Rigdzin Dupa 100,000 Tsog Offerings Retreat

Retreat Information

September 9th - 11th 2005 at the Padmasambhava Peace Institute

INFORMATION

We are pleased to welcome everyone to the Padmasambhava Peace Institute for this annual retreat led by Jigme Tromge Rinpoche. Please take the time to read through the following information before arriving for the retreat. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us on (707) 824 0291 or email atiling@hotmail.com.

Empowerment

You need to have the Rigdzin Dupa empowerment to attend all or any part of this retreat. The empowerment will be given at 9.30am on Friday 9th September. Please be sure to allow enough time to travel to PPI and arrive latest by 9am.

Registration and Payment

Payment is by cash, check or credit card, and can be made in advance or on the day. Checks should be made payable to 'Ati Ling'. To pay by credit card, please call the above number with your name, saying you would like to pay by card, and one of our staff will call you back. Please do NOT send any credit card details via email.

On-site registration is again required on arrival for ALL participants. Please ensure that you allow enough time to drive to PPI, register and settle in BEFORE the retreat starts at 9.30am on Friday 9th September. At registration you will receive your receipt for payment and be asked to read and sign a liability release form.

The registration office is in the right-hand building as you enter the main camp area.

Driving to PPI

Note that driving times are about one hour 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 Preserve’ or ‘the old prison’. 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 and Guerneville, but not Cazadero.

Most direct route: Take Highway 101 to the River Road/Mark West Springs Road exit (just north of the city of Santa Rosa). Go west on River Road to Guerneville. In Guerneville, River Road turns into Highway 116 West. Continue on Highway 116 West to Cazadero Highway. Look for the sign which will point right and say “Cazadero”. (Note: you will pass Old Cazadero Road. It is not recommended). Turn right on Cazadero Highway to the town of Cazadero. Cazadero Highway becomes Fort Ross Road as you leave the town of Cazadero. Stay to the left when you get to the stop sign at the end of town. You will be going uphill. Approximately 7-8 miles of winding road from the stop sign is the entrance to Black Mountain Preserve. There is a large wooden sign on the left, and a mailbox with “PPI’ on the right. It is a sharp left turn in to the property. Prayer flags are flying. The address is 23125 Fort Ross Road, Cazadero, CA 95421. Stay on this winding road all the way down to an open gate which has prayer flags – drive through this and continue on until you reach the main buildings.

Scenic route: Mapquest suggests the route along the coast through the town of Jenner, which takes about 15 minutes longer but has beautiful views of the coast.

Caution: We strongly urge everyone to 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.

Public Transport: For those coming from further afield, an airport bus operates every 90 minutes out of San Francisco and Oakland airports to Santa Rosa. Click here for details: http://www.airportexpressinc.com From the Santa Rosa Day's Inn bus stop, we can provide a shuttle bus service at around $15-$20 per person. It then takes about one hour to drive up to PPI. Plese call or email us in advance to arrange.

Accommodation

Accommodation at PPI is in clean, comfortable, heated dormitories with single and double beds. A small number of semi-private shared rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis according to payment received. Screens are provided for some areas also. Toilets and showers are located down the corridor from the dorms. You need to provide your own bedding (ie sleeping bag and/or blankets, sheets if desired, and a pillow, as well as towels. Please note that temperatures at PPI can drop considerably at night, even in the summer.

Camping is not allowed anywhere on the PPI property or on our neighbors’ property.

If you wish to stay outside PPI overnight, guesthouses and hotels are located in Guerneville and Occidental, 30-40 minutes away, and details of these are available on the Internet.

Child Care

Children are most 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 in the shrine room as long as they sit quietly. This also applies when the shrine room is not occupied, as it is a sacred place of practice. If your child becomes uncomfortable, please take care of him or her outside of the shrine room.

Fire hazard

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.

General safety

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.

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.

Restrictions

The use of cigarettes and recreational drugs is not permitted at any time. Also, please do not bring meat oralcoholic drinks onto the property.

Telecommunications

Cell phones do not work at PPI or in much of the surrounding area. A calling card can be used for making calls on the land-line during office hours if necessary (only during scheduled breaks). Our telephone number (707) 632 5629 can be given to friends and relatives as an emergency contact.

Laundry

Laundry facilities will not be available during this retreat.

Lotus Light Store

The store stocks practice items, sadhanas, photos, books, gifts, cards, CDs, thangkas and other art work, a selection of clothing including chubas, snacks, basic toiletries and items such as flashlights. Opening hours will be posted during the event. We accept cash, checks and credit cards. Due to the limited amount of cash held in the store, however, please ensure you bring enough change for offerings you wish to make during the event.

List of things to bring

CUSHION FOR THE SHRINE ROOM if you think you will need to use more than the single one we can offer you! (Chairs and small tables are available for those unable to sit on the floor)

Texts -- for those who have the empowerments, bring texts for daily puja (Red Tara, Vajrakilaya, Protectors, Riwo Sangchod, Essence of Ongoing Yoga, concise Chod) long-life prayers and Galaxy of Heartdrops. Copies of the Rigdzin Dupa are available for sale at the Lotus Light store at PPI.

Any medication, toiletries or towels you will need

Sleeping bag/bedding, pillow

Flashlight

Ear-plugs if you are disturbed by snoring

Warm- and cool-weather comfortable clothing (layers work best)

Rain gear including suitable shoes for wet weather - Cazadero can get very wet

Hat/sun hat, sun glasses and sun cream

Shower slippers

Food

All meals at PPI are vegetarian. Food is prepared and eaten in the large kitchen/dining area in the center of PPI. Snacks and food are NOT allowed in the dormitories at any time. Please note that there is no refrigeration space available for individual retreatants’ use; however a table is set aside in the dining hall for people to leave their food items, boxed/bagged and clearly labeled.

Food/medical issues

If you have a serious food allergy or medical condition we should know about, please email atiling@hotmail.com as soon as possible.

Offerings

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 only has a very limited amount of change it can provide for offerings.

Daily schedule

Friday 9th September

8am Registration opens.

9.30am Empowerment begins

Lunch

Retreat continues in the afternoon and evening according to times given by the vajra master.

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September

6.30am Daily puja (open to all even if you do not have the empowerments)

9am Retreat begins

Retreat ends Sunday afternoon around 5pm.

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If this information does not answer all your questions, please contact us as soon as possible by phone or email as detailed above, and we will do our best to help. We look forward to welcoming you to PPI for this auspicious occasion!

This page was last updated on September 8, 2005