A Precepts Retreat

I am pleased to announce that I will be conducting a precepts retreat in 2025. This is something I have wanted to do for several years now, and it is just now that things are coming together such that it can happen. In order to hold a precepts retreat there needs to be sufficient depth of practice in the sangha to do it, and also the financial means. We now have both the depth and the means, and so I have set up a precepts retreat for the spring of 2025!!!! Here is the essential information:

What: A Precepts Retreat

During this week-long retreat we will examine each of the Three Pure Precepts and the Ten Prohibitive Precepts in turn, looking to see what each of these precepts means for each of us right now, how to practice with these precepts, and how to use these precepts to deepen our practice and to more devotedly live from the clarity and compassion of our authentic nature in our daily lives. At the end of the retreat there will be an opportunity for those who choose to publicly attest to their commitment to practice in a precepts ceremony, during which people may ‘Take Refuge’ in the Dharma and ‘Take the Precepts’, as Buddhist practitioners have done for the past 2500 years.

When: April 19th through 26th, 2025

Where: at the Bend Ivy Lodge in Marshall North Carolina: https://www.bendofivylodge.com/

Requirements: this retreat will be open only to those who have a sincere and dedicated practice, who regularly participate in the practice I facilitate, and who wish to deepen their practice by taking the precepts with the sangha. It is not a requirement that people who participate only practice within the sangha I facilitate, or that they see me as their only or their primary teacher. I want people to feel committed to spiritual practice, and I want people to be intimately familiar with the practice I facilitate, but it’s fine by me if people follow other forms of practice and/or other teachers/facilitators.

Cost: the actual hard costs of the retreat will be $1,000 per person, plus whatever donation people feel moved to make. Scholarships will be available, as usual. See below for more information about cost.

A precepts retreat is a special thing. Taking the precepts is something that one should do only when there is a deep commitment to spiritual practice and to the path of ending suffering. For this reason, I’ve waited these past years to offer a precepts retreat until there were enough people in the sangha who have the dedication and commitment required. It feels to me that as a sangha we are now ready to take this next step together, and commit together to a deeper level of practice. If you feel you are one who has this commitment to practice and would like to take the precepts, there is now an opportunity. Just let me know if you’d like to be there.

I’ve also been required to wait to offer a precepts retreat for financial reasons. The retreat really needs to be a week-long event in order to do it correctly. Renting a retreat facility for a week involves quite a lot of money, and I was concerned that the cost would be prohibitive to a number of the folks who would like to attend. I’m very pleased and happy to say, however, that someone in a sangha has stepped forward to back the retreat financially. They have offered to pay some of the costs up front in order to reduce the amount each person needs to give down to $1000, and also to offer full or partial scholarships to those who cannot afford the $1,000 required per person. I would like for it to be that everyone who qualifies and who would like to attend is able to attend, and our generous benefactor has made this possible. And so, if you are someone who can afford the $1,000 retreat costs, that’s great, and if you are someone who cannot afford that amount you can just give what you can afford and our benefactor will cover the difference. If you are someone for whom $1,000 is not a lot of money, and if you would like to help out with scholarships for this retreat, we would all be grateful for any donation you would like to give towards that end.

I’m going to ask for a $500 deposit up front from everyone who would like to attend. You can give the second $500 when the time gets closer. If you would like to attend, and if you feel confident you meet the requirement, let me know and I’ll get you set up and registered. If you’re not sure if you meet the requirements, let me know that also and we can have a conversation about it.

That’s the scoop! Be well, good friends, take care of yourselves, and do good work!

In peace,
David