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WELCOME!
We look forward to sharing in the teachings that Ven. Kilung Rinpoche will be presenting over the course of this retreat. Below are a few guidelines and reminders. Please address any questions you may have to the following retreat staff members: Ilona Anderson or Susan Ryan regarding scheduling and rota assignments; Sally Barney or Marguerite Prentice regarding housing and finance; Frank Ryan regarding logistics and the meditation hall; and Kate Lila Wheeler in reference to interviews with Ven. Kilung Rinpoche and any aspect of Kilung Rinpoche's household.
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ARRIVAL: The Abbey will be available for us to set up starting at noon on Thursday, May 9. Please, if you can come then to help set up, we would appreciate this very much. It’s a lot of work, too much unless we have support from retreatants. Registration will begin at 4:00.
Glastonbury Abbey is at 16 Hull Street, Hingham, MA. Directions can be found at: www.glastonburyabbey.org
PARKING: There is parking near Stonecrest. In the lot by the Conference Center, please park as close to the Conference Center as possible, leaving open parking on the left-hand side which serves the Main House and Administrative Offices.
ITEMS TO BRING: Kata offering scarf if you have one, but we have extras to share. Riwo Sangchöd and Vajrakilaya booklet if you have them. But if you don’t, or you forget, please don’t worry, we will provide all booklets needed.
Chairs are offered so if you use a chair for sitting meditation, bring any additional foot support cushions, etc. The floor is carpeted so if you sit on the floor, bring zabuton or mat, plus zafu, gomden, etc.
Water bottle, coffee/tea bottle, notebook, pen, any personal medications, etc.
HOW SOMEONE CAN REACH YOU IN AN EMERGENCY: Retreat staff will check a cell phone several times a day to receive emergency messages for any participants. The number is 617-872-7476.
GLASTONBURY ABBEY IS SMOKE-FREE: Please do not use candles, incense or matches.
MEALS: Breakfast for residential attendees will be in Stonecrest if you are staying there or in the Guest House for those staying there. Please wash your own dishes and put them in the dishwasher after you eat. There is someone assigned to putting away food at Stonecrest; individuals in the Guest House are responsible to work out among themselves how to care for dishes and general clean up.
Lunch and dinner for everyone will be served in the Conference Center. Listen for any announcements about how to do lunch or dinner set-up and cleanup.
The Abbey does not permit cooking in Stonecrest or the Conference Center.
TEA: Tea is available for everyone at all times in the Conference Center Tea Station. Please consider labeling your mug with masking tape to rinse and reuse it. Let’s do our best to keep the tea area neat.
ATMOSPHERE - SILENCE
The retreat seeks to create a space of refuge, non-distraction, and reflection on the precious teachings being offered. To support this, silence will be maintained throughout the retreat except for interviews and as suggested by Kilung Rinpoche.
You are most welcome to abandon all electronic device use, reading, and writing during this retreat period. Alternatively, please do not use cell phones or devices that have the potential to disturb others in your room, near the meditation hall, or near other people.
MESSAGE BOARD: There is a message board in the Conference Center. We’ll post any needed information there. If you have a message for the retreat managers that is not time sensitive, please leave a note on the bulletin board. Otherwise, please approach Ilona or Susan.
SCHEDULE: The schedule will vary each day due to the Abbey’s meal schedule, so please check the bulletin board for the posted schedule and listen for announcements about any differences from day to day. The location of Riwo Sangchod practice (held outdoors in the morning) will also be announced and posted.
GROUP INTERVIEWS: Interview groups are posted on the bulletin board. Please be sure to check for the day and time of your group interview.
MEDITATION ROOM: The meditation room is available for individual use when meals/group sessions are not being held.
REST AREA: The large room downstairs in the Conference Center can be used for resting or doing yoga during the day.
WORK PERIOD: Please help us keep a clean environment by cleaning up after yourself as much as possible. In addition, some cleaning jobs have been assigned at work periods, which hopefully will not be too time-consuming. If you have any questions about your work assignment, please see Ilona Anderson or Susan Ryan. If you have any physical condition or reason you cannot complete your job on a particular day, please let either Ilona or Susan know.
RECORDING: The retreat staff will make sure that the teachings are recorded as directed by Kilung Rinpoche. Please do not record the teachings at this retreat on any electronic device.
DANA (OFFERING TO KILUNG RINPOCHE): In keeping with the Buddhist teaching of Dana, there will be an opportunity to make a voluntary offering to Kilung Rinpoche at the end of the retreat. Please consider including a generous gift for him in your plans. Dana from attendees will be the main offering that Rinpoche will receive from this teaching. (The fees from participants cover the basic material expenses of running the retreat.) Checks can be made out to him as Tsultrim Getse. Donations to Rinpoche are not tax deductible.
DEPARTURE: Departure will be after lunch on Monday, May 13th. Exact departure details will be posted on the last day. We will coordinate rides needed prior to departure. We would also like to request that as many people as possible stay a little while after Monday’s teachings have concluded to help with take down.
Please recall that Kilung Rinpoche has requested that participants attend the entire retreat. If an emergency arises and you must leave, please notify Ilona or Susan.
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