Looking for a long term serious retreat

[jago25_98]

I'd really like to do a serious retreat somewhere. Somewhere high up.

 

Fasting,

Martial arts,

Hiking,

Good diet

 

The lot.

For a month or more. To help develop an ongoing lifestyle.

 

Where can I do that?

 

Alternatively, is there somewhere I can do this and go surfing everyday, perhaps somewhere in Bali?

 

I have a book called `The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity`. This has all the info I really need. And I've intergrated what I can already. But I'd like to go somewhere to do it and make it a habit with company.

 

Perhaps I don't even need a full retreat. Just someone's company and a mountainous environment.

 

When I was 17 I went on a trek in Nepal and got a lot out of that. I could do the same... but I'd be wanting good diet this time etc.

Edited December 28, 2009 by jago25_98

[Trunk]

You've already mentioned a couple of good ideas...

 

The related things I know of are:

Green Gulch Farm - Zen center with an April -> October farm apprenticeship program. I'd bet there are other similar programs if you look around green magazines, websites, or the Intentional Communities website. Variety of communities all over the world at the IC community directory.

[Lozen]

shambhala center in colorado has long-term retreats

 

also vipassana has retreats, if you can stand it

 

some zen master in tucson does retreats at the desert renewal ctr, but it;s a bit catholicy

[jago25_98]

Thanks. All a bit Amercian... slightly pedestrian locations?

 

Thanks for the IC link Trunk. Working at sea that's exactly the sort of thing that would be of benefit to me.

[Mal]

Moved to general discussion for a bit more exposure. You may get some more ideas here.

 

-TTB Mod Squad-

[de_paradise]

Most Bali surf isnt good until April, but after that, go for it. I was just checking tonight online. Im sure you could find a retreat there too, spiritual place.

 

Im thinking about San Fernando la Union in Phillipines, hopefully cheap and cheerful. Smaller and medium waves. No retreats, but thats why I want a quiet room.

 

Was looking at Sri Lanka too...

[voidisyinyang]

Well jago I've looked into this long-term retreat thing. Usually if you want to do say a 3 month retreat you have to build up to it by attending lots of weekend retreats and a week retreat etc. to prove you're up to it. So it's kind of special connection deal. That's in the Zen tradition and also the Dzogchen (sp?) tradition -- but also you'd probably have to pay quite a bit. The same is true with the Muktananda lineage and Yogananda, etc.

 

If you go to Nepal you might be able to stay at a monastery for private long term retreat but it's hard to tell. Usually there's lots of loop holes -- the Tibetan tradition usually requires three years of scholarly study before any long term retreats -- the same in the Theravada monks -- the emphasis is instead on teaching laypersons about the Dharma. You have to find sponsorship to be a monk -- or else pay for your own way.

 

In India you might find some nice ashram in a village or city but still you have to get your visa renewed fairly soon -- I think it's 3 months for the first visit. Then next trip you can stay longer and the third time I think you can get a 10 year visa but you still have to travel out of the country every year or so. You can try to get citizenship but it's difficult.

 

There's a meditation "cave" in New Mexico from a man who practices in India. He stays in the cave in the winter but the rest of the year he lets other people stay there for long-term retreats for FREE. Still you never know what the situation is. http://www.samadhihermitage.org/

 

Also http://www.qigongmaster.com/qingcheng.html this is where Chunyi Lin did his 49 day full-lotus fasting in a cave. So if you practice there seriously you could maybe do a longer retreat.

 

Traditionally Westerners go to Thailand for long term retreat but you have to become a monk and the monasteries are now over-crowded with street thugs, as being a monk is considered better than being unemployed -- even if the person is against religion, etc.

 

Thanks. All a bit Amercian... slightly pedestrian locations?

 

Thanks for the IC link Trunk. Working at sea that's exactly the sort of thing that would be of benefit to me.

[suninmyeyes]

this one is sri lanka.very nice,in mountains and you can do your own practise.i dont know what they say at the site but after a chat with center leader they took me in and im not a budhist.clean ,simple and good local food.

http://www.nilambe.org/,and check the retreat bit in this link

http://www.dhamma.ru/sadhu/modules/mylinks...wcat.php?cid=69

india you can find so many places. good place to start is rishikesh,you just have to look around .in himalayas too .there are even some sadhus that RENT caves .nice cave i saw it,very comfy with floor and small window .not too many insects

this is in europe in case u suddenlly decide to come over here it looks nice ,i think they accept solitary retreteans regardless of faith/practises

http://amidatrust.typepad.com/france/

there is nice one in spain

http://amidatrust.typepad.com/france/

some good western budhist order solitary options too.

in thailand it easy to rent nice and quiet ,decent beach hut and do your practise and surf too.also easy to find once you are there.

have a good one!