Awakening Wisdom: IDP Weeklong Retreat at Shantigar

Note: Reduced rate accommodations and tuition now available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please contact Molly at eaglerocker@me.com for more details about the special rates

June 16th-23rd, 2012

The Interdependence Project is pleased to present our first-ever week-long meditation & study retreat at the Shantigar Retreat Center in Rowe, MA.  This retreat will be a rare opportunity to  practice and study with IDP founder Shastri Ethan Nichtern, and Shantigar's founder, Jean-Claude van Itallie.

Designed to fulfill all four weekend retreat requirements for our Secular Buddhist Studies Program, this retreat will investigate mindfulness, compassion, karma, psychology, and the Buddhist notion of "emptiness" through the following:

• Meditation & Periods of Silence
• Lecture & Discussion
• Nature Walks
• Yoga & Embodiment Exercises
• Work Practice

You don't have to be enrolled in the Secular Buddhist Studies Program to attend, though it is highly recommended for folks who are.

Teacher Bios

Ethan Nichtern is the founder and Senior Teacher in Residence of the Interdependence Project.   For the past eight years, Ethan has taught ongoing meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and retreats in New York City and around North America. He is on the part-time faculty at Eugene Lang College at New School University and lectures regularly at Brown, Wesleyan, and New York universities.  In the summer of 2010, Ethan was empowered by his teacher, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, as a Shastri, a senior teacher of the Shambhala tradition, representing the New York region. He has also studied Theravadan and Soto Zen traditions, and is an avid yoga practitioner.

Jean-Claude van Itallie was a seminal force in the New York Off-Broadway theater of the sixties. His "America Hurrah" is considered the watershed anti-Vietnam-War play. His translations of Chekhov’s major plays are produced around the country. In 2000 van Itallie performed his one-man show, "War Sex and Dreams." A student of Trungpa Rinpoche since 1968, van Itallie wrote the play "Tibetan Book of the Dead," and is currently co-writing the opera libretto of "MILA, Great Sorcerer," about the life of Milarepa. An inspired teacher of play writing and performance, van Itallie has transformed the old farm in western Massachusetts where he lives into Shantigar Foundation for theater, meditation, and healing. Shantigar was given its name by Trungpa Rinpoche, who did a year's retreat there while writing Shambhala teachings.

Registration & Payment

Tuition & Meals
(Accommodations not included in tuition)

$780 - Full Tuition
$650 - Members tuition (For IDP Full Members or Higher - Read more about our membership program here and how much it helps us.)
$585 - Reduced tuition (low-income/students)
$150 - Deposit (Required to save spot)

Note:  Our reduced payment level is available only if remaining participants pay full tuition.   Proof of income or full-time student ID are required for reduced payment level.
 

Accommodations (Not included in Tuition)  *** NOTE These have changed since original posting
 

Private room in House - $55/night = $385 for full retreat.
Shared Room in House - $35/night = $245 for full retreat.

Double rooms and single rooms available on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability is limited.  Bedding included. Please let us know of any handicapped needs that you have.
 

Shared Room in Cabin - $35/night = $245 for full retreat.  
Private Cabin - $45/night = $315 for full retreat.

Some cabins have electricity and some don't.  Most are near the farmhouse with easy access to bathroom; some have their own Port-A-Potties.   Those with a handicap or need to be indoors should contact Molly White, the retreat coordinator, at eaglerocker@me.com to coordinate sleeping arrangements.


Tent Camping - $15/night = $105 for full retreat
(You must bring your own tent and sleeping supplies; showers will be provided)
 

Double Beds are available in the farmhouse on a limited basis for $65/night.   Couples with a strong commitment to practice are welcome to attend & stay together in a double bed with the understanding that the retreat will be a container for deep personal exploration.  Attending as a couple has the potential to either deepen this experience or dilute it.  If you have questions or concerns about this, please feel free to contact patrick@theidproject.org to discuss them.

Note: Due to high demand we will not be accepting partial participants for this program at this time.  To be added to a waitlist please contact Molly White at eaglerocker@me.com

Teachers Gift

As is customary at the IDP, we will be asking participants to offer an optional, one-time gift to go directly to the teachers. 

Payment Schedule

A deposit of $150 is required to save your spot.   A second payment of $250 is due by May 15th, and full payment is due at the start of the retreat.

Can't afford it? 

It is our full intention to accommodate the financial needs of anyone who has a genuine commitment to practice and study.  There are a limited number of reduced payment options available. Please contact Molly White, the retreat coordinator at eaglerocker@me.com for any special cases.

More Info

Location & Transportation

Shantigar is located in Western Massachussetts near the Vermont border. 

- Driving Directions to Shantigar are available here. If you have a car, please indicate during check-out where you will be driving from/to, and if you are willing to bring others along with you.   

- Public Transportation - There are bus stops nearby in Amherst and Greenfield through Megabus and Peter Pan buslines.   As the retreat nears we will be sending out information about suggested arrival times at these bus stations when a shuttle will be available to transport you to Shantigar.
 

Retreat Schedule 

More details about exact retreat schedule will become available as we near the retreat date.   In the meantime, it is suggested that participants plan to arrive between 11am and 4pm on the 16th, and plan to depart after breakfast on the 23rd.
 

Food

Meals will be offered three times a day and are covered in the tuition payment. Food allergies or special requests should be entered into registration form.
 

What to Bring?

toiletries
flashlight
alarm clock
towel
sunscreen
insect repellent
layered clothing
rainwear
earplugs (for shared rooms)
waterproof footwear
meditation cushion (if you have one, we have a limited amount)
water-bottle
journal & writing implement
 

Secular Buddhist Studies Program 

The Secular Buddhist Studies Program at the Interdependence Project offers a strong and accessible foundation in Buddhist meditation, psychology, philosophy, and ethics from a secular perspective, inclusive of multiple traditions and bodies of teaching. Interested in the Secular Buddhist Studies Program? Learn more here.

Refund Policy for this Retreat

IDP's refund policy for the weeklong retreat is different from our normal policy. Unless there is an emergency, deposits for the retreat are NON-REFUNDABLE after May 28th.    If participation in the retreat is canceled, a refund of all monies other than the deposit can be given up to 72 hours prior to the retreat start.   After that, refunds will be available only for emergencies.

Please Read our Security Policy