Financial Information ~ Assistance

If you are planning a personal retreat at the Forest Refuge, some financial assistance may be available if you are genuinely unable to afford the cost.

A minimum stay of fourteen nights is required. Aid is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply, first complete the Forest Refuge retreat application and indicate interest in receiving financial support. We will contact you if your retreat application is approved and go from there.

We cannot guarantee that every request for assistance will result in an award – please be assured, however, that we will do our best to help you practice with us.

Scholarships and 'You Choose'

General Forest Refuge Scholarships and 'You Choose' fee options are part of IMS’s commitment to make the Buddha’s teachings accessible to all, regardless of means.

Approved applicants can select a fee based on what they can afford. This may range from a minimum of $15 per night to $74 per night, depending on financial means and length of stay. Please be as generous as you can. By selecting the highest rate you can reasonably afford, you support our ability to meet the growing number of requests for financial assistance.

To find out more, email fr@dharma.org or call 978-355-2063.

Forest Refuge Fund in Support of Community Development Work

Another form of financial assistance is possible through the Forest Refuge Fund in Support of Community Development Work. Over $100,000 has been donated to provide full scholarships to reward and rejuvenate individuals who have been working in the US or overseas to help transform the lives of economically disadvantaged people.

Examples of this kind of work include curing blindness by providing cataract operations, developing projects to assist those on low incomes, counseling former prisoners, or teaching inner city children.