[Tndfpcin]

Hi

I have an opportunity to go on a 6 day retreat led by Thich Nhat Hanh next year at Nottingham University. There's an expected 900 people going. Although I can get the money need to pay for it (being average white middle class (not what I would really call myself )), I still feel £450 is a high price to pay (this is for 'early bird' bookings, it goes up to £495 in Jan). There is also a sliding scale depending on circumstances, which is helpful to lower waged individuals.

It's brought up all sorts of thoughts and feelings for me; questioning benefit, anger, stinginess, acceptance, etc. I haven't decided whether I'm going to go yet, but I wondered what your thoughts on it are?

I understand venues and organisation cost money, but £450....really?

[fd8IIys2]

Well, all I can say is that retreats at Theravada Forest Tradition monasteries are free - but not led by famous Buddhist celebrities like Thich Nhat Hahn.

[Ingeborga]

In TB there is a Tradition of supporting the Monestary that goes back a long time. Generaly for those of us in the West this means a donation of money to help cover rent , utilities and other costs.

"The Dharma is Free but the Lights cost Money" is the term I have heard.

[desmond001]

As Aloka said, why not try a Theravada Forest tradition retreat for a change and see how you like it. They are free but you can donate if you like.

[Helloheshess]

As Aloka said, why not try a Theravada Forest tradition retreat for a change and see how you like it. They are free
but you can donate if you like.

Interesting question & Now a new Thread "The Well Rounded Buddhist"

[Dokescoonse]

Thanks for the responses so far. Since joining the forum, I've really come to appreciate Theravadan teachings, but (if I'm being completely honest) haven't been willing to take on the precept of not eating after midday, so have avoided attending retreats in this tradition (as you need to accept 8 precepts). There's no medical reason for this, just my own greed

I really am ungrateful aren't I? (too expensive, too restrictive, blah blah...)

[alecaf]

I really like Thich Nhat Hahn but would not consider paying £450 for this short retreat, it's far to expensive. It should be no more than £200 at most. I'll just have to remain unenlightened for another year

[Dfvgthyju]

JadeRabbit

I have been in contact with The Forest Hermitage in Warwickshire which is the Thai Forest Tradition.


There is a monastery closer to West Sussex. See web site www.forestsangha.org and see Cittaviveka - Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. All their contact details are there for you.

Let us know how you get on.

As mentioned by others there should be no charge but donations are gratefully accepted.

You may not be able to eat after mid day buy you can drink and in recent years I believe milk is now allowed.

Peace

Gerry

[r5YOPDyk]

I am of the kind of person that likes more intimacy when Dhamma offerings are about. Don't like too much hearing celebrities. A haze of worship is felt.

I used to attend to week seshins when I was into Soto Zen. Donations just if you could.

Food was prepared by all us. Mainly salads, seeds, cheese and bread.

Basically we worked during daylight.

We have a schedule for helping to do cleaning and cooking.

Accent in quietness and silence.

The austerity of the place was wonderful.

The real issue was to be at peace doing zazen and listening to teachings.

[JOR4qxYH]

Can someone explain to me what you do exactly at these retreats? I have a very faint idea of what they do there but I'm not sure......I have never been to one (as you can tell) but I would like very much to go to one. I don't hear much about retreats being held in the U.S.A near where I live which is in Virginia.

[TepSteade]

Hi,

In General public Retreats are a bit like weekend or weeklong seminors that one might attend from work etc, only on a Buddhist Topic(s). There is a basic theme with Teachings, Meditation sessions maybe an Enpowernment if part of that Tradition.

[Adamdjeffe]

Can someone explain to me what you do exactly at these retreats? I have a very faint idea of what they do there but I'm not sure......I have never been to one (as you can tell) but I would like very much to go to one. I don't hear much about retreats being held in the U.S.A near where I live which is in Virginia.

Hi Eager;

You asked a simple question and got two rather different answers.

It really depends on the type of tradition and retreat topic. If it's a meditation retreat---that is to say, if the goal of the retreat is to help participants achieve a stable meditative platform (which you need to accomplish the goals taught by the Buddha), the retreat most likely consists of 6 or more sessions each full day, each consisting of around 1 hour (but this can vary considerably) followed by short rest period, with longer recesses for meals (of which there may be 3, 2, or....possibly...one, served before noon). Teaching retreats may have a few meditation sessions wrapped around 3 or 4 or more hours of teaching per day.

I just organized a weekend meditation retreat (last weekend, actually) for 24 people. This is far shorter than I would personally recommend to get the participants to the point where they're actually meditating; however, it's a good introduction for beginners and good practice for anyone to engage in, even if they consider themselves advanced.

For our retreat, we had one 1.25 hr session Friday night, 6 sessions of approximately 1.25-1.5 hours each (with a 5-10 minute rest period in the middle to stretch our legs), and two sessions on Sunday morning of the same approximate length. We began at 8:00 am and ended around 9:00 pm in the evening. I'd say that this would be considered a moderate schedule, certainly not "easy-breezy" and not hardcore at all. The sessions contained about 20 minutes of teaching and close to an hour or a bit less of actual sitting (broken into two segments, as previously stated)

Just a note on costs. The dharma center didn't raise the issue money to me when I formally requested permissio (though I told them that I intended to extract a suitable donation for each participant), so I was kind of left on my own to figure out a reasonable amount. We were basically taking over their facility, using their utilities and all their spare beds. I decided that $45 per day per person was reasonable for a bed and use of the facilities (it was $32.50/day for those who couldn't afford the larger amount) and that a $30 contribution for food (or payment in kind....bring specific food items so I didn't have to go on a $700 shopping trip) was appropriate. It worked out incredibly well, although we ended up leaving a good $80 worth of food at the Center.

There are many different Buddhist traditions with centers in the NOVA area. I've been to a couple (and I live in NYC). I practice within the Tibetan tradition. But, for example, there are Goenka 10 day retreats (in the Theravada tradition) in Blue Ridge VA http://www.midatlantic.us.dhamma.org/valocation.html. My teacher speaks highly of effectiveness of these retreats, though the lineage is totally different. There are also plenty of Zen centers that have retreats as well as Tibetan Buddhist centers.

[NarhozNic]

Ohhhh I see, so I was pretty right on hehe, thank you so much for going more in depth with your explanation tjampel your so helpful

[TimEricsson]

Hi JadeRabbit

I am so relieved to read your post and to see I am not the only person struggling with this one. I was all ready to go on the retreat - even booked the time off work - then saw the price! I can't justify spending that much to the non buddhist members of my family and there's no way I could persuade them to go with me at over a £1000 cost for a family. Such a shame.

I've struggled with all sorts of feelings too. The retreat is organised by the most lovely well meaning people, but I do wonder how they expect to attract anyone other than the already totally committed. It's possibly the most expensive retreat I've ever seen advertised.

We have a just above average income (which means we can just about pay the bills and will holiday cheaply in the UK this year!)

I've followed Thich Nhat Hanh for around ten years now and went on the Nottingham retreat 4 years ago. It was pricey then but not as high as this one. It was a truly wonderful experience but times are harder now so I sadly won't be able to go.

I feel guilty for saying this but as an "engaged" buddhism group, I wish the organisers would find ways to make the price of Thich Nhat Hanh's retreats more accessible - It's a shame if only the "usual suspects" will go when arguably those who could really benefit (ie those who are curious about trying a mindfulness retreat) may be excluded because of the cost.


Having said all this, if you think that Thich Nhat Hanh's mindfulness practise is your path then consider the financial sacrifice for what could be a life changing experience.

Whatever, I hope you find a retreat that suits you and nourishes your practise. Gaia house retreats are wonderful and less expensive. Or as other's have suggested there are many dana retreats run soley on donation basis.

Hi

I have an opportunity to go on a 6 day retreat led by Thich Nhat Hanh next year at Nottingham University. There's an expected 900 people going. Although I can get the money need to pay for it (being average white middle class (not what I would really call myself )), I still feel £450 is a high price to pay (this is for 'early bird' bookings, it goes up to £495 in Jan). There is also a sliding scale depending on circumstances, which is helpful to lower waged individuals.

It's brought up all sorts of thoughts and feelings for me; questioning benefit, anger, stinginess, acceptance, etc. I haven't decided whether I'm going to go yet, but I wondered what your thoughts on it are?

I understand venues and organisation cost money, but £450....really?

[texbrease]

I practice under Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition and I completely echo your sentiments, JadeRabbit. Although the few retreats I have managed to scourge enough money for were absolutely worth the sacrifice and contributed a lot to my practice, a lot of mental formations are brought up on a regular basis when I examine the class composition of those at my local sangha, of those that make it out to retreats, etc. A lot to practice with, for sure. I find meditating on interbeing to be helpful. And definitely keeping my eyes and ears out for opportunities in less pricy traditions.

In the process of saving up money for a visit to Plum Village one of these summers....

[Gudronich]

There are monasteries out there that might do something similar to the local one here. Great Vow waves it's $500 fee during two months during the summer for a special summer training session.

[lmHVYs8e]

Today received by UPS ,a book by Thich Nhat Hanh ,called Buddha mind, Buddha body.Walking towards
Enlightenment. I recently read about him on Wiki,and also some exerpts of his phylosophy. I have read on the most known Masters/Teachers,and He is what I was looking for.A man capable of adapting 2600 year old
writings,in Pali and Sanscrit,to western thinkers.Just read the 5 precepts by him .So pure,so easy to understand. I am a man living in dire straigths,if I could muster the noney ,I would go ,to learn but also to be in the presence of such a Master.

A few years ago the Dalai-Lama gave a conference at $50.00 a seat. What he spoke about was for
beginners.!So?

a simple buddhist named
Loong

[Clunlippibe]

Hi all

I decided to go to this retreat in the end and found it very beneficial, even if it was expensive. It wasn’t like other retreats I had been to, and I was surprised at how busy the daily schedule was. Considering there were nearly 900 people there, it was really well organised. Thich Nhat Hanh’s talks in particular were very clear and interesting. His approach definitely seems to be very modern and he talked a lot about our effects on the environment and having respect for our planet.

If anyone is interested, his talks from the retreat are available on vimeo.com using the search 'nottingham retreat 2012'

Thanks, JR

[hubua990]

well done & blessings

[hrthwhr]

Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition provided me with spiritual foundations. His books were simple and definitely appealed to my Western mind at the time. With time, however, I found that his teachings are very much the same almost as if he had some kind of repertoire (lotus and mud, no coming - no going etc). He published hundreds of books but I would say that if you read five of them you'll know what TNH has to say.

I went to Plum Village too, and even though I was a bit dismayed by all-present over-charging for anything starting from books to CDs, I ended up enjoying the retreat. Became friends with a few people and have been able to stay in touch with them. However, I don't think I will go back. It was a great social event, an opportunity to live as a community but had little to do with Zen, Buddhism or meditation (or perhaps it was "too little" for me). Sadly, it is apparent to me now that this is how TNH and Plum Village make a huge amount of money. Imagine inviting 300-400 people a week and charging them anything between 280-500 Euros each for their stay! And they have a chick to call it 'contribution'. I know that the money is spent on those in need in Vietnam but hey! there are plenty of Europeans who also are in desperate situations and would benefit from Buddhist teachings. Why not make it possible for them?

I recently went to a local Buddhist temple and as a result of my experience there I felt moved to make a donation. And I think that in Buddhism things should remain being based on dana. Otherwise, it can very easily turn into money-making business.