Forest Refuge Application

Complete the information requested below, then click the "Submit Application" button at the bottom of the form. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a Confirmation Code — please quote this code in any future correspondence.

Retreatant Information

First Name
Last Name
Middle Initial
Email
Address
City
Country
State/Prov
Zip/Postal Code
Day Phone
Evening Phone
Cell Phone

Application Information

IMS is committed to the safety of its guests, staff and teachers. Before applying, please read our COVID-19 Update page for information about on-site requirements and practices.

IMS's Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. Please review the retreat guidelines before proceeding.

An intensive silent personal retreat can be a positive and life-transforming experience. At the same time, the meditation practice can be strenuous and requires some stability of physical and psychological health. If you have recently experienced considerable trauma, significant depression or anxiety, or are currently experiencing strong PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), a silent personal retreat may not be appropriate for you at this time in your life. Shorter, more structured retreats or daily life practice may be more beneficial meanwhile. To help you assess this, we urge you to discuss your situation with a therapist. Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

General Information

How do you identify your gender?
Female
Male
Transgender or gender diverse (e.g. gender queer, gender fluid, agender, etc.)
Year of Birth (YYYY)
Occupation
Intended length of stay
Preferred start and end dates default to the current year. Please be sure to change your selection to the coming year, if appropriate.
Preferred date to begin
Preferred date to end

People of Color Affiliation

As part of IMS's commitment to diversity and equity, we have an intention to increase the participation of people of color in our retreats. To help bring this to fruition, we will hold a number of retreat spaces at the Forest Refuge specifically for people of color.
Please note, however, that unused spaces for any month will be released four months prior.
So we can support your participation, please make us aware if you self-identify as a person of color.
Yes No

Tell Us About Your Practice

We expect that candidates have participated in at least one six-week structured and teacher-led insight meditation retreat, or six similar one-week retreats. See our retreat guidelines and requirements for more information. Forest Refuge teachers may exercise their discretion in accepting or declining applications.
Previous Forest Refuge retreats - list teachers and dates
Previous Insight Meditation (or Vipassana) retreats of one week or longer - please list teachers and dates for each retreat, we need as much detail as possible to process your application. (We recommend that applicants have participated in at least six week-long Vipassana retreats before applying to the Forest Refuge)
Retreats in other traditions - list teachers and dates
If you are applying for the month of September 2024, list all the Emptiness & Awareness retreats(s) you have attended with Guy and Sally:
Please describe your current daily practice:

Medical Questions

Please list any medical or psychological conditions so that we may better understand your needs regarding this retreat.
Meditation retreats can at times be psychologically and emotionally stressful. In the event of a psychological emergency, do you have a therapist or psychiatrist that we could contact?
Yes No
Name of therapist or psychiatrist:
Office Phone:
Emergency Phone:
How well do you handle stress in your life? Are there recent circumstances (eg. loss of a loved one, illness, fasting, substance abuse, prolonged depression) or past history (eg. serious attempt to take your life) that might affect your retreat?
Do you have any experience from past retreats or from stressful psychological challenges you have faced that would help you work with these issues?
Do you have any history of physical illness or limitations that might be aggravated by or interfere with sitting and walking meditation?
Yes No
If so, please describe:
Do you have any physical limitations that would prevent you from participating in the daily work period?
Yes No
If so, please describe:
Intensive meditation may affect how your body and mind interact with medications, herbal or other treatments. Please consider consulting your health care provider to determine any potential complications. If it is helpful to advise us regarding your medications/supplements — so that we can address any needs or circumstances that may arise — please list them and the daily dosage:
Our capacity to support ongoing medical needs is very limited. Do you have any such needs that would require leaving the Forest Refuge during your retreat?
Yes No
If so, please describe:
Please read What You'll Eat. Do you have any serious food allergies?
Yes No
If so, please specify:

Silence, Personal Retreat & Intention

There is not the usual retreat structure at the Forest Refuge. Have you thoroughly reviewed the retreat guidelines? (We recommend that applicants have participated in at least six week-long Vipassana retreats before applying to the Forest Refuge)
Yes No
Forest Refuge retreatants need to be self-sufficient and disciplined, maintaining a steady schedule of intensive practice. There are usually two dharma talks per week and two interviews with teachers are required each week. Is this sufficient support for you? (Note: Some teachers may schedule more interviews and dharma talks than this.)
Yes No
Please describe the method of practice you would like to follow (eg. insight meditation, lovingkindness meditation, etc.):
The Forest Refuge offers some financial assistance. (A minimum stay of 14 nights is required to apply.) Are you interested in more information about this?
Yes No

References

Do you have a teacher who is most familiar with your practice?
Yes No
May we contact them?
Yes No
Teacher's contact information:
Where did you hear about the Forest Refuge?
I understand that if my application for a personal retreat at the Forest Refuge is approved, I must provide on arrival the name and contact details of an emergency contact person in order to attend the retreat. I will not be allowed to participate unless I have done so. IMS will make every effort to communicate with this person in the event of an emergency. This person is someone who can either collect me from IMS or help to make transportation arrangements if I need to leave the retreat early. I further understand that participation in IMS programs is at the discretion of the teachers and IMS administration at all times. If, in the opinion of IMS, I am unable to continue to participate productively in the retreat, I may be asked to leave. I confirm that all of the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge and that I have read and understand the retreat guidelines and requirements. If at any time my circumstances change, I will inform the Forest Refuge.
Yes No

Please submit your application. Provided you have answered all the questions, a Confirmation Code should immediately appear on your screen. If no code number appears, your application did not go through. Please check that you have completed the form correctly and disabled all script blockers, and submit it again. If you have any questions, contact the Forest Refuge by calling 978-355-2063 or emailing fr@dharma.org.