The Mountain Hermitage
Spring 2011 One-Month Hermitage
April 3 – May 1, 2011
with Sayadaw Vivekananda & Marcia Rose
San Geronimo Lodge, Taos, New Mexico, USA
The Mountain Hermitage offers a uniquely supportive space for qualified 
individuals who wish to undertake longer periods of intensive meditation practice. This year’s annual Spring Retreat will be taught by Sayadaw Vivekananda and Marcia Rose.
We invite experienced practitioner to join us for the full month only. This will be a bit different from our previous April retreats in that it will be a very specific format based on the Mahasi approach to practice, with the progress of insight as its basis. With Sayadaw Vivekananda teaching, this will be the only approach to practice going on at the 2011 Spring Retreat.
A scholarship fund has been established to offer financial aid to those who would otherwise not be able to attend and to promote diversity.
Applications and deposits are requested by January 31, 2011. Late applications will be considered on a space available basis.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICE
As taught in the tradition of the late Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Myanmar, Vipassana meditation consists of continuous mindfulness in sitting meditation, in walking meditation, and in all general activities. During sitting meditation one’s awareness is directed to the most prominent physical or mental object of observation, beginning with the rising and falling movement of the abdomen. Slowing down bodily movements throughout one’s daily activities and restraining the senses are essential parts of the practice. Meditators are supported and guided in their practice through regular interviews and Dhamma discourses. All meditators are required to observe the ‘Eight training precepts; and to maintain ‘Noble silence’ throughout the course of the retreat.
Through an unbroken and continuous observation of distinct physical and mental objects arising in one’s meditation, a meditator will come to understand the three universal characteristics of all phenomena; that they are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and void of an abiding self. The ultimate aim and primary benefit of this Vipassana practice is the attainment of path knowledge and fruition knowledge, which take ‘Nibbana’, the State of Peace, as an object.
The mind has a tendency to be dominated by various unwholesome mental states such as greed, anger, fear, ignorance, pride, wrong views, doubts, laziness, restlessness, and worry, to name just a few. These can be seen as the causes for suffering, both in us and in all beings. Through careful observation these unwholesome mental states will subside, allowing wholesome mental states to arise in their place. Mental states such as effort, mindfulness, concentration, intuitive wisdom, joy, tranquility or peace, happiness, loving kindness, compassion, empathy, equanimity, contentment, and patience reduce suffering and increase a person’s mental and physical well-being. This is known as the purification of the mind, which is another major benefit of Vipassana meditation.
PREREQUISITES FOR THIS RETREAT
You must have sat three or more 7-10 day retreats or a retreat of one month or longer.
These retreats must have been led by a recognized teacher. Details of the qualifying retreats, including teachers’ names, dates, location and length of the retreat, must be documented on the application form.
Preference will be given to those who have practiced in the Mahasi style as described above.
TEACHERS
Venerable Vivekananda has trained under the Ven. Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Myanmar since 1988. He is the resident teacher and abbot at Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center, Lumbini, Nepal. He has been teaching Vipassana meditation and Brahma Vihara meditation in the tradition of the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw since 1998 in Lumbini, Nepal, the United States, Europe, and Israel. Ven. Vivekananda guides meditators in a precise and encouraging manner.
Marcia Rose lives in Taos, NM. She is the founding and guiding teacher of The Mountain Hermitage and founding teacher of Taos Mountain Sangha. She has been studying and practicing Buddhist teachings and meditation with Asian and Western teachers since 1970, primarily in the Theravada-Vipassana (Path of the Elders) tradition. Her own teaching reflects a clear influence from the Burmese Pa-Auk Forest Monastery and Mahasi Vipassana lineages. She has also studied and practiced in the Dzogchen Tibetan Buddhist tradition with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Marcia was resident teacher for staff at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, MA from 1991-1995. She continues teaching at IMS as an occasional visiting teacher and is also a regular visiting teacher at The Forest Refuge in Barre, MA. Marcia also teaches Concentration, Vipassana and Brahma Vihara retreats in other U.S. and international venues, and is dedicated to offering these ancient and timeless teachings in ways that make them accessible and authentic for contemporary culture.
THE RETREAT FACILITY
San Geronimo Lodge is situated among fruit trees along the banks of the 
Acequia Madre, and provides the privacy, quiet, and sense of harmony that is most conducive to intensive practice. There is a beautiful meditation hall and indoor and outdoor walking areas.
The Mountain Hermitage will have exclusive use of San Geronimo Lodge during the period of the One-Month Hermitage. Retreatants paying at full cost or above will have their own single room and bathroom, while those receiving scholarships or paying at the low end of the scale may possibly be assigned to share a spacious double room with attached bath.
Each room, whether used as a single or double, is spacious enough to allow for both sitting and walking meditation for those who wish to practice in a more secluded setting.
The meditation hall, walking spaces, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms are all within one building. There is one wheelchair accessible double bedroom, to allow for an attendant, if needed.
Information about transportation and what to bring will be sent to successful applicants prior to the retreat.
FEES
Fees are on a sliding scale to allow you to pay according to your means. Our actual cost for the month per retreatant is $2,290. A portion of our scholarship funds is being allocated for this retreat to allow us to continue to offer the low range on the sliding scale. Please pay as much as you are able to allow others to attend who need to pay less. Any amount above $2,290 will be gratefully received and treated as a tax-deductible donations.
Sliding Scale fees:
$1,990 (low) $2,290 (actual cost) $2,590 (benefactor)
Additional scholarship funds are available. Please fill out the special scholarship application form and include this with your regular application form. Qualifying applicants must pay at least $950, or whatever they able to between that and the low end of the sliding scale. Anyone receiving scholarship support or paying at the low end of the scale may possibly be assigned to a double room.
The Mountain Hermitage will gratefully receive donations to our scholarship fund to enable those in financial need to attend this retreat. Donations are tax-deductible and should be marked ‘Scholarship Fund’.
DANA
The retreat fees only cover basic expenses and operating costs. The teacher offers the Buddha Dhamma without any set fee, and totally depend on DANA – on the generosity of their students and benefactors – for the support of their daily life needs.
DANA, an ancient Pali word meaning generosity, giving, or gift, is central to the 2,600-year-old tradition of Buddhism. The teachings of the Buddha have been offered freely since the time of the Buddha. There was and is no way to put a price on the teachings of the truth – they are valuable beyond any fee one could set.
At the end of the retreat, envelopes will be provided for you to offer Dana to the teachers. Giving to the teacher, from the heart, whatever feels appropriate, is the practice of Dana. You may also wish to offer dana to the staff or to the Hermitage itself to support operating expenses or future scholarships.
Another way to support the Hermitage is to donate all or part of the cost of a meal for the retreat.
USE OF FEES
Your fees for the One-Month Hermitage will be used to pay for: rental of the San Geronimo Lodge and attached expenses; other general retreat expenses; a retreat cook providing 2 meals a day; a small stipend and travel expenses for the retreat manager; a small donation to Sayadaw’s Meditation Center, as well as a small parsonage for Marcia; and Sayadaw’s transportation.
DEPOSIT
Please send your deposit with your application. The deposit is $600.
The deposit will not be banked until your registration is confirmed and will be applied to the total fee for those accepted to attend. The deposit will be returned in full to those not accepted, or to those who are on a waiting list at the time that the retreat begins.
PAYMENTS
The full deposit must accompany your application. Please refer to scholarship application/information below for information on deposit amount that needs to accompany scholarship applications. No monies will be banked until you are accepted in the retreat.
The balance of the retreat fee is due when you arrive for the retreat, or you can mail the balance to us in advance. If possible, we appreciate you paying the full fee (deposit plus balance) at the time of application or on acceptance, as this improves our efficiency. However this is not necessary.
Please pay by check or money order in US funds, drawn on a US bank. We cannot accept foreign cash or bank drafts. We can accept international money orders in US dollars.
Checks/money orders should be made payable to THE MOUNTAIN HERMITAGE.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation fees apply to all confirmed registrations.
Cancellations received on or before January 31, 2011: your deposit will be returned minus a $75 cancellation fee.
Cancellations received between January 31, 2011 and February 15, 2011: your deposit will be returned minus a $150 cancellation fee.
Cancellations received between February 15, 2011 and March 15, 2011: your deposit will be returned minus a 1 $425 cancellation fee.
Cancellations received on or after March 15, 2011, including non-attendance at the retreat: your deposit cannot be refunded. If you have already paid the balance, that balance will be refunded minus the $600 cancellation fee/deposit.
CANCELLATION FEES WILL BE APPLIED TO THE MOUNTAIN HERMITAGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND (after the cost of the retreat is covered).
In the event of specific, unusual emergency circumstances, the cancellation policy can be discussed with The Mountain Hermitage Administrative Assistant after May 5, 2011, when the One-Month Hermitage is concluded.
If you attend the retreat but for some reason decide on your own to leave early, the deposit and balance you have paid cannot be refunded to you.
APPLICATION
Anyone interested in attending the One-Month Hermitage should read this document and the separate Practice Guidelines. Then, complete the Application form and Waiver of Liability, attach your deposit, and mail to: The Mountain Hermitage, PO Box 807, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557.
Applications and deposits are requested by January 31, 2011. Late applications will be considered on a space available basis. Applications will be accepted only by mail, not by phone, fax, or e-mail, because they must be accompanied by the appropriate deposit. Incomplete registrations, including those without sufficient deposit, will be returned for completion.
Each application will be carefully reviewed. In some cases, a personal or phone interview will be conducted with one of the teachers prior to determination of suitability for this type of practice. All applications are processed by date received. We will respond within four weeks from receipt of your application.
If your application is not accepted for this retreat, your deposit will be returned.
WAIT LIST
Places are limited to 20 practitioners, so early application is advised. Once the retreat is full, you will be notified and placed on a wait list, and we will contact you if a place opens up. If it does not, then your deposit will be returned.
If you are placed on the wait list and you then cancel your registration before a space has become available, your deposit will be returned.
If you are placed on a wait list and are unable to attend the retreat, please let us know immediately. As long as your name remains on a list, we assume you wish to attend. If a space becomes available, we will automatically confirm your registration. Once you are confirmed for a retreat, you are liable for applicable cancellation fees if you subsequently cancel.