Winter Retreat Bookings Now Open (Nov. 20 - Mar. 26)

[Birken Forest Monastery]

Dear Friends,

Registration is now open for Winter Retreat bookings at Birken Forest Monastery ('Sitavana'). This year, we will have an extended winter retreat (November 20, 2013 - March 26, 2014).

In order to maintain a quiet and serene atmosphere in support of Ajahn's year-long solitary retreat (April 2014 - April 2015), we will be taking very limited bookings for this year's winter retreat (only one or two guests at any given time).  It will be a quiet, informal and largely unstructured time, designed for very experienced, self-motivated meditators who are already familiar with the way of life at Birken and who have visited the monastery regularly for extended stays over the last two years (preferably during previous winter retreats).  Duties will be assigned  to all guests to help support the daily maintenance of the monastery during their stay.  All guests will be provided single rooms in the main guest house (kutis will not be available). If you have not spent extended time at Birken over the last two years, please kindly plan to visit after April 2014 when we will return to our regular schedule. 

Possible Dates: 

• Minimum stay: 2 weeks
  Maximum stay: 4 weeks
• All arrivals and departures must be on the Wednesdays listed below:
  • Wed. Nov. 20 - Wed. Dec. 4
  • Wed. Dec. 4 - Wed. Dec. 18
  • Wed. Dec. 18 - Thurs. Jan. 2 (Thurs. exception as Wed. Jan. 1 is a holiday)
  • Thurs. Jan. 2 -  Wed. Jan. 15 
  • Wed. Jan. 15 - Wed. Jan. 29
  • Wed. Jan. 29 - Wed. Feb. 12
  • Wed. Feb. 12 - Wed. Feb. 26
  • Wed. Feb. 26 - Wed. Mar. 12
  • Wed. Mar. 12 - Wed. Mar. 26
     

Getting Here:

• This winter, we will not be in a position to rescue stranded vehicles on our rural forest roads.  Therefore, guests who do not have a vehicle with 4-wheel drive and good snow tires should plan to arrive by bus/plane to Kamloops and be picked up by the monastery van.  If you wish to drive to Kamloops by car (and then be picked up by the monastery van), long-term parking is possible at the Kamloops airport at a rate of appx. $7-10/day. 
   

Cancellations:

• Once you have registered, please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your booking.  Guests who do not inform us of cancellations well in advance OR who leave earlier than their scheduled departure date will be subject to restrictions on future bookings.  Last minute cancellations deprive others from the precious opportunity to visit. 
   

Registration:

• To apply for the 2013/14 Winter Retreat at Birken, please submit an online registraton form at least three weeks prior to your desired visit and then wait for a confirmation from the Birken Office.
   

• Click here to submit an online Registration Form for Winter Retreat

  
  For more information on booking a visit to Birken, please consult our website at http://birken.ca/visit  
  
  Any questions: please email us at medi...@birken.ca
  

With metta wishes,

Birken Forest Monastery
medi...@birken.ca | http://birken.ca