Insight Meditation Retreat Apr 13-18th 2017 in Kruusila, Finland – Practical Details

How much does it cost? How can I sign up?

The base price of the retreat is 140 euros. The retreat cost covers the traveling expenses of the teachers, the rent of the retreat facility, and the food expenses. The teachers and the organizers do not receive any payment for their services; instead, the retreatants can support the teachers and the organizers by donations at the end of the retreat.

Registration for the retreat has been closed.

The registration fee is 30 € and Nirodha’s account:

Bank name: S-Bank
City where bank located: Helsinki
Swift code: SBANFIHH
Name of bank account holder: Nirodha ry
Address: Vetehisenkuja 3, 00530 Helsinki
Account number: FI83 3636 3010 8888 24
Reference number: 4017044

The rest of the retreat fee (110 €) should be paid by March 13th to the same account with the same reference number. In case of cancellations the registration fee is not refundable. If the cancellation takes place before March 13th, the rest of the retreat fee will be returned. If you pay from an account which is not your own, please write a message to nirodha.retriitit2@gmail.com, telling the name of the person owning the account, the name of the person participating on the retreat, and the date of the transaction.

If you are coming from abroad, please note that we are not able to provide any documents for visa applications because of limited resources.

We feel that financial situation should not prevent anybody from participating, so we are willing to offer the retreat for a reduced price, if needed. If the base price is too high for you, please contact us at nirodha.retriitit2@gmail.com and let us know how much you are able to pay. If you would like to support those in dire financial situation, you can pay more than the base price.

Other practicalities

The retreat starts on Thursday April 13th. It is possible to arrive at Friendship Inn from 4 PM onwards. Dinner will be available from 5 PM and the program starts at 7 PM. The retreat ends on Tuesday April 18th at 3 PM at the latest. The retreat must be attended in full. We will send more information about how to get to the retreat place approximately one week before the retreat. There will be a ride-sharing organized for those who need it.

In Friendship Inn there are places for 40 yogis. The accommodation is usually in rooms of 2­-4 people. The rooms will be assigned to yogis in the order of arrival. In Friendship Inn there may be cats and/or dogs, which do not have access to the meditation hall or bedrooms, but might be a problem if you suffer from severe allergy.

During the retreat we offer three simple vegetarian meals a day: breakfast, lunch and a light dinner. During breaks there will be tea and instant coffee available. Please let us know about your food allergies in the registration form.

A typical day on the retreat includes 45-minute periods of sitting and walking meditation, as well as a 1­-hour work period, during which the yogis have different tasks such as cleaning the house, chopping vegetables, etc. During breaks and some walking meditation periods it may be possible to do your own yoga or stretching, or go for a walk. Please bring your own yoga mat, if you need one.

The retreat is a drug-­free space, and smoking is possible only in a special area assigned for it.

The retreat is held in noble silence, which is an important support for the practice. This means we do not talk with each other, read, write, or use mobile phones. On the retreat you will only talk with the teachers. In cases of emergency during the retreat, the people close to you are advised to contact Veikko Hari (+358 404 144 123).

Please bring your own bed­linen or a sleeping bag, unless you travel from abroad and bringing these is difficult for you. Also bring your own towel and the medications you may need. There are several buildings in the retreat area, so it might be a good idea to bring shoes that are easy to put on and take off. You might also want to consider bringing woollen socks or indoor slippers. During the retreat it will not be possible to go buy anything you might have forgotten, so please make sure that you have everything you need with you when you arrive.

In sitting meditation, it will be possible to use either a chair or on a cushion on the floor. There is one set of cushions (zafu and zabuton) for each participant as well as quite a few meditation benches. If you need extra cushions, e.g. to support your knees or hands during meditation, please bring these with you. If you get easily cold during meditation, it may be a good idea to bring your own blanket or shawl.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at nirodha.retriitit2@gmail.com.

May you have a fruitful retreat!
Veikko Hari (+358 404 144 123)
Markku Ilo (+358 40 413 6833)