Hermitage Adapts to Economic Change – Core Mission Remains Strong
Its beating heart has proven resilient and strong over five momentous years marked by success, struggle, and always a fierce commitment to fulfilling its core mission — to offer the teachings of the Buddha and Buddhist meditation retreats to as many committed and interested Dharma students as possible. As the Hermitage moves into its sixth year, it looks back and counts 14 retreats serving more than 253 yogis; a development campaign that left no stone unturned before the deepening recession forced its abandonment; and a growing presence that continues to attract more practitioners to its offerings.
For five years, the Hermitage has been a movable feast. It has occupied the lovely historic San Geronimo Lodge for its first five annual spring retreats and its first Self/No-Self and the Creative Process Retreat. It has moved to the Vallecitos Mountain Refuge in northern New Mexico and Synergia Ranch near Santa Fe, NM for retreats with the Sayadaw Vivekananda. And every year it calls the beautiful Mabel Dodge Luhan House, a generous co-sponsor, its home for at least one retreat, as it will do again this year for the Metta-Upekkha/LovingKindness-Equanimity Retreat.
As we move into 2010, another set of hard, wise choices faces the Hermitage Board. The effects of the economic crisis continue. Although a strong base of philanthropic donors continues to undergird the Hermitage operations, resources are scant. And the Foundation scholarship funding that the Hermitage and many Dharma students have enjoyed for its first five years will be reduced in 2010.
No matter the economic downturn, we see a bright, energetic and continuing life for the Mountain Hermitage. Our core mission remains strong, the commitment of an expanding circle of loyal friends and a hard-working Board is unwavering, and the shepherding of a wise and experienced guiding teacher combine for a positive outlook through 2010 and beyond.
Starting this fall, the Hermitage has moved from the print edition of its Newsletter to an E-edition, offering greater flexibility, opportunity to reach a wider range of practitioners and seekers, including photographs and contributions from attending students, and a cost-saving that is critical to the life of the Hermitage. To view our first newsletter, just click HERE…
The Mountain Hermitage will be offering a full roster of retreats in the upcoming year and beyond…
As 2009 draws to a close, from November 14-21, meditators will have the opportunity to join Marcia Rose for an 8-day LovingKindness-Equanimity/Metta- Upekkha Meditation Retreat co-sponsored with the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, NM. Beginning with the teachings and practice of Metta, this unique retreat gradually moves from the ground of LovingKindness to integrating the teachings and practice of Equanimity. For information and application, interested yogis should contact the Mabel Dodge Luhan House: 575-751-9686 or mabel@MabelDodgeLuhan.com.
The Mountain Hermitage has opened registration for its sixth annual One-Month Retreat for experienced students, from April 6 to May 4, 2010. A limited number of two-week options, April 6-20 or April 20 – May 4, will be available. The retreat will be taught by Marcia Rose, Mountain Hermitage guiding teacher. This year’s retreat will offer the opportunity for intensive concentration practice that may lead to Jhana, in the lineage of Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, as well as intensive Insight/Vipassana practice. In consultation with the teacher, students will decide upon a course of practice that may be directed specifically towards Concentration/Jhana practice or Insight/Vipassana practice or some combination of the two.
The Spring Retreat will again be held in the beautiful, spacious, and comfortable San Geronimo Lodge located three miles east of Taos, New Mexico. All yogis will be housed in single rooms. Applications are requested by January 31, 2010.
In the fall, a three-day Wise Concentration Retreat will also take place at San Geronimo Lodge from November 5th to 7th. Guiding teacher Marcia Rose will offer yogis an introduction to and support for the practice of concentration (Samadhi) as taught by Burmese meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw. The weekend will be open to both beginning and experienced meditation students.
The Hermitage is delighted to again be offering the unique Self – No Self and the Creative Process Retreat next year, for experienced students only. Scheduled for November 8-22, 2010, the two-week retreat will once again be held at San Geronimo Lodge, immediately following the Concentration weekend described above. Along with sitting and walking meditation practice, participants will explore the flow of creative energy in relationship to “self-view” via movement, seeing/drawing, and writing. Retreatants need not have had any experience with these creative modalities. Guiding teacher Marcia Rose will be assisted by movement teacher Zuleikha and writing teacher Sean Murphy. Applications are requested by August 31, 2010.
Looking ahead to April of 2011, the Hermitage will again host the Venerable Sayadaw Vivekananda and Hermitage guiding teacher Marcia Rose for a 28-day Vipassana retreat. This time the retreat will be taking place at San Geronimo Lodge here in Taos. Retreatants will be supported and guided in their practice through daily interviews and Dhamma discourses. All meditators must observe the ‘Eight training precepts’ and maintain ‘Noble silence’ throughout the retreat.
See our Retreat and Event Schedule for extensive information on all of these retreats, including the Practice Guidelines document, the Application Form and Scholarship Forms.
“It was my deepest practice experience, and rewarding in more ways than I could have imagined.”
–Hermitage yogi
Photo credit: “Quan Yin” by Greg Scharf
