Retreat Info:

This is a retreat for ‘Advanced Meditators’ – lay people who have had a regular meditation practice for some years. Optimal conditions for the practice, support and development of jhana meditation will be maintained throughout the retreat, including extended meditation periods throughout the day. There will be occasional Dhamma talks given by Ajahn Sona throughout the retreat and one interview available to each retreatant.

Ideal candidates will have an extensive background of many formal residential retreats in the past of at least 10-days or longer. Meditators will be expected to function with a high degree of self-sufficiency, self-reliance and discipline to best take advantage of the intensive conditions. Please include a detailed retreat history in your application form. Ajahn Sona will review all applications and select those who can best benefit from this period of solitary practice.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS:

• This retreat will be in absolute silence. No conversation is permitted between participants or residents during the retreat.
• All participants must agree to stay for the entire retreat (March 4-18, 2020).
• No reading, journal writing, or other creative projects.
• No electronic devices of any sort.
• No listening to Dhamma talks or other media.
• All meditators will be assigned private rooms in the main guest house; kutis (cabins) will NOT be available during this time.

The retreat starts at 5:00pm on Wednesday, March 4, with a teatime orientation led by Ajahn Sona, and a chance to ask questions.

Prerequisite: Extensive formal 10-day retreat experience. Priority is given to those who have visited Birken for a Personal Retreat or Scheduled Retreat of at least 10 days in the recent past.

Guest Guidelines: 

Prior to registering for a Scheduled Retreat, please make sure you have read the latest version of our Guest Guidelines outlining our daily schedule, monastery etiquette, and other guidelines applicable to your stay. All guests are expected to abide by the Eight Precepts outlined in our Guest Guide.

Contact with “The World”:

In order to safeguard the retreat environment at Birken, guests do not have internet or cell phone access at the monastery at any time. Please finalize your worldly affairs and travel arrangements before arriving. It is expected that you will reside on the monastery property throughout your stay and not leave the premises to make phone calls or run errands, etc. You may provide the monastery’s email address to loved ones back home, for emergencies only: bookings@birken.ca

Helping Out:

It is customary for all guests to help out with light chores around the monastery throughout their stay. During scheduled retreats, Yogi Duties are assigned, and can be found posted in the kitchen.

Transportation:

Please plan to arrive at Birken sometime between 1:00–4:00pm if you are driving to the monastery (or by 1:30pm if requesting a pick-up in Kamloops). PLEASE NOTE: we now require all guests arriving and departing from the Kamloops Airport to take a taxi / shuttle to and from the Birken pick up location (detailed instructions will be provided in your retreat confirmation). There will be only one guest pick-up and drop-off location in Kamloops. Participants needing a ride to Kamloops will depart the monastery after breakfast (about 8:30am). Prior to registration, you must determine how you plan to arrive and depart and include this information on your registration form (please wait to finalize your transportation arrangements until the Birken Office has confirmed your booking). Please visit Getting Here for more details.

Cancellations:

Last-minute cancellations are burdensome to the monastery and prevent other guests from the precious opportunity to visit.  Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your visit. Those who cancel at the last minute or leave the monastery prior to their scheduled departure date, will be subject to restrictions on future visits.

Registration Info:

Registration is now closed.

Accepted candidates will be notified by email in late December. All others will be notified that they have been placed on a waitlist. Interested candidates who are unable to attend the retreat this year are invited to come another time for a Personal Retreat. If you have not heard back from the Birken Office by early January, please email us at bookings@birken.ca to make sure that we received your form.

Retreat Info:

The endeavor of this retreat is to use the medium of icon painting as a vehicle to empower participants to use art and creativity as a means to learn about the mind and the meditative process. This is a retreat for ‘Experienced Meditators’ – lay people who have had a regular meditation practice for some years and have attended at least one 7-day residential retreat. Participants can be an artist of any type (painters, photographers, musicians, writers, etc.), but should be willing to use the creative medium that the instructors use. The retreat includes morning and evening meditation periods, instruction in the morning and afternoon, and extended periods to delve into the creative process. All materials for the retreat will be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring an image(s) that provide inspiration for practice. The retreat starts at 5:00pm on Sunday, March 22, with a teatime orientation led by Ajahn Jotipalo and Sakula Reinard, and a chance to ask questions.

Prerequisite: Participants should have a regular meditation practice and have sat at least one 7-day residential retreat.

Guest Guidelines: 

Prior to registering for a Scheduled Retreat, please make sure you have read the latest version of our Guest Guidelines outlining our daily schedule, monastery etiquette, and other guidelines applicable to your stay. All guests are expected to abide by the Eight Precepts outlined in our Guest Guide.

Contact with “The World”:

In order to safeguard the retreat environment at Birken, guests do not have internet or cell phone access at the monastery at any time. Please finalize your worldly affairs and travel arrangements before arriving. It is expected that you will reside on the monastery property throughout your stay and not leave the premises to make phone calls or run errands, etc. You may provide the monastery’s email address to loved ones back home, for emergencies only: bookings@birken.ca

Helping Out:

It is customary for all guests to help out with light chores around the monastery throughout their stay. During scheduled retreats, Yogi Duties are assigned, and can be found posted in the kitchen.

Transportation:

Please plan to arrive at Birken sometime between 1:00–4:00pm if you are driving to the monastery (or by 1:30pm if requesting a pick-up in Kamloops). PLEASE NOTE: we now require all guests arriving and departing from the Kamloops Airport to take a taxi / shuttle to and from the Birken pick up location (detailed instructions will be provided in your retreat confirmation). There will be only one guest pick-up and drop-off location in Kamloops. Participants needing a ride to Kamloops will depart the monastery after breakfast (about 8:30am). Prior to registration, you must determine how you plan to arrive and depart and include this information on your registration form (please wait to finalize your transportation arrangements until the Birken Office has confirmed your booking). Please visit Getting Here for more details.

Cancellations:

Last-minute cancellations are burdensome to the monastery and prevent other guests from the precious opportunity to visit.  Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your visit. Those who cancel at the last minute or leave the monastery prior to their scheduled departure date, will be subject to restrictions on future visits.

Registration Info:

Registration is now closed.

Accepted candidates will be notified by email in late December. All others will be notified that they have been placed on a waitlist. Interested candidates who are unable to attend the retreat this year are invited to come another time for a Personal Retreat. If you have not heard back from the Birken Office by early January, please email us at bookings@birken.ca to make sure that we received your form.

Retreat Info:

Join Ajahn Jotipalo for a Sauntering into Silence retreat and learn how to use walking in nature as a meditation. This retreat is for “experienced meditators” – lay people who have a regular meditation practice and have sat at least one weekend residential retreat. Participants should be in good physical health and comfortable being alone in the forest, though most of our time will be as a group. There will be daily instructions and guidance, as well as time for group discussion and Q & A at tea time each evening.

This retreat will be primarily conducted outdoors (weather permitting), within a 3km radius of Birken. A mobile device with GPS tracking is highly suggested, but not required. This is not an eight-precept retreat, but those wanting a snack in the evening should bring food that does not require heating or refrigeration.

Prerequisite: Participants should be in good physical health and comfortable wandering in the woods alone. Participation in at least one residential weekend meditation retreat.

Guest Guidelines: 

Prior to registering for a Scheduled Retreat, please make sure you have read the latest version of our Guest Guidelines outlining our daily schedule, monastery etiquette, and other guidelines applicable to your stay. All guests are expected to abide by the Eight Precepts outlined in our Guest Guide.

Contact with “The World”:

In order to safeguard the retreat environment at Birken, guests do not have internet or cell phone access at the monastery at any time. Please finalize your worldly affairs and travel arrangements before arriving. It is expected that you will reside on the monastery property throughout your stay and not leave the premises to make phone calls or run errands, etc. You may provide the monastery’s email address to loved ones back home, for emergencies only: bookings@birken.ca

Helping Out:

It is customary for all guests to help out with light chores around the monastery throughout their stay. During scheduled retreats, Yogi Duties are assigned, and can be found posted in the kitchen.

Transportation:

Please plan to arrive at Birken sometime between 1:00–4:00pm if you are driving to the monastery (or by 1:30pm if requesting a pick-up in Kamloops). PLEASE NOTE: we now require all guests arriving and departing from the Kamloops Airport to take a taxi / shuttle to and from the Birken pick up location (detailed instructions will be provided in your retreat confirmation). There will be only one guest pick-up and drop-off location in Kamloops. Participants needing a ride to Kamloops will depart the monastery after breakfast (about 8:30am). Prior to registration, you must determine how you plan to arrive and depart and include this information on your registration form (please wait to finalize your transportation arrangements until the Birken Office has confirmed your booking). Please visit Getting Here for more details.

Cancellations:

Last-minute cancellations are burdensome to the monastery and prevent other guests from the precious opportunity to visit.  Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your visit. Those who cancel at the last minute or leave the monastery prior to their scheduled departure date, will be subject to restrictions on future visits.

Registration Info:

Sauntering Into Silence Retreat Registration Form

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Personal Information & Contact Information

Name*

First

Last

Email Address*

Phone*

Age*

Gender:*

Mailing Address

Street*

City*

Province/State

Please selectNot ListedAlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNorthwest TerritoriesNova ScotiaNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukonAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

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Country*

Please selectCanadaUnited StatesAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua And BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia And HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic Of TheCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D'IvoireCroatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)CubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrance, MetropolitanFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard And Mc Donald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran (Islamic Republic Of)IraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic OfKorea, Republic OfKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMacedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic OfMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesia, Federated States OfMoldova, Republic OfMonacoMongoliaMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaSaint Kitts And NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent And The GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome And PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia, South Sandwich IslandsSpainSri LankaSt. HelenaSt. Pierre And MiquelonSudanSurinameSvalbard And Jan Mayen IslandsSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic OfThailandTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad And TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks And Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands (British)Virgin Islands (U.S.)Wallis And Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenYugoslaviaZambiaZimbabwe

Emergency Contact

Name, phone number, and/or e-mail address of emergency contact. This should be someone that you are NOT travelling with.

Contact Name*

Contact Phone

Contact E-mail

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Retreat Information

Requested Arrival Date*

Note: For arrivals before 6/10, please fill out a personal retreat form.

Expected Arrival Time*

If travelling by bus or air, please arrive to Kamloops no later than 1:30pm

Arriving by...*

Please selectCarBusAirOther

Flight information

Please include your flight #/s and arrival times, and if you are travelling with other guests to the monastery.

Bus information

Please include the bus company and arrival time, and if you are travelling with other guests to the monastery.

Car arrivals

please let us know if you are travelling with other guests to the monastery

Please let us know your travel plans

Do you need a ride from Kamloops?*

Please selectNoYes

Pick-ups in Kamloops can be arranged for early afternoon on Wednesdays OR on the start and end dates of scheduled retreats. Please note: we no longer pick up or drop off guests at the Kamloops Airport. If you travel by air, you will need to take a taxi to our pick-up location (please allow 30 mins travel time; exact location details will be sent to you in our confirmation email).

Pick-ups in Kamloops can be arranged for early afternoon on Wednesdays OR on the start and end dates of scheduled retreats. There is one pickup location in Kamloops, exact location details will be sent to you in our confirmation email.

Requested Departure Date*

Note: For departures after 6/14, please fill out a personal retreat form.

Expected Departure Time*

If travelling by bus or air, no earlier than 11:00am

Departing by...*

Please selectCarBusAirOther

Flight information

Please include your flight #/s and departure times, and if you are travelling with other guests from the monastery.

Bus information

Please include the bus company and departure time, and if you are travelling with other guests from the monastery.

Car departures

please let us know if you are travelling with other guests from the monastery

Please let us know your travel plans

Do you need a ride to Kamloops?*

Please selectNoYes

Drop-offs in Kamloops can be arranged for mornings on Wednesdays OR on the start and end dates of scheduled retreats. Please note: we no longer pick up or drop off guests at the Kamloops Airport. If you travel by air, you will need to take a taxi from our drop-off location to the airport (please allow 30 mins travel time; exact location details will be sent to you in our confirmation email).

Drop-offs in Kamloops can be arranged for mornings on Wednesdays OR on the start and end dates of scheduled retreats. There is one pickup location in Kamloops, exact location details will be sent to you in our confirmation email.

Is this your first visit?*

Please selectNoYes

When was your last visit?*

Have you attended at least one Buddhist residential weekend retreat in the past?*

Please selectNoYes

Please list your recent retreat history

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Accommodation & Special Needs

Room Request*

Main Guest House

All guests will be assigned to the main house during Winter Retreat (kutis are unavailable during winter). Particular room requests inside the main guest house are not permitted. We ask all guests to accept whatever accommodation is provided with a sense of contentment and gratitude.

Do you snore?*

Yes

No

Don't know

Do you have any serious medical condition?*

Yes

No

Please tell us about any conditions that might affect your participation in the monastery schedule, activities, guidelines, adherence to the Eight Precepts, etc.

If YES, please give brief details.*

Please let us know if your condition is controlled by medication, stable or unstable. We also need to know if it is likely to cause you a problem while you are here and whether you anticipate needing any kind of special support during your visit.

Do you suffer from any kind of mental illness?*

Yes

No

Please tell us about any conditions that might affect your participation in the monastery schedule, activities, guidelines, adherence to the Eight Precepts, etc.

If YES, please give brief details.*

Please let us know if your condition is controlled by medication, stable or unstable. We also need to know if it is likely to cause you a problem while you are here and whether you anticipate needing any kind of special support during your visit.

Have you had any recent problems with drugs or alcohol?*

Yes

No

If YES, please give brief details and confirm whether you have been abstinent from drugs/alcohol for at least six months.*

Additional Information?

If you have any additional information that you would like us to know, please list it here.

Guest Guidelines

The Birken Guest Guidelines can be found here.

I have read the Birken Guest Guidelines*

Yes

No

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Accepted candidates will be notified by email in early April. All others will be notified that they have been placed on a waitlist. Interested candidates who are unable to attend the retreat this year are invited to come another time for a Personal Retreat. If you have not heard back from the Birken Office by mid-April, please email us at bookings@birken.ca to make sure that we received your form.

Retreat Info:

This is a retreat for Absolute Beginners – people who have never meditated, visited a monastery, or been on a meditation retreat. You don’t need to know anything about Buddhism or meditation. The retreat provides a gentle introduction to the art of mental cultivation, with lots of instruction and guidance, short meditation periods (10 to 20 minutes), lots of free time, and opportunities to talk. We start with the absolute basics: how to sit for meditation, experimenting with various postures and aids (cushion, kneeling stool, chair). Key aspects of the Buddha’s teachings are presented, highlighting the benefits and importance of meditation to one’s own well-being and liberation. There is an option for a light evening snack (contrary to the normal practice at the monastery, where only two meals are eaten: breakfast at 7:00am and the main meal at 11:30am). The retreat starts at 5:00pm, with a teatime orientation from the Abbot, Ajahn Sona, and a chance to ask questions.

Guest Guidelines: 

Prior to registering for a Scheduled Retreat, please make sure you have read the latest version of our Guest Guidelines outlining our daily schedule, monastery etiquette, and other guidelines applicable to your stay. All guests are expected to abide by the Eight Precepts outlined in our Guest Guide.

Contact with “The World”:

In order to safeguard the retreat environment at Birken, guests do not have internet or cell phone access at the monastery at any time. Please finalize your worldly affairs and travel arrangements before arriving. It is expected that you will reside on the monastery property throughout your stay and not leave the premises to make phone calls or run errands, etc. You may provide the monastery’s email address to loved ones back home, for emergencies only: bookings@birken.ca

Helping Out:

It is customary for all guests to help out with light chores around the monastery throughout their stay. Please sign up for one or more tasks on the ‘Yogi Duties’ board in the kitchen upon arrival. All guests are asked to assist with breakfast and lunch clean-up.

Transportation:

Please plan to arrive at Birken sometime between 1:00–4:00pm if you are driving to the monastery (or by 1:30pm if requesting a pick-up in Kamloops). PLEASE NOTE: we now require all guests arriving and departing from the Kamloops Airport to take a taxi / shuttle to and from the Birken pick up location (detailed instructions will be provided in your retreat confirmation). There will be only one guest pick-up and drop-off location in Kamloops. Participants needing a ride to Kamloops will depart the monastery after breakfast (about 8:30am). Prior to registration, you must determine how you plan to arrive and depart and include this information on your registration form (please wait to finalize your transportation arrangements until the Birken Office has confirmed your booking). Please visit Getting Here for more details.

Cancellations:

Last-minute cancellations are burdensome to the monastery and prevent other guests from the precious opportunity to visit.  Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your visit. Those who cancel at the last minute or leave the monastery prior to their scheduled departure date, will be subject to restrictions on future visits.

Registration Info:

Beginners Retreat #1: Registration open March 18-April 30, 2020

Beginners Retreat #2: Registration open May 1-June 30

Participant selection is via lottery for the Absolute Beginners Retreat. Accepted candidates will be notified by email in early May for the June retreat, and early July for the August retreat. All others will be notified that they have been placed on a waitlist. Interested candidates who are unable to attend the retreat this year are invited to come another time for a Personal Retreat. If you have not heard back from the Birken Office within two weeks of the registration close, please email us at bookings@birken.ca to make sure that we received your form.

Retreat Info:

This is a retreat for ‘Experienced Meditators’ – lay people who have had a regular meditation practice for some years and have previously attended a 10-day residential retreat. Priority will be given to those who have visited Birken for a Personal Retreat or Scheduled Retreat of at least 10 days in the recent past. The retreat includes some instruction, as well as extended meditation periods (2 to 3 hours), allowing meditators to alternate sitting and walking meditation at their discretion. The retreat is conducted in silence: there is no conversation between participants during the duration of the retreat. Reading and listening to audio talks are also strongly discouraged. There will be opportunities to join Ajahn Sona for Dhamma talks throughout the retreat. The retreat starts at 5:00pm on Friday, September 27, with a teatime orientation led by the Abbot, Ajahn Sona, and a chance to ask questions.

Prerequisite: Prior 10-day retreat experience. Priority is given to those who have visited Birken for a Personal Retreat or Scheduled Retreat of at least 10 days in the recent past.

Guest Guidelines: 

Prior to registering for a Scheduled Retreat, please make sure you have read the latest version of our Guest Guidelines outlining our daily schedule, monastery etiquette, and other guidelines applicable to your stay. All guests are expected to abide by the Eight Precepts outlined in our Guest Guide.

Contact with “The World”:

In order to safeguard the retreat environment at Birken, guests do not have internet or cell phone access at the monastery at any time. Please finalize your worldly affairs and travel arrangements before arriving. It is expected that you will reside on the monastery property throughout your stay and not leave the premises to make phone calls or run errands, etc. You may provide the monastery’s email address to loved ones back home, for emergencies only: bookings@birken.ca

Helping Out:

It is customary for all guests to help out with light chores around the monastery throughout their stay. During scheduled retreats, Yogi Duties are assigned, and can be found posted in the kitchen.

Transportation:

Please plan to arrive at Birken sometime between 1:00–4:00pm if you are driving to the monastery (or by 1:30pm if requesting a pick-up in Kamloops). PLEASE NOTE: we now require all guests arriving and departing from the Kamloops Airport to take a taxi / shuttle to and from the Birken pick up location (detailed instructions will be provided in your retreat confirmation). There will be only one guest pick-up and drop-off location in Kamloops. Participants needing a ride to Kamloops will depart the monastery after breakfast (about 8:30am). Prior to registration, you must determine how you plan to arrive and depart and include this information on your registration form (please wait to finalize your transportation arrangements until the Birken Office has confirmed your booking). Please visit Getting Here for more details.

Cancellations:

Last-minute cancellations are burdensome to the monastery and prevent other guests from the precious opportunity to visit. Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your visit. Those who cancel at the last minute or leave the monastery prior to their scheduled departure date, will be subject to restrictions on future visits.

Registration Info:

Registration open April 1-June 30, 2020

Ajahn Sona will review all 10-Day Silent Retreat applications and select those who can best benefit from this period of quiet practice. Accepted candidates will be notified by email in July and asked to reconfirm their commitment to attend the retreat. All others will be notified that they have been placed on a waitlist. Interested candidates who are unable to attend the retreat this year are invited to come another time for a Personal Retreat and can check back next year for more scheduled retreat opportunities. If you have not heard back from the Birken Office by late July, please email us at bookings@birken.ca to make sure that we received your form.

Retreat Info:

Join us over the Thanksgiving weekend for a period of meditative reflection, with a focus on the virtues of generosity and gratitude. This retreat is open to beginner and advanced meditators alike who have sat at residential retreat of at least three days. Priority will be given to those who have visited Birken for a Personal Retreat or Scheduled Retreat of at least 5 days in the recent past.

The retreat includes some instruction, as well as meditation periods allowing meditators to alternate sitting and walking meditation at their discretion. There will be opportunities to join Ajahn Sona for Dhamma talks throughout the retreat. The retreat starts at 5:00pm on Sunday, October 9, with a teatime orientation led by the Abbot, Ajahn Sona, and a chance to ask questions.

Prerequisite: At least one weekend residential retreat, with priority is given to those who have visited Birken for a Personal Retreat or Scheduled Retreat of at least 5 days in the recent past. 

Guest Guidelines: 

Prior to registering for a Scheduled Retreat, please make sure you have read the latest version of our Guest Guidelines outlining our daily schedule, monastery etiquette, and other guidelines applicable to your stay. All guests are expected to abide by the Eight Precepts outlined in our Guest Guide.

Contact with “The World”:

In order to safeguard the retreat environment at Birken, guests do not have internet or cell phone access at the monastery at any time. Please finalize your worldly affairs and travel arrangements before arriving. It is expected that you will reside on the monastery property throughout your stay and not leave the premises to make phone calls or run errands, etc. You may provide the monastery’s email address to loved ones back home, for emergencies only: bookings@birken.ca

Helping Out:

It is customary for all guests to help out with light chores around the monastery throughout their stay. During scheduled retreats, Yogi Duties are assigned, and can be found posted in the kitchen.

Transportation:

Please plan to arrive at Birken sometime between 1:00–4:00pm if you are driving to the monastery (or by 1:30pm if requesting a pick-up in Kamloops). PLEASE NOTE: we now require all guests arriving and departing from the Kamloops Airport to take a taxi / shuttle to and from the Birken pick up location (detailed instructions will be provided in your retreat confirmation). There will be only one guest pick-up and drop-off location in Kamloops. Participants needing a ride to Kamloops will depart the monastery after breakfast (about 8:30am). Prior to registration, you must determine how you plan to arrive and depart and include this information on your registration form (please wait to finalize your transportation arrangements until the Birken Office has confirmed your booking). Please visit Getting Here for more details.

Cancellations:

Last-minute cancellations are burdensome to the monastery and prevent other guests from the precious opportunity to visit.  Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your visit. Those who cancel at the last minute or leave the monastery prior to their scheduled departure date, will be subject to restrictions on future visits.

Registration Info:

Registration open April 1-June 30, 2020.

Accepted candidates will be notified by email in early July. All others will be notified that they have been placed on a waitlist. Interested candidates who are unable to attend the retreat this year are invited to come another time for a Personal Retreat. If you have not heard back from the Birken Office by mid-July, please email us at bookings@birken.ca to make sure that we received your form.