Price and donations
The base price of the retreat is 145€. This price covers the travel costs of the teachers, the rent of the retreat venue, and food expenses.
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 retriitit@nirodha.fi 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.
According to the Buddhist tradition, the value of the teachings cannot be measured. However, the means by which the teachings continue have always been supported by those who recognize their value. Traditionally in Buddhist societies, the community supported all needs of the teachers. In the West, such support has not been developed, the only monetary compensation teachers receive is that provided by retreatants such as yourselves, at the end of the retreat. Likewise, also the retreat managers offer their services freely. We kindly ask you to bring cash with you for donations for teachers and managers at the end of the retreat.
Registration and cancellations
The retreat is now fully booked.
You can apply for the retreat by filling in the application form and by paying the registration fee. We will confirm your place on the retreat after we have received the form and the payment.
The registration fee is 30€ and is paid to the following account:
Bank name: S-Bank Ltd
Bank address: Fleminginkatu 34, 00510 HELSINKI, Finland
Swift code: SBANFIHH
Name of bank account holder: Nirodha ry
Address of the account holder: Vetehisenkuja 3, 00530 Helsinki
Account number: FI83 3636 3010 8888 24
Type of account: business account
Reference number: 320162 (important to use this when you pay!)
The rest of the retreat fee (115€ in case of the base price) should be paid by February 16th 2016, to the same account with the same reference number. The reserved places which are not paid for by the due date will be given to others on waiting list. If you pay from an account which is not with your own name, please inform us about this to retriitit@nirodha.fi. The information needed is the name of the participant, the name of the account owner, and the date of transaction.
In case you need to cancel the retreat, we kindly ask that you tell us as soon as possible, so we can give your place to the next person in queue. In case of cancellations, the registration fee is not refundable. If the cancellation takes place before February 16th, we will return the rest of the fee. If the cancellation takes place later than this, money will be returned only if we can find another participant to fill in the empty place.
If you are coming from abroad, please note that we are not able to provide any documents for visa applications because of limited resources.
Time of the retreat
The retreat starts on Thursday 24th of March. It is possible to arrive to Friendship Inn from 5 p.m. onwards. Supper will be served 6 p.m. and the program starts at 7.30 p.m. The retreat ends on Tuesday 29th of March at the latest at 3 p.m. The retreat must be attended in full.
The venue
The retreat is held in Friendship Inn, in Kruusila near Salo, about 100 km from Helsinki towards Turku. The address is: Friendship Inn, Kalkkilantie 74, 25110 Kruusila. The closest bus stop is approximately 9 km away in Suomusjärvi.
We will send more information about how to get to the retreat place approximately one week before the retreat. Then we will give more information about recommended bus connections and the driving route. We will also help to coordinate liftshare.
Accommodation, food and daily schedule
In Friendship Inn there are places for 40 yogis. Accommodation is usually in shared rooms of 2-4 people. The rooms will be assigned to yogis in the order in which they arrive. As you fill in the application form, please mention if you have special needs regarding accommodation. 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 supper. At breaks there will be tea and instant coffee on offer. Please do mark any food allergies you have on the registration form.
A typical day on the retreat includes 45 minute periods of sitting and walking meditation, and a 1-hour work period, during which the yogis have different tasks cleaning the house, chopping vegetables for meals, 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.
Silence and no drugs
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 only talk with the teachers.
In cases of emergency during the retreat, the people close to you are advised to contact Anna Backholm (+358 40 536 2946).
Equipment
Please bring your own bed-linen or a sleeping bag, unless you travel from abroad and bringing these is difficult for you. Also bring your own towel, and possible medications you may need. The managers will not be able to bring you items you miss during the retreat.
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, and 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 good to bring your own blanket.
Finally
If you have any questions, you can contact us at retriitit@nirodha.fi. We hope this will be a fruitful and meaningful retreat to everyone!
Warmly,
Tuulikki Hukka (+358-50 432 9241)
Anna Backholm (+358-40-536 2946)