, secluded in the forest, with no audience, is a rare privilege. Ask your meditation instructor. You don’t check in with them enough, anyway.

The bosses are going to want some rules — they always do.

Let’s see if these stick to the wall:

• Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 15;
• To make it competitive, and to ensure that this wonderful land center benefits, we must have at least six participants;
• All solitary retreat practitioners must meet the following criteria:
  • Have an established daily meditation practice of at least one year;
  • Completion of a half-dathün or two weekthüns. (If you have attended just one weekthün, you may also qualify if you have the recommendation of BOTH your meditation instructor and the retreat master);
  • You have presented a letter of recommendation from your meditation instructor if it is your first solitary retreat; and
  • You are willing to have a conversation with Karmê Chöling’s Retreat Master, who just wants someone to talk to.
• Retreats already booked are not eligible for the drawing.
• The Retreats Team will select the winner at random and announce it live, in your presence, on a Zoom call at 2 p.m. Nov. 16, Karme Choling time.
• The winner must redeem their retreat within two years. Likewise, other participants must use their $100 deposit within the same time period.
  

I looked up from my notes to accept congratulations and high-fives from the Retreats Team, but the quorum had dissolved. The deer had wandered off to inspect Jomgon Kongtrul Rinpoche’s apple tree.

But I think they were into the idea. And I hope you are too.

Click the gold "Register Now" button on the sidebar to enter.