Forest Refuge – Schedule
IMS's Forest Refuge program supports sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice faith, confidence and self-reliance.
2013
| May 1 – Jun 30 | Joseph Goldstein & Sky Dawson These months are currently full. Please apply to be added to a wait list. |
| Jul 1 – Jul 31 | Myoshin Kelley & Patricia Genoud-Feldman |
| Aug 1 – Aug 31 | Annie Nugent & Sky Dawson |
| Sep 1 – Sep 30 | Marcia Rose & Sky Dawson |
| Oct 1 – Nov 8 | Susan O'Brien & Sky Dawson |
| Nov 9 – Dec 8 ^ | Ajahn Sucitto These dates are currently full. Please apply to be added to a wait list. |
| Dec 9 – Dec 31 | Sky Dawson & Greg Scharf |
^ Participants are expected to follow Ajahn's schedule and instructions, which include observance of the 8 monastic precepts.
2014
| Jan 1 – Jan 31 * | Marcia Rose & Rebecca Bradshaw |
| Feb 1 – Feb 28 | Annie Nugent & Patricia Genoud-Feldman |
| Mar 1 – Mar 31 + | Rodney Smith & Sky Dawson |
| Apr 1 – May 14 | Annie Nugent & Sky Dawson |
| May 15 – Jun 30 ^ | Sayadaw U Vivekananda |
| Jul 1 – Jul 31 ^ | Bhante Khippapanno |
| Aug 1 – Aug 31 | Sky Dawson & Akincano |
| Sep 1 – Sep 30 | Sky Dawson & Greg Scharf |
| Oct 1 – Oct 31 | Susan O'Brien & Sally Armstrong |
| Nov 1 – Nov 30 ° | Sky Dawson & Winnie Nazarko |
| Dec 1 – Dec 31 | Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia & Sky Dawson |
* Arrivals and departures will not be possible January 23–31, 2014.
+ There is a minimum stay of two weeks during March.
^ Participants are expected to follow the Sayadaw's schedule and instructions, which include observance of the 8 monastic precepts. Priority will be given to anyone applying for the full teaching period.
° Practice instructions this month will include guidance in the four Brahma Viharas. Insight meditation practice will continue to be offered and supported as well.
Please note
- A self-sustaining practice is necessary to undertake a Forest Refuge retreat.
- The teaching schedule may change without notice. It is our intention that retreatants will have the opportunity to practice with a variety of experienced and well-qualified insight meditation teachers.
Supporting our teachers
Here at IMS, our teachers are continuing the ancient Buddhist monastic tradition of freely offering the teachings while living in the midst of contemporary society. What this means is that they rely on the generosity of retreat participants for a sustainable income.
There is an opportunity at the end of your personal retreat to make an offering to teachers – this is known as teacher dana. At the Forest Refuge, where retreatants often stay for long periods, IMS supplements teacher dana as needed to provide an adequate offering.
Your contributions help teachers to lead a life devoted to teaching both at IMS and in other parts of the world, including communities without the means to donate. Your gifts also allow teachers to take time for their own practice, ensuring that their teachings are continuously enriched.
