Parts of the retreat
The retreat will be divided into three parts, each beginning and ending on a Sunday:
- July 15 — July 29 (14 days),
- July 29 — August 12 (14 days),
- August 12 — September 2 (21 days).
It is possible to begin participation in the retreat only at the beginning of a part, and end it only at the end of a part.
Prerequisites and rules for acceptance to the retreat
Priority in acceptance will be given to practitioners in Master Sheng Yen’s lineage, though other practitioners fulfilling conditions stated below can also apply and be accepted according to available vacancies.
In order to apply for participation, one should:
- have previous experience in extended retreats;
- confirm one’s psycho-physical health;
- have good knowledge of either English, Polish, or Chinese;
- have a valid medical travel insurance;
- accept that if one seriously breaks the retreat rules and, in spite of warning, does it again, one may be asked to leave the retreat ahead of time without reimbursement of the retreat fee.
Participation in the whole 49-day retreat or in a shorter, minimum 21-day part of the retreat (duration of such a part may be 21, 28 or 35 days, i.e. the last 21 days plus the first or second 14 days) is possible for:
- students in Master Sheng Yen’s lineage, who participated in at least one full 21-day retreat or at least two full 7-day retreats (led by Chi Chern Fashi or other teachers in the lineage);
- students of other teachers, who can confirm participation in at least two full minimum 7-day retreats, specifying the name of their teacher.
Participation in the shortest 14-day part of the retreat is possible for:
- students in Master Sheng Yen’s lineage, who already participated in at least one full 7-day retreat, led by Chi Chern Fashi or other teachers in the lineage;
- students of other teachers, who can confirm participation in at least one full 7-day retreats, specifying the name of their teacher. However, for such students, partial participation is only possible starting from the beginning of the retreat (first 14 days).
Anyone not meeting the requirements listed above but still interested in participation in part of the retreat should discuss this matter with the organizer (Pawel Rosciszewski).
The last 7-day intensive part of retreat (wake-up at 3 am, lights-out at 10 pm) is only available for those who apply for at least the last 21 days. This will make it possible to organize and run this intensive period in the most effective and fruitful way.
Part-time participants will be accepted provided there are vacancies in the period they are interested in, otherwise the organizer (Pawel Rosciszewski) will offer them participation in another part of retreat, which does have vacancies. All in all, due to the capacity of the retreat venue, various modifications of partial participation may be necessary.
In case of people applying for the same period, priority will be given to practitioners in Master Sheng Yen’s lineage. If this criterion will prove inconclusive, priority will be given to those making an earlier deposit. The list of participants and the reserve list will be ready by May 29, 2018. People from the reserve list will be accepted to the retreat if someone from the main list of participants resigns. The deposit (minus bank charges) will be returned to applicants who are not accepted to the retreat.
How to apply for the retreat?
By sending an application form and making a deposit. The application form should be sent till May 12, 2018 by letter to the address:
Pawel Rosciszewski
ul. Promienna 12
05-540 Zalesie Gorne
Poland
or by e-mail to: budwod@budwod.com.pl
The deposit should be made by bank transfer till May 12, 2018 (the bank account details are given below). This books you a place at the retreat, provided there are still free places.
Retreat participation fee and the deposit
Retreat participation fees are as follows:
- The 49-day participation fee is 2200 Euro, with a deposit of 1100 Euro.
- The 35-day participation fee is 1650 Euro, with a deposit of 850 Euro.
- The 28-day participation fee is 1400 Euro, with a deposit of 700 Euro.
- The 21-day participation fee is 1100 Euro, with a deposit of 550 Euro.
- The 14-day participation fee is 800 Euro, with a deposit of 400 Euro.
After making the deposit by bank transfer, the balance payment should be made till May 27, 2018. If you have to resign from participation due to chance occurrences, your payments to our account minus the bank charges will be returned to you provided you notify us about your resignation till May 27, 2018. After that date, payments become nonrefundable because of the advance payments we have to make to the retreat venue.
The bank account for transfers is:
| account owner: | Zwiazek Buddystow Czan |
| bank: | PKO BP |
| bank address : | ul. Pulawska 15, 02-515 Warszawa |
| account no.: | PL 51 1020 1013 0000 0402 0336 9923 |
| swift code: | BPKO PL PW |
Please bear in mind that all transfer costs should be borne by the payer.
Donation
You may be willing to donate some money to help the practitioners who would like to attend the retreat but are not able to afford this because of a difficult financial situation. The donations may be transferred to the bank account given above.
Transportation
Participants accepted to the retreat and beginning it on July 15 should arrive in Dluzew that day before 5 pm. A detailed map with access routes to the retreat venue can be found here.
If you need help in getting to Dluzew on July 15 and/or back on September 2, please mark the appropriate boxes on the application form.
If there is a considerable number of people needing assistance in getting to Dluzew on July 15 and back on September 2, we will rent a bus (or minibus) which is going to leave downtown Warsaw on July 15, at about 4 pm. The trip back to Warsaw will then take place at 10:30 am on September 2 – the bus will be expected to arrive in downtown Warsaw about noon. The cost of the round trip will be 30 Euro (15 Euro for one-way trip), to be paid in cash directly before the trip.
Participants beginning the retreat after July 15 and/or ending it before September 2 should make their own, earlier arrangements for transportation to and/or from the retreat place in Dluzew. One can get to the retreat venue (Dluzew) from the Chopin Airport (WAW) by taxi. A one-way trip costs about 40-50 Euro and takes about 90 minutes. One can also book a taxi back from Dluzew to the airport. The retreat venue address
DOM PLENEROWY
Dłużew 40
05-332 Siennica
and the map mentioned above should provide sufficient information for the taxi driver. Upon arrival one should wait in silence in the main building hallway for the person on duty that day in order to get the necessary instructions about accommodation and other matters.
Practice
- Each day begins with wake-up at 4 am (3 am during the last week) and ends at 10 pm. It includes a number of 40-minute periods of meditation (which may be extended to 60-minute ones in the second week of the retreat), physical exercises, work periods, interviews with the teachers, and Dharma talks.
- The Dharma talks at the retreat will be given in Chinese and translated into English and Polish. All announcements will be made in English and Polish.
- Each retreat participant will get a work assignment from the organizers, e.g. cleaning the Chan hall, dining room, hallways, or toilets; washing dishes; working in the garden etc.
Other information
- The meals at the retreat will be vegetarian.
- Participants with financial difficulties may apply for a discount in the participation fee. The request can be enclosed to the application form.
- It is not necessary to take a sleeping bag, meditation mat or cushion. Bedding as well as mats and cushions will be available at the retreat venue. However, if you use a kneeling meditation bench you should bring it with you.
- Facilities for washing clothes by hand (including washing powder/liquid) will be available at the retreat venue, which will enable taking a limited amount of clothing to the retreat.
