What We Provide
Solitary retreats take place in rustic, isolated cabins where you will more than likely not see anyone except perhaps a glimpse of the Retreat Master or the Retreat Assistant when they deliver supplies, or a meditation instructor if you have requested one to visit you.
Each cabin is outfitted with a compact kitchen with a propane stove for cooking, as well as dishes, cookware and eating utensils (you cook your own food in the cabin). There is a chair and a single bed with bedding. There is an outhouse near each cabin. Bathing facilities are small, dish-washing-sized tubs.
There is no electricity in our cabins – propane wall lamps provide the lighting. There is no running water; each cabin is equipped with a good supply of water in containers, a water dispenser, and draining sink. A double-insulated cooler, with ice packs we provide, acts as the refrigerator. In winter the refrigeration system will keep small quantities of food frozen; in summer, meat, cheese, etc. will keep for a few days.
The cabin is heated by a wood stove.
Shrines
- The shrines in our cabins are very simple, appropriate for sitting practice.
- You may bring your own pictures and shrine material and arrange the shrine according to your practice.
- We can provide a prostration board upon request.
- Each cabin has a cairn for Chakrasamvara practice.
- Retreat kits for sadhana practice (Werma, Vajrayogini, Chakrasamvara) are available for $25. It’s good practice to reserve kits in advance, as we have a limited number.
A detailed description Cabin Inventory for each cabin is listed below.
A list of items you are responsible for bringing is in the document called What to Bring.
Cabin Inventory
Shrine Supplies
- lineage photographs
- dharma text on shrine
- daily chants booklet
- Sadhana of Mahamudra chant
- shrine table
- water pitcher to fill shrine bowls
- rice for shrine bowls
- shrine offering bowls (9 large, 9 small)
- incense bowl and sand
- 2 small bowls for matches, spent matches
- lhasang bowl and sand
- 2 bowls for charcoal and juniper
- 3 matching votive candle holders
- Protector serkyem bowl for tea offering
- candle snuffer with saucer
Cushions
- practice table
- gomden
- zabuton
- zafu
- support cushion
Kitchen and Cooking Supplies
- two-burner gas stove
- large & small cast-iron frying pans
- 4 qt & 6 qt saucepans w/ lids
- 2 potholders and hot pad or trivet
- steamer
- heat diffuser
- cutting board
- knives: bread, paring, utility
- water dispenser for drinking water
- salt & pepper, in glass shakers
- large steel bowl
- spatula, serving spoon, and ladle
- insultated food cooler with ice packs
- 2 food storage containers
- dish drainer & drainboard (or tray)
- measuring cup
- funnel and small strainer
- colander or large strainer
- vegetable peeler & grater
- can opener and bottle opener
- tea kettle; tea pot; tea ball
- drip coffee filter holder
- plastic wrap
- rubber gloves
- paper napkins
- compost bowl with lid
Dishes - 2 of each
- soup bowl
- dinner & salad plate
- glass
- mug
- fork
- spoon
- soup spoon
- teaspoon
Household Supplies
- bed w/foam mattress
- mattress cover
- propane lamps for lighting
- Writing Supplies:
- small plastic bags for notes
- notepaper
- pens/pencils
- trash basket w/ lid
- clothes hangers
- clothesline
- clothespins
- small wall mirror
- ashtray (for spent matches)
- newspaper to start fires or to use under boots
- flashlight with extra battery
- chair &/or stool
- scissors
Heating Supplies
- wood-burning stove
- firewood
- ash scoop
- metal ash bucket
- fire poker
- work gloves
- kindling
- egg cartons & newspaper to start fires
- fire extinguisher
- Chimfex
Outdoor Supplies
- outhouse with toilet paper
- bucket with ash or wood chips in outhouse
- Firewood supply
- kindling
- two propane tanks
- snow shovel
- bucket with sand
- garbage can (w/ bungee cord)
- compost bin with secure lid
First Aid equipment:
- First Aid booklet
- tweezers
- tick remover
- band-aids
- gauze pads
- adhesive tape
- antiseptic wound & burn ointment
- aspirin
- alcohol swabs
Cleaning tools:
- rubber gloves
- duster
- inside broom or sweeper
- outside broom
- small tub to use as cleaning “bucket”
- hand broom and dustpan
- floor mop with microfiber pad (sweeper)
- lint brush for meditation cushions
- small tub for face washing/bathing
- large lidded pot for top of wood stove
(to heat water for cleaning and bathing)
Kitchen and Cleaning Supplies:
- coffee filters
- paper napkins
- toilet paper rolls
- extra flashlight battery
- extra gas mantles
- boxes of matches
- egg cartons
- newspaper
- dish soap
- plastic wrap
- salt and pepper
- baking soda
- scouring powder
- brass polish
- roll of garbage bags
- rags
- new sponge
- new green scrubbie
- stainless steel scrubber
- window cleaner
- all-purpose cleaner
We do not supply: paper towels; chopsticks; soy sauce or tamari; honey; or sugar
Here is more information to help you plan:
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