DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Cost of retreats - spin off from Buddhist Org'ns thriving....'

**JackTimQSR** · 08-05-2012, 05:02 AM

Hi Aloka-D

Maybe that was the case when the Tibetans were first getting established in the west and didn't have organised centres, its changed now. Accomodation, courses and retreats for the seriously commited practitioners cost money too. I know this to be the case now.
I have teachers outside the U.K. I have practised without the benefit of community (same Lineage) in the U.K.
I needed certain empowerments and teachings and spoke to some friends in other traditions who suggested a certain Lama who was living in the U.K outside of a monastery/community. I spoke to him on the telephone and then spent numerous days/nights receiving the teachings and empowerments etc.
This is only the most recent example.

I also suggested this approach to a friends son who was attracted to a Kagyu lineage but who had not received any formal teachings nor had he any experience of non book or video Dharma.With a little ingenuity and some emails he was invited to a Kagyu Lamas home. The Lama is now his teacher and as far as I am aware he has never paid for teachings. Which is just as well as he is a student and his father is on disability benefit after a debilitating illness.

The cost for a four year retreat is approximately £15 per day which we have calculated is just enough to cover the cost of keeping a person in retreat. It is also best to aim to have another £3,000 available for spending money on texts, clothes and anything extra you may need during the retreat

http://www.samyeling.org/index/long-term-retreats Of course this is retreat in the west, retreats in India, Nepal, Bhutan etc are another matter and not subject to ones purse, other than air fare etc.

Even though I am suggesting an approach and some anecdotal evidence I am aware that it may be more difficult for others.

08-05-2012, 05:02 AM	#25
JackTimQSR Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 582 Senior Member	Hi Aloka-D Maybe that was the case when the Tibetans were first getting established in the west and didn't have organised centres, its changed now. Accomodation, courses and retreats for the seriously commited practitioners cost money too. I know this to be the case now. I have teachers outside the U.K. I have practised without the benefit of community (same Lineage) in the U.K. I needed certain empowerments and teachings and spoke to some friends in other traditions who suggested a certain Lama who was living in the U.K outside of a monastery/community. I spoke to him on the telephone and then spent numerous days/nights receiving the teachings and empowerments etc. This is only the most recent example. I also suggested this approach to a friends son who was attracted to a Kagyu lineage but who had not received any formal teachings nor had he any experience of non book or video Dharma.With a little ingenuity and some emails he was invited to a Kagyu Lamas home. The Lama is now his teacher and as far as I am aware he has never paid for teachings. Which is just as well as he is a student and his father is on disability benefit after a debilitating illness. The cost for a four year retreat is approximately £15 per day which we have calculated is just enough to cover the cost of keeping a person in retreat. It is also best to aim to have another £3,000 available for spending money on texts, clothes and anything extra you may need during the retreat http://www.samyeling.org/index/long-term-retreats Of course this is retreat in the west, retreats in India, Nepal, Bhutan etc are another matter and not subject to ones purse, other than air fare etc. Even though I am suggesting an approach and some anecdotal evidence I am aware that it may be more difficult for others.
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