This busy, grasping mind, always latching onto things, let it be given a break to recognize itself instead. ~ Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Daily Schedule
A typical retreat schedule consists of four sitting periods per day (early morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and early evening), with two dharma teaching by Tsoknyi Rinpoche during each full day of retreat. At most retreats, Tashi Lama complements Rinpoche’s teachings with meditation instruction each day. Small groups meet with Rinpoche and Tashi Lama to address students’ questions, especially as they apply to practice in our daily lives and retreat. Retreats are held in silence to deepen the contemplative experience.
Registration
Registration Dates
Registration opens on the date specified in the schedule. No early registrations are possible; if you are unable to register online during the specified time period, please find someone to register for you who has access to a computer.
Payment for Retreats
To be registered for a retreat, the online application form must be completed and applicable fees paid using our secure online system. We are unable to accept personal checks for retreat payments. For those of you making two payments (deposit and final payment due 30 days prior to the retreat start date) you will be registered when the second payment is received.
If you are an ordained Buddhist monk or nun, it is our policy that there is no tuition fee to attend a retreat. You must meet the basic eligibility requirements listed in the retreat description. Please email our registrar with your name and the retreat you wish to attend and that you qualify for the specific retreat you are registering for.
Registration Notification
Once you have completed your initial registration, you will receive two e-mail receipts: one from the Pundarika Registrar and one from our banking system. The banking system email serves as confirmation of your registration and that your payment has been processed. The Registrar also has the same information and is apprised of your status. If you do not receive e-mail confirmation within 72 hours of completing your registration, please contact the Registrar (time is needed for payments to clear). We have found that foreign credit cards can take longer to clear, so please allow one full working week for this.
On-site Payments
We can accept checks (personal, travelers, or money orders) at the retreat sites for donations, katas (blessing scarves), books, photographs and other articles that may be available.
Waiting List Process
If a retreat is full, a wait list will be created. To be placed on this list, please contact the Registrar with your name, e-mail address, telephone number and the retreat you wish to attend. The list order is based on the date/time of your e-mail to the Registrar. If your name comes up for entry into the retreat, you will be contacted with the specific time frame within which you must provide registration information and full payment.
Retreat Cancellation Policy
Purpose
The purpose of our cancellation policy is to acknowledge that retreatants’ future plans can change unexpectedly and at the same time protect Pundarika from costs it incurs due to commitments to various vendors and paying for staff time that support the retreat.
Policy
Full payment of all retreat fees is due 30 days before the first day that a retreat begins.
If you cancel more than 30 days prior to the first day that a retreat begins, you will receive a refund less a $65.00 cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 15 and 29 days prior to the program start date, you will receive a refund less a $90.00 cancellation fee.
No refunds will be given two weeks before the retreat begins.
Certain programs have unique cancellation policies that supersede our general policy, and they are described on the program registration page on our web site for that particular retreat or program (normally these are non-Crestone retreats where host facilities have their own cancellation policies).
Procedures
Cancellations must be requested by contacting the Registrar by e-mail (registrar@pundarika.org)
Refunds through PayPal will be credited to the same credit card with which your retreat fees were paid. Once the cancellation period is over, refunds are not possible and forfeited funds are considered “fee-for-service” payments (according to IRS) and are not considered eligible for tax-exempt status. In other words, they cannot be considered donations.
Other Related Fees: Changing Meals and Lodging
If you are not canceling a program or retreat but need to change a meal plan or lodging choice after your initial choices at registration, this has an impact on the people providing those services. If you make a change to your meal plan and/or lodging reservation provided by Pundarika Foundation, you will be charged a $25.00 administrative change fee. Please note that no refunds for food and lodging will be given two weeks before the retreat begins.
Qualifications
To simplify the retreat qualification process, Rinpoche has recently reorganized the qualifications into two basic categories:
- First: A required open retreat (6-day retreat);
- Second: After attending one open 6-day retreat, retreatants are welcome to attend all subsequent retreats unless Rinpoche specifically requires a certain number of previously attended retreats (including at least one open retreat to attend a particular teaching.
This way of offering retreats is to ensure that retreatants have the appropriate background to most benefit from Rinpoche’s teachings. As his teaching style is spontaneous and dynamic, every retreat is a unique and rich experience. He encourages students to attend an open (foundational) retreat many times, gradually adding other more specific retreats. For example, should Rinpoche require students to have attended 3 full retreats in order to attend a particular teaching, any combination of 6-day retreats counts toward the “3 full retreats” requirement (e.g., 3 open retreats, or 1 open retreat plus 2 other retreats, or 2 open retreats plus one other retreat will fulfill the “3 full retreats” requirement).
The only exceptions to the required attendance at an open (foundational) retreat with Rinpoche are students who have attended a 6 day or more retreat, which included pointing out instructions, with Mingyur Rinpoche, or have had substantial teachings with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, which also included pointing out instructions. The Registrar will work with exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
General
Audio and Video Recording
Individual recording of retreat teachings is not possible. Master recordings of teachings are made by Pundarika Foundation for future sale and distribution, if Rinpoche releases them.
Pets
The retreat environment does not allow pets.
Camping
Camping facilities and RV parking are not available at the Crestone retreat venue. If you want to camp or bring an RV, please go online and research campsites in the retreat vicinity.
General Liability Release
Submission of retreat registration and payment indicates that you release and hold harmless Pundarika Foundation from all liability in the event of illness or injury while participating in retreat-related activities. Accidents, illnesses and injuries incurred on retreat grounds are potentially subject to civil emergency response interventions and treatment as deemed prudent by retreat staff in concurrence with each individual’s listed emergency contact person, and are solely the financial responsibility of the retreat participant.
Pundarika Rideshare
Now you can easily find or offer a ride to or from Pundarika Retreats and Programs. We invite you to share resources, get to know other dharma students traveling to our retreats and help the environment. View the Rideboard now.
Crestone Information
Please visit Getting to and From Crestone, CO for more information on directions and transportation. And for a Crestone retreat map, click here! Participants in Crestone retreats will need to find their own housing. Click here for a list of housing choices. Optional meal plans are offered at the Desert Sage restaurant near the Baca Townhomes (see Crestone retreat map).
Scholarships
Partial scholarships are available for Pundarika-sponsored retreats. They are administered according to the following three criteria:
- Serious or life-threatening medical problems causing financial hardship;
- Students without the resources to pay in full;
- Other serious financial need.
Financial need is defined as the inability to pay the full tuition fee for the retreat, based on an individual’s total financial situation (this should include assets and cash flow). The total number of scholarships and amount of each is determined on a retreat by retreat basis dependent on enrollment, facility costs, and related expenses.
If you have received a retreat scholarship from Pundarika Foundation one or more times in the past, this will also be considered with priority given to new applicants.
Scholarship applications will be reviewed by a scholarship committee consisting of the retreat Registrar and the Financial Director. Please read the Scholarship policy for criteria.
There is a mandatory deposit fee of $50.00 required at the time of scholarship application. If you are not awarded a scholarship, this fee will be either refunded to you or will be applied to your full-cost payment. All remaining retreat costs will be due by mail directly to the Registrar prior to the close of registration.
The scholarship application process will close one month prior to the closing of registration. Awards will be announced by e-mail to the applicants who best meet the criteria as outlined above, within the funds available.
