Shasta Abbey Schedule of Retreats
If you have not attended a retreat at Shasta Abbey before,
please begin with an Introductory Retreat.
The Guest Office can receive enquiries by phone, fax, letter or e-mail, and we
will send you further information and an application form. You may also obtain a
form from the Shasta Abbey website. We ask that you send in your completed
application at least ten days before the retreat. If this is not possible, or if
you have special questions or difficulties, please contact our Guestmaster.
Information about retreat donations is provided
below. Confirmation of participation for any scheduled retreat is requested.
Buddhist training at Shasta Abbey is based on the practice of
Serene Reflection Meditation and the keeping of the Buddhist Precepts. The
monastic schedule provides a balance of formal meditation, working meditation and ceremonial,
which allows the mind of meditation to be cultivated an maintained throughout
all aspects of daily life. Lay trainees at the Abbey follow a schedule which
adheres closely to that of the monastic community.
Lay trainees stay at the Abbey's guest house, which accommodates about 40
people. It is sometimes necessary for guests to share a room during retreats. All
meals are vegetarian. Lay trainees are expected to follow and participate in
the daily monastic schedule and abide by the monastery rules and guidelines.
Worldly business should be set aside when visiting the monastery on retreat.
Guests are asked to remain on the monastery grounds during their stay except in
cases of unexpected necessity.
We offer tours of the monastery by
appointment and meditation instruction most Wednesday evenings. We also invite
you to attend our Sunday festivals, ceremonies and Dharma talks. Please call if
you would like to attend. We are not, however, able to accommodate overnight
guests until they have attended an Introductory Retreat at the Abbey. Please see
the information below regarding retreats and our ongoing lay training
program.
Shasta Abbey
practices the ancient Buddhist tradition of Dana (generosity of spirit, selfless
giving). We do not charge fees, rather we ask that you make an offering to
support the monks and the monastery. Your generosity allows us to continue to
offer the Dharma (the Buddha's Teaching). Prior to your stay at the Abbey,
please read Shasta Abbey's Guest Information below.
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