Ati Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center

We are delighted to welcome everyone to the Padmasambhava Peace Institute for this event. Please take the time to read through the following information before arriving for the retreat. If you have any questions not answered below, call us on (707) 632 5629 or email atiling@hotmail.com and we will do our best to help you.

The event will begin at 9:30 a.m., Monday. Please be seated and settled in the shrine room by 9:15.

WARNING -- Mapquest/Yahoo etc directions are NOT helpful in reaching PPI safely and easily!

Retreatants are kindly requested to car-pool, to minimize traffic on the winding, narrow roads, and to facilitate parking at PPI. If you would like to car-pool and are coming from Sonoma/Marin county or the Bay Area, please email us at atiling@hotmail.com, whether you are looking for a ride, or have a space to offer.

Driving times are about one hour and 15 minutes from Santa Rosa, and two-and-a-half hours to three hours from San Francisco. If you need directions along the way, most locals know PPI as ‘Black Mountain’. Note that mobile phones tend not to work for the last 30 minutes or so of the drive up. Gas stations can be found in Santa Rosa, Guerneville and Jenner, but not Cazadero.

Directions: From Hwy 101 north of Santa Rosa, take the River Road / Mark West Springs exit. Go west on River Road. At the east end of Guerneville, River Road joins Hwy 116. Continue on Hwy 116 through Guerneville, Monte Rio and Duncan’s Mill. 116 dead ends into Hwy 1. Turn right towards Jenner. Follow Hwy 1 north a few miles past Jenner. You will be climbing a windy grade. At the crest of the grade you will cross a cattle guard and turn right onto Meyers Grade. In about 4 miles you ill be going downhill through dense forest cover. Slow down to take a hard right-hand turn onto Fort Ross Road, where the forest cover ends. Keep going 4 more miles through woods and uphill until you reach an open stretch with a mail box on the left and by the driveway on the right, prayer flags flying over a long concrete barrier. The driveway has a large sign saying 'Padmasambhava Peace Institute' and 'Black Mountain Camp' as well as 'Fort Ross Fire Dept'. Turn right into this driveway. Follow the road for 1.5 miles until you reach the registration area.

Please drive slowly on and around the property as there are many wild animals who cross the roads freely and unsuspectingly, and in the camp itself we have young children. Speeds of 20mph on the access road and 5mph at the camp are advised. Thank you for your co-operation.

Parking areas are at most 10 minutes walk from the main buildings, but a shuttle vehicle will also be available to take you and your belongings to your accommodations.

Be sure to keep the windows of your car closed, or nearly closed, as PPI’s racoons are enthusiastic foragers.

PPI/Ati Ling staff and volunteers will be wearing neck tags for easy identification. Please speak to a member of staff if you have any questions or concerns.

On-site registration is required on arrival for ALL participants. Please ensure that you allow enough time to drive to PPI, register and settle in BEFORE the event starts.

All visitors to PPI are asked to read and sign a Liability Release Statement, which is attached here or can be downloaded from www.padmapeace.org/rentalagreements.php. Please bring your signed form to PPI.

Be ready to stop your car as you approach the registration area. Give your name and signed Liability Release form to the registration staff and put on the color-coded bracelet you are given - please keep the bracelet on for the duration of the event. You will then be directed to designated parking areas.

Please note that because we are located at 1200 feet in the coastal hills, temperatures at PPI can drop considerably at night, even in the summer when the daytime temperatures are high. Be sure to bring enough bedding if you easily get cold.

Manzanita Rooms (dormitories) – a bed with bottom sheet for protection is provided. Please bring your own pillow, sheets/sleeping bag and towel.

Indoor camping – you will be given a space in a comfortable, carpeted room. Please bring a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, pillow and towel.

Outdoor camping – In addition to what’s needed for indoor camping, please bring a tent! If you are a solo camper, please bring the smallest tent you have. Note that campers must use the indoor bathroom/toilet facilities or portable toilets only – please don’t turn any other area into your personal outdoor toilet.

Cushion/s for the shrine-room. Chairs are available for those unable to sit on the floor.
Texts -- for those who have the empowerments, please bring texts for daily puja (Wrathful Guru, Red Tara, Riwo Sangchod, Essence of Ongoing Yoga, Chod, Vajrakilaya, Protectors) long-life prayers and Galaxy of Heartdrops. Copies of many texts, photos, thangkas and related books are available for sale at the Lotus Light store at PPI.
Any medication or toiletries you will need
Flashlight
Ear-plugs if you are disturbed by snoring, nasal strips if you're a snorer!
Warm- and cool-weather comfortable clothing (layers work best)
Shower slippers
Snacks if you are arriving before Sunday evening

If you are bringing valuable personal items, note that none of the rooms will be lockable. Please keep your valuables with you if necessary, as PPI cannot accept responsibility for any items that may be lost.

All meals at PPI are vegetarian, and we use dairy products, legumes, gluten and grains for sources of protein. Because of the size of this event we regret that we will be unable to accommodate any individual dietary restrictions or requirements. No refrigeration or cooking space is available for individual retreatants’ use; however a table is set aside in the dining hall for your ready-to-eat food items, boxed/bagged and clearly labeled.

Snacks and food are NOT allowed in the dormitories or private rooms at any time. Please do not keep food in your bag. Store only in the dining hall or your car.

If you are arriving before Monday morning, please note the first meal served will be breakfast on Monday – you will need to eat outside PPI or bring your own snacks if you arrive earlier on Sunday. Guerneville has supermarkets and good places to eat.

To facilitate the smooth running of this event, you may be asked to help with a task such as wiping down dining-tables, sweeping, cleaning sink areas etc. These assignments will be given when you arrive and register, or in some cases the next day. Any work done on such a retreat is part of our offering to our lamas and the Three Jewels; please help make this event a success by showing up for your assignment on time and completing it properly. If physical or other limitations affect your ability to do your assigned task, please don’t hesitate to speak to a member of staff to make other arrangements.

The teaching schedule will be as determined by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. The teachings will take place in the large redwood-and-steel building that was formerly the work-shop. The floor will be carpeted in part, but if you plan to sit on the floor, you should bring your own cushion and possibly a small rug or mat. The puja that is done daily at PPI will take place in this shrine-room, probably early morning, and all are welcome to attend, regardless of whether they are familiar with the practices or not.

Children are always welcome at PPI, but we ask that parents who bring their children take full responsibility for their welfare. Children must have adult supervision at all times. They are welcome to sit, play or move around in the shrine room as long as parents ensure that disturbance to others is kept to a minimum. If your child becomes very disruptive, please take care of him or her outside of the shrine room. We ask that other retreatants support and enjoy the participation of children in the event by practicing patience and understanding!

PPI is located in an area of high fire risk, whatever the current weather conditions, and we ask for everyone’s assistance in keeping the land safe. Fires, candles, and incense are never permitted except under the clear direction of PPI staff. Smoking is strictly forbidden at all times.

The property is home to many species of wildlife, and we respect their right to a safe and happy existence. At the same time we request visitors take responsibility for avoiding unwanted encounters with creatures such as rattlesnakes. Please stick to marked trails and avoid disturbing areas that may be an animal’s habitat. If you see snakes in the vicinity of the buildings, please tell a member of staff. Ticks and poison oak may be encountered in areas of longer grass and under trees.

There are several sections of the buildings which contain dangerous machinery or equipment – please ensure that you and any children you are supervising observe all ‘Keep out’ signs.

The use of tobacco products and recreational drugs is not permitted at any time. Also, please do not bring meat or alcoholic drinks onto the property.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
There is minimal cell-phone reception at and around PPI. Our telephone number (707) 632 5629 can be given to friends and relatives as an emergency contact. For outgoing calls, the office phone is for emergencies only. For your personal calls on a cell-phone please drive up the hill to the junction with Fort Ross Road or – closer by -- walk to the top of the knoll above the water-tanks (10 mins).

The store stocks practice items, sadhanas, photos, books (including DK Rinpoche’s “What Makes You Not A Buddhist”), gifts, cards, CDs, thangkas and other art work, a selection of clothing including chubas, snacks, basic toiletries and items such as flashlights. We accept cash, checks and credit cards.

Traditionally, an offering is made to the lama after teachings or empowerments, whether in the form of money, gold, a katag or simply flowers. Tibetan offering scarves (katags) can be purchased at the Lotus Light store, and envelopes for monetary offerings will be provided. Please bring enough cash in the denominations you need, as the store will not be able to provide change.

Please contact a member of staff promptly in the event of any medical or other emergency. The main office is in the building on the right-hand side as you enter the property, and is clearly marked. Someone can help you call for assistance as necessary. Various basic First Aid supplies are kept on the property; however, it is at the individual’s discretion whether or not these are used. PPI accepts no liability for a decision to use or not use medications/treatments, and the consequences thereof.

If you would like to stay on at the end of the event to help clear up, please see a member of staff as soon as possible. Work includes cleaning up the kitchen and dining room, bathrooms and bedrooms; doing laundry; tidying up the shrine-room etc etc. Thank you very much for your time and support!

The gift of dharma is one of the most precious offerings anyone can make, and is a source of great merit and joy. If you would like to sponsor partial or full attendance for someone in financial difficulty, please call 707 632 5629 to discuss how you could arrange such an offering.

Tibetan Buddhist Center

INFORMATION FOR RETREATANTS

TEACHINGS WITH DZONGSAR KHYENTSE RINPOCHE

AUG 13 – 15 2007, PPI