Work Retreat

Upcoming Openings

Feel free to call John Holland at 978-355-4378 ext. 175 for availability and any questions regarding this program.

What is a Work Retreat?

Do you ever ask yourself: "How do I apply mindfulness when I’m not meditating but doing ordinary things?" If so, the IMS work retreat program may be just right for you.

Work retreats are designed to make the connection between sitting and walking meditation and what we engage in outside of the meditation hall. A work retreat supports the cultivation of mindfulness, wisdom and compassion through both formal practice and five hours of silent work-as-practice activities each day. Participants are encouraged to relate with the same degree of openness to any unfolding events, relationships, thoughts and feelings that arise during work periods as during sitting and walking meditation. The deepening of this presence of mind throughout all the activities of daily life is no less important than the process undertaken in formal practice.

There is much to be done here at IMS. We depend on work retreatants to help us operate, particularly in our Housekeeping and Kitchen departments.

Participation is limited to experienced meditators and requires a high degree of self-reliance. Since the work can be physically demanding, a moderate level of physical fitness is required.

In undertaking a work retreat you are offering IMS a form of dana (heartfelt giving) through your work efforts. The program costs you only $35, which represents a non-refundable processing fee. This is true whether you stay one week or longer.

Precepts

While at IMS, all work retreatants observe five ethical guidelines or training precepts. This is essential for creating a safe retreat environment that supports the cultivation of awareness.

We ask that you refrain from:

• harming living beings
• taking what is not freely given
• sexual activity
• lying, gossiping or using harsh language
• the use of intoxicants

Silence

Noble silence plays a vital role in the development of mindfulness. Work retreatants maintain silence except for necessary communications with a work supervisor and course teachers. They do not otherwise interact with staff members or other course participants.

Program Availability

We accept two work retreatants at a time, scheduled to correspond with the majority of Retreat Center courses. Work retreats for weekend courses, however, are mostly not available. If work retreatants can start a day or two before a course begins, that is ideal. Arrival or departure during retreats is not possible.

Our Registration department arranges all Retreat Center work retreats and participation is on an application basis ~ please see below.

Schedule

Work retreatants maintain a full daily practice schedule. Work times can often be adjusted to suit either your individual needs or the IMS department.

A typical daily schedule might look like this:

5:00 am - Wake up
5:30 - 6:30 am - Meditation practice

.... 6:30 am - Breakfast .....

7:30 - 9:15 am - Meditation Practice

9:15 am - 12:00 noon - Work practice

..... 12:00 noon - Lunch .....

2:00 - 3:15 pm - Meditation practice
3:15 - 5:30 pm - Work practice

..... 5:30 pm - Light Dinner .....

6:15 - 7:15 pm - Meditation practice
7:15 - 8:15 pm - Dharma talk or tape
8:15 - 9:30 pm - Meditation practice

Participants can arrange for a more substantial evening meal, if needed, to help support physical work. Anyone here for up to two weeks may take one full day each week without work duties, to take care of personal chores and laundry. Those here for longer periods may take three full retreat days every two weeks, to be scheduled with the work supervisor.

Teacher Guidance

During teacher-led courses, work retreatants join other participants in opportunities to discuss meditation practice with the teachers. In between these retreats, the IMS Resident Teacher may meet with work retreatants, depending on the length of their stay.

Program Rates

Work retreats are offered without a daily fee and require a non-refundable processing fee of just $35. This amount will be deposited or charged only when an application is confirmed. If you cancel your retreat, your fee will support our scholarship funds.

Application Process

Familiarity with meditation practice and the IMS retreat environment is particularly important. Applicants must have sat at least one 7-day IMS retreat; we will occasionally consider anyone who has sat insight meditation retreats elsewhere.

To apply for a work retreat, please complete both an application form and questionnaire.

Work Retreat Application (PDF)

Work Retreat Application (Word)

Work Retreat Questionnaire (PDF)

Work Retreat Questionnaire (Word)

Send your completed forms, together with the $35 processing fee (payable to IMS) to:

IMS Retreat Center
Attn: Work Retreat Program
1230 Pleasant Street
Barre MA 01005

Phone: 978-355-4378 ext. 175

Email: registration@dharma.org

All applications will be acknowledged within two weeks. Please call or email us with any questions.

We look forward to sharing the practice with you in this way. Thank you for your generous offer to serve IMS.