Retreat organization

The three-year retreat will start in 2010, after the completion of the first round of DMU tantric teachings. For those who are unable to commit to a three-year retreat, shorter retreats can be for 3-6 months or more. People will be expected to build their own cabins, and it will be possible to time-share units if people want to do a series of short retreats. Geshe Michael and Christie have agreed to teach and lead shorter retreats within the 3-year retreat, also possibly to teach periodically, as they did during their previous 3-year retreat.

Retreatants

We will screen applicants from formal requests that are submitted to the retreat director. Application forms are available here, and include such things as previous study and retreat experience, financial plans for building and retreat supplies, emergency contact info, and health issues.

Preparation for Retreat

Courses in meditation practices, and also in the actual practice of retreat, are being held at Diamond Mountain during the terms. In addition, we are scheduling classes and short retreats between terms to help people get started with the logistics of retreat. There is a retreat manual in the works, drawing on the experiences of the previous three-year retreaters, and much of that material is already available as readings for the retreat course that was held in winter of 2005. If you are interested in inviting a Diamond Mountain teacher to come and teach, please contact <teachers@dmes.org>.

Finances

The previous 3-year retreat cost approximately $6,000 per year per person, and potential retreaters will need to start saving as soon as possible. We will work out a method to ensure that they have it so that nobody gets caught short at the end. In addition we will try to work out a system for sponsorships for people who don’t have money, but please don't count on that, as we have no way of supporting everyone who will want to participate. We are looking for a fundraiser to help find support for water supplies, a teaching temple, site development, and other common needs.

Sites

Sites will go from the 2-Boots gate (near the back entrance to Fort Bowie), and up to the ridge behind the lama house, also maybe in the back part of the property. Shorter retreats will be held closer to the gate and to the caretakers’ house. If you want to explore and find a site for yourself, please be very conscious of the fragile environment and stay on paths if possible. There are a lot of nice paths that the animals have made--you just have to look for them. Also be aware that our property does not include a lot of the nice places you might find. We are currently assessing the entire area for usability, and that report should be available soon. Sites will be designated on a first-come, first-served basis, but people will have to show that they have the means to build in order to be considered. There will be a lottery for cases where several people want the same site.

Building

Logistics for how to build, what to build (minimum criteria, suggestions for building techniques, etc.) are currently being developed. We are attempting to define the range of cost of several different kinds of retreat houses, in order to let people know as soon as possible. Cottages will need to be built in a timely manner, not more than a year after the permit is applied for. People will be expected to have half the cost in hand before building, and participants may be asked to contribute a third of the cost of the house to pay for infrastructure and land payment. At the same time, we will make every effort to accomodate those who don't have the financial means to build or to stay in retreat, by setting up a retreat scholarship fund.

For more info on building click here

Support and Caretaking

Caretaking provided for retreaters will consist of purchase and delivery of food (groceries), water and other necessities, protecting the retreat area, emergency maintenance of retreat cabins, bookkeeping and accounting, helping retreaters get started, scheduling short-term retreats, and handling emergencies. Retreaters will cook for themselves. In addition to caretaking support, we hope to set up a system for counseling for retreaters, which will consist of lamas who come in, or written advice, etc.

Water

Each cabin will have some kind of water storage system, and water will be provided from our well and springs. We anticipate that well water consumption will probably have to be limited to five gallons per day per person. This is plenty if you are careful not to waste. In addition to that, each cabin will have a system for cachement of rainwater. There is concern that that water might not be good for drinking, but it will be possible to use it for washing. For more information on cachement, click: here.

Power

Most of the sites will be off-the-grid, and also inaccessible by road, and so we will be encouraging use of alternative forms of power for heating, cooking, and lighting. See the section on retreat homes for lots of ideas on how to accomplish that. More information is available here.

Infrastructure

Diamond Mountain is planning to provide roads and paths, water lines, wells, caretaking facilities, facilities for retreaters to assemble for teachings and practice, vehicles and handcarts for transportation of supplies, etc. No cars will be allowed past the caretakers’ house, and we are devising systems to carry supplies further, up to the highest retreat cabins. We will be actively fundraising for all of this, and welcome suggestions.

Project management

We will be working out a timeline for all these considerations and will include it here and on the Diamond Mountain website as soon as it is ready.