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Stable · Joyful: 2023-2024 Rains Retreat
October 20, 2023 – January 15, 2024 PDT
Our sangha of monastics and lay friends share with you the practice of the annual Rains Retreat at Deer Park for a 90 day period.
Peacefully dwelling in the great hidden mountain of Deer Park is a very special time to practice together and to look and learn deeply. During this period, we may have the opportunity for mentoring, taking classes, and listening to Dharma talks. In addition, the daily schedule will include sitting meditation, walking meditation, working meditation, and service meditation.
Participating in the Rains Retreat is contingent on being able to live and practice in harmony with the community. At the end of the first two weeks, each person will be reviewed by the community. In some cases, individuals may be asked to leave and receive a refund.
If you choose to join us, we also have the practice of remaining in the monastery. During opening ceremonies, we will set the boundaries for each hamlet. Meaning, we as participants will remain within these boundaries for the entire 90-days.
The Opening Ceremony for the Rains Retreat will be held during the Sunday, Day of Mindfulness, October 22, 2023. The Closing Ceremony will be held during the Sunday, Day of Mindfulness, January 14, 2024.
Important Dates
- August 30 – For those who identify as women, and will stay in Clarity Hamlet, please submit your application to attend
- October 6 – We ask that all interested parties submit a registration form a minimum of two weeks in advance of the retreat arrival date
- October 20 – Arrival Day, 2pm-4pm
- October 21 – Counting Sticks Ceremony, 7:30pm
- October 22 – Rains Retreat Opening Ceremony
- November 3 – Review of each person attending retreat
- January 15 – Departure Day, 9am
Retreat Cost
| Dorm Room | Tent Camping | |
| Supporter Rate | $13,500 | $9,450 |
| Benefactor Rate | $10,800 | $7,560 |
| BASE RATE | $9,000 | $6,300 |
| * Reduced Rate | $6,750 | $4,725 |
| ** Special Case Rate (18-35) | $4,500 | $3,150 |
You may be eligible for the Hemera Fellowship for partial cost coverage. Please note that Hemera Fellowships only apply to the first 30 days of long retreats, such as the Rains Retreat.
* For Reduced Rate, we require a letter of request to the community prior to approving this rate. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status.
** The Special Case Rate is for those ages 18-35, we require a letter of request prior to approving this rate. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status.
If none of these rates meets your financial situation, please write a letter of request to the community. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status (please include what rate you are able to afford). You may be requested for a virtual interview prior to approval.
760-291-1003
Hi, do you know when the registration link will be working? Thanks so much!
We should have the link working by late afternoon today. We ran into a few last-minute issues and will post soon.
I am trying to register but it is not working (blue stripe that says Register here)
We are still working on preparing the registration and hope to have it posted late afternoon today
Hello again,
Do you have an estimate of when 1-2 week stays registration for the Rains Retreat will open? Thank you. Patricis
Most likely not until the fall sometime.
Thank you for your prompt response.
Dear Brother Joy 🤓 I am interested in attending 12/29/2023-1/15/2024 for Rains Retreat. Please provide update when I am able to register. Lotus for you 🪷 Ngocnhung
This information should be available in the fall.
Thank you for your quick response Brother Joy. I will keep checking the website. Lotus for you 🪷. Ngocnhung
Will there be Days of Mindfulness during the Rains retreat? I will be in California Oct. 21-26 and would like to come for a day.
Yes, we will have days in mindfulness during the rains retreat and our first one should be on October 22.
My husband and I will go to California for a few days, can we have days in mild fulness during the rains retreat for 3 nights? If yes, how to apply?
Yes, we will have some days of mindfulness during the retreat. Typically we open registration on our website 2-weeks before the Sunday Day of Mindfulness.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, my wife and I would like to apply for the Rain Retreat from 23 October to 27 October. How can we register for the retreat? Please advise what to do. Thank you.
Hello Jack, we may not be open for weeklong stays that week because it’s the first week of the Rains Retreat. However, you can contact our office at office@deerparkmonastery.org
Hello Brother Joy. Will there be an opportunity to join the Rains Retreat for a one or two week stay only?
Yes, we will likely have 1 & 2-week stays starting around October 27th. This will be posted on the website (probably in late September or October)
Dear Brother Joy Please let me know if it is possible to register for Rains Retreat 12/29/2023 to 1/15/2024 (Departure Date). Lotus for you 🪷. Ms. Ngocnhung Tran
Those dates may be a little tough, but we do have a retreat scheduled for late December that will run through the beginning of January. Check the website and be sure to be ready when the registration opens because this will fill up. It’s the holiday retreat.
Dear Brother Joy I am looking forward to view the availability of one or two week stays during Rains Retreat. Lotus for you 🪷. Ms. Ngocnhung Tran
When will you release the 2024 retreat schedule?
Thank you
We hope sometime by the end of October.
Hi Brother Joy. When will the available weeks for women to stay in Clarity Hamlet during the Rains Retreat be posted? I’m needing to arrange those dates with my work schedule. Thank you!
As soon as we know , they will be posted. But you can always email office@deerparkmonastery.org who are the keepers of these dates.
Are tents provided or do you need to bring your own?
Bring your own tent. 😃
Hi Brother Freedom. On which page of this website will I find the available weeks for women to stay in Clarity Hamlet during the Rains Retreat once they are posted? Thank you!
When the dates become available, they will be list on the Seasonal Retreats page.
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Hello,
I wonder how much daily formal meditation is there during the rains retreat? e.g. 45min sitting in morning?
Hello dear Anna,
For more info about our schedule, please see our Plan A Visit page here: https://deerparkmonastery.org/plan-a-visit/
– Deer Park Registration Office