Vipassana Metta Spring Retreat April 17-24, 2010
1. CAN I ATTEND LESS THAN THE FULL RETREAT?
Due to the limited space, we are able to accommodate only 44 retreatants. We will give preference to those who are able to attend the full retreat. We hope to minimize all comings and goings during the days of retreat. All retreatants will be expected to arrive and begin the retreat on opening day and are encouraged to plan to attend the entire retreat.

2. WHAT TYPE OF MEDITATION WILL BE TAUGHT?
This retreat will emphasize continuity of refined mindfulness within open awareness.  A variety of skillful means will be offered as optional supports including mental noting and slow movement among others. 

Ongoing guidance for all students will include daily instructions, evening discourses, guided meditations, daily opportunities for questions about practice, and individual meetings with Kamala and Steve, three times a week or as needed.

3. WHAT WILL BE THE RETREAT STRUCTURE AND FORMAT?
 The format of this retreat will consist of an intensive schedule of sitting and walking periods throughout the entire day, an evening talk and meals. During the daily, short period of light housework, yogis will focus their meditation practice on household chores such as chopping vegetables, washing dishes, sweeping, etc. This service is essential to the smooth, efficient and economical running of the retreat with minimal volunteer staff.

NOBLE SILENCE
With the beginning of the retreat, we will all enter noble silence. The teachers request that you plan not to read, write, keep a journal, receive or send mail, use the telephone, or find other activities to keep busy. Please take` care of any personal and business affairs in advance before the retreat begins or arrange for a friend or associate to do so.

The limited staff cannot perform services such as photocopying, mailing, typing, phone calls, catalogue ordering, etc. Quieting the body and the voice helps to quiet the mind and to create a space in which you can observe the mind. Noble silence also fosters a sense of solitude, even in a retreat of 36 people. By leaving at home the many activities of a worldly life, you will be giving yourself the gift of stillness. This will become a warm haven. The silence will be broken near the end of the retreat to allow you time for integration through visiting and personal sharing.
FIVE PRECEPTS
All yogis and teachers at the retreat will live by the five precepts:
  1. To abstain from harming any sentient being; to abstain from killing or intentionally harming any person or creature.
  2. To abstain from taking what is not freely given; to abstain from stealing or borrowing without consent.
  3. To abstain from sexual activity.
  4. To abstain from harming by one's speech; not to lie, gossip or use harsh or hurtful language.
  5. To abstain from using alcohol, drugs and intoxicants.

Living by the precepts establishes an inner and outer environment of safety for all, one that is conductive to the development of mindfullness and wisdom.

DEEPENING PRACTICE
In order to support the deepening of your practice, we ask that you devote yourselves to the methods being taught. Short periods of stretching are fine. With the practice of noble silence throughout the retreat center, yogis are expected to refrain from visual, verbal and written communication with each other. This helps maintain the precious gift of solitude, even while among thirty meditators. You will also be encouraged to take care with the noise of movement, opening and closing doors, mealtimes, and all other general activities.

From many years of experience, both in practice and in teaching, we have found reading, writing, receiving and sending mail, and phone calls to be great hindrances to the continuity of mindfulness necessary for deepening insight. Students are asked not to engage in these activities except in an emergency situation. Please make arrangements, prior to arriving at the retreat, for someone outside the retreat to handle any necessary communications.

4. WHAT WILL THE ROOM FACILITIES BE LIKE?
The retreat will be held at the YMCA Camp Keanae, located near sea level along the coastal road to Hana, midway between the airport in Kahului and the Hawaiian village of Hana on the east shore of Maui. Yogis will be housed in dormitory style rooms. There are two bathhouses which are equipped with toilets, sinks, and 24 hot showers. In addition to being assigned to a bed in a room, many retreatants in the past have brought a tent to enable them to sleep out of doors at times while still retaining their bedspace indoors. Because the weather on Maui is generally mild, bringing a tent has become quite popular.

5. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE ON MAUI IN APRIL?
The venue is located near sea level. Most spring days are warm (70-80s), with evening temperatures in the 70s. Keanae is on the windward side of East Maui and typically experiences breezy trade winds, and partly cloudy conditions with occasional showers, most frequent during the night and early morning hours. To be comfortable you will want summer shorts and tank tops, as well as a long sleeved shirt and pants for night and early mornings. During the day the sun is very bright and you will want sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide brim hat for walking outside. Please bring an umbrella.

6. WHAT KIND OF DIET WILL THE MEALS FOLLOW?
The food served is vegetarian, including dairy and eggs prepared with an eye to good nutrition. Breakfast and lunch are the two main meals each day with a light snack in the evening. The kitchen staff will not be able to prepare customized meals nor will yogis be allowed to use the kitchen. For those with special food needs, a simple non-animal protein, a non-wheat grain, and a plain vegetable are available for lunch. If you have a medical condition which requires a special diet beyond this, or any other food supplement, please bring along the special items that you need. The staff will not be able to procure any food items at any time for you. Please bring any special supplements which you will require. There is very limited refrigerator storage space for yogi use.

7.  HOW CAN I REGISTER FOR THIS RETREAT?
The retreat cost is $450 which covers food and the cost of the retreat venue.  You may register by contacting us by email or by sending a deposit of $150 or full payment to the address below.  A packet with full information will be mailed to you. 

For more information, or to register for the retreat, please write or email us.

Vipassana Metta Foundation
P.O. Box 1188
Kula HI 96790-1188

(808) 573-3450

metta@maui.net