Sakya Kachod Choling Retreat: Individual and Small Group Retreats

2011 GROUP RETREATS ~ REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

	WHITE TARA RETREAT JULY 23-29, 2011 Jetsun Kushok has, with great kindness, agreed to give a White Tara retreat this summer. This will be a wonderful opportunity for experienced practitioners to deepen their practice and it will give those who would like to start the opportunity to do so. Time with Jetsun Kushok is precious and retreat space is limited! We encourage you to register as early as possible. Click here for complete details and to register

	VAJRAYOGINI MONTH-LONG RETREAT SEPTEMBER 8 - OCTOBER 8, 2011 Jetsun Kushok has, with great kindness, agreed to give a 1 month Vajrayogini retreat this year. This precious gift, a Vajrayogini retreat with Jetsun Kushok, will be limited to 12 practitioners. It is advised to register early. Click here for complete details and to register

INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP RETREAT GUIDELINES

GENERAL RETREAT INFORMATION

YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING: Practice materials, shrine photos, candles (tea light type in metal cups and a glass votive holder for the tea light), incense, toiletries, medication, battery clock, flashlight, rain gear, slippers, laundry soap, thermos, small daypack, umbrella, special foods and condiments, special pillow, extra blanket, special meditation bench or cushion.

MEALS: Bring enough food for your entire retreat if it lasts one week or less. If you arrive by ferry as a walk on passenger or are flying in, we will take you to the grocery store. Food is more expensive here than in many mainland places. Unusual food or supplies must be brought or you must arrange for them to be sent to you. if you elect to do your own cooking in our kitchen (pictured below), we will grocery shop once a week for you. If you would like your meals provided, the cost is $20 per day for 3 vegetarian meals plus tea/coffee and snacks.

LAUNDRY: There is a washer, dryer, utility sink for hand washing and outdoor clothesline.

CLOTHING: This area of the country is considered temperate. Winter temperatures rarely go below freezing and summer temperatures rarely go higher than mid 80's. During the summer the nighttime temperature drops at least 20 degrees making it very comfortable even after the hottest days. Winters are very wet and summers very dry. Layered clothing seems to work best. Exact conditions made available at the time of retreat.

SHIPPING: If necessary, retreat supplies can be shipped to and from SKC by United Parcel Service or FedEx. I recommend FedEx as they seem to provide better service here than UPS. The address is SKC, Attn. (your name), 865 Bull Frog Rd. , Friday Harbor , WA 98250 . Please put our phone number (360-378-4059) on the outside of the package. If you are shipping at the end of your retreat, please have everything ready for a one-time delivery.

PHONE CALLS: Please use personal calling cards, prepaid calling cards or call collect.

RETREAT GUIDELINES:
*NO TALKING TO OR VISITING WITH OTHER RETREATERS
*NO MUSIC
*NO ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR PETS
*NO SMOKING OR OPEN FIRE OF ANY KIND ON THE RETREAT PROPERTY
*NO WEAPONS
*NO MOVING OF OBJECTS IN THE BUILDING OR ON THE GROUNDS
*PARK IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY. DRIVING IN AND OUT OF CENTER DURING RETREAT IS NOT PERMITTED.

PLEASE USE WATER AND ELECTRICITY SPARINGLY. TAKE SHORT SHOWERS, USE EFFICIENT DISH WASHING PRACTICES AND BE MINDFUL OF TURNING LIGHTS, ETC. OFF WHEN NOT NEEDED.

If necessary, lap top computers are permitted. Please treat the grounds, buildings and residents with care. Return your area to the condition in which you found it or better. Thank you!

SAKYA KACHOD CHOLING
Vajrayana Buddhist Retreat Center
Spiritual Director: H.E. Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche

Please read all the information on this page very carefully and click here for a printable (pdf) copy. All individual and small group retreats must be approved by H.E. Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding through Thrinley DiMarco. (see the Calendar page for Group Retreats with H.E. Sakya Jetsun Rinpoche )

RESERVATIONS: Retreat reservations are made directly through Thrinley DiMarco. Please email skc@rockisland.com or call 360-378-4059 to make your retreat arrangements. A retreat reservation form will be sent when you contact us with your dates for retreat.

ACCOMMODATIONS: There are two individual retreat rooms located in the Gonpa building. These rooms are on the second floor and share a bathroom. Each room is furnished with a single bed. We provide all linens. There is an area to set up a shrine, a wardrobe for clothing, storage for books, etc. Zafus and zabutons from the shrine room are available for your use. Candles and incense are allowed in all of these areas, but the candles should be the votive type and placed in a holder. Tapers are not allowed. If candles and incense are used, they should not be left unattended. The retreat kitchen and shrine room are also located on the second floor.

COST: Single retreat rooms: Sliding scale:
Small room $45 - $64 per day for retreats up to 1 week
Large room $50 - $69 per day for retreats up to 1 week

For retreats from 1 week to 1 month there is a 10% discount. For retreats of one month or longer there is a 20% discount. If you are a member of SKC, there is an additional 10% discount.

Camping: Sliding scale $18 - $25 per day Weather permitting, it is possible to bring a tent and camp out on the grounds. You have the use of the shrine room, bathroom and kitchen.

These prices reflect our basic operating costs. They do not cover capitol improvements or maintenance. However, our goal is to keep retreats affordable. You choose what fits your budget. If you can choose a higher amount, it helps us keep a low end for those who can't.

Members receive a 10% discount on retreats. Membership for an individual is $35 a year, family $55.

All payments to SKC should be made in US funds - cash, check, Visa/Mastercard, traveler's checks or money order payable on a US bank. We charge $20 for handling any checks returned unpaid. We do not accept American Express or Discover. Please make all payments payable to Sakya Society and send them to: Sakya Society, P.O. Box 3191 , Friday Harbor , WA . 98250

REGISTRATION & CANCELLATIONS

Your reservation will be guaranteed upon receipt of your reservation form and a 50% deposit of the total cost. Full payment is due one week prior to arrival. If you make your deposit with a credit card, we will charge the balance due one week before arrival day. We cannot guarantee your reservation if full payment is not received at least one week in advance.

If you need to cancel your reservation, we will issue credit good for one year in the amount of all payments made, less a $25 processing fee towards another retreat on a space available basis.

FOREIGN NATIONALS: if you plan on coming to the U.S. for retreat, it may be necessary to obtain a tourist visa. Please check at a U.S. embassy in your country.

ARRIVAL: Your retreat begins at noon on the first day and ends at noon on the last day you have scheduled. Please arrive no later than approximately 2:00p.m. out of consideration for the daily schedule and so that you can move in during daylight hours. Please call or e-mail Thrinley DiMarco, 360-378-4059, thrinley@rockisland.com with your arrival time information.

TRANSPORTATION: If you are driving to the island you will be taking the ferry from Anacortes, WA. or Sidney, B.C. Detailed information on ferry schedules is available and will be included with directions for driving to the Center or you can Google Washington State Ferries. If you plan to come as a “walk on” you will still need a ferry schedule and taxi information for the drive to the Center.

It is also possible to fly to Seattle and then take a shuttle to Anacprtes where you catch the ferry. There are two airporter shuttle services for SeaTac airport: Airporter shuttle from SeaTac airport to the Anacortes ferry terminal. Call 1-866-235-5247. Local airporter shuttle, call Island Airporter: John, at 360-378-7438. This is a once a day service only, but even so, it’s very convenient and includes your walk on ferry ticket. Call for current fare. Local flights to San Juan Island from SeaTac, call: Kenmore Air 800-543-9595 or go to www.kenmoreair.com.

Bus transportation to the Anacortes ferry terminal: Google: Skat Transit, Mt. Vernon, WA This will give you general info on bus routes from various areas. If you are arriving on Amtrak in Mt. Vernon, go to rider info located in the green bar at the top of the home page. When you click on it it will give you options...go to San Juans, on that page go to option 2. You will have to make 3 bus changes If you opt for taking this way of getting to the ferry terminal. You might want to check on what a taxi would cost.

Please see the Visit Us page for full details on travel resources and transportation.