dedicated to a peaceful & just society
grounded in contemplative & spiritual practice
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Midwestern Dhamma dedicated to a peaceful & just society grounded in contemplative & spiritual practice |
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Due to Santikaro's illness and the burden placed on Jo Marie as he recovers, we regretfully cannot accommodate visitors as we would like. This saddens us but such are the causes and conditions. Through June, as treatment wraps up, we will be taken up with the final round of chemo and its immediate consequences. After that, our focus must be on rest and recovery, along with the substantial daily necessities of life at LP. Once Santikaro has recovered some strength, we can begin to receive a limited number of retreatants. For now, we don't know when that will be.
Offering space and support for personal retreat is central to Liberation Park's vision. In fact, our infrastructure is geared more to solo retreats than group retreats (with occasional exceptions). If you would like to attend a group retreat with Santikaro, please go to the retreat page.
If you will be visiting Liberation Park, please download this Orientation Booklet.
We are slowly building infrastructure to support individual study-practice retreats. Currently, our housing is very simple and the amenities are basic. As of Spring 2011 we have well water, an outhouse, two tent cabins (on platforms), a tipi, and simple outdoor cooking facilities. The accommodations are simple, the settings are beautiful. (If roughing it doesn't appeal, please come as a day trip or stay in a nearby B&B or motel.)
We welcome retreatants who are mature enough in their practice to self-supervise and maintain their own schedules. Before arriving, we will negotiate your retreat intentions with our policies and help you come up with a structure or schedule for your retreat. We are flexible about matters of solitude, silence, personal study, and chores. Santikaro will be available for periodic interviews and guidance.
Generally, we initially accept retreatants for any number of days up to two weeks. Longer stays depend on our familiarity with you and your practice, or a review of an initial shorter retreat.
Retreatants do their own cooking on a propane stove at the cook tent, which is near the well and shed with a small refrigerator. We encourage camping retreatants to keep their meals simple and in line with the camp-style accommodations.
There is no specific charge for retreats though Liberation Park subsists on the donations and volunteer labor of all who visit or benefit from the environs. Your contribution is valued.
We currently do not have facilities to host group retreats, except for small, informal tent retreats. When the weather warms up, we will have work weekends.
Please be aware that ticks are present at LP.
If you are interested in a retreat here, please email us with your intentions, something about your Buddhist study-practice background, the sort of retreat you would like to have, and dates. We will respond by email and also schedule a phone conversation.
- Your own food.
- Sheet, pillow case, & towel.
- A sleeping bag or blankets, though we have a few for loan.
- Personal toiletries, including non-toxic/non-insecticide insect repellent. All soaps and shampoos must be non-detergent based as they go directly into the ground water (castille, olive oil, or other natural products are acceptable.)
- Outdoor clothing appropriate for the season, rugged shoes, rain gear, and a water bottle.
- Flashlight, batteries, and alarm clock if needed.
- Drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products
- Companion animals (unless special arrangements are made - under certain special circumstances dogs, horses or other companion animals may accompany their human on retreat)
- Radios (musical instruments can be played with permission at times when they will not disturb others)
We are open to long-term retreatants and potential residents. For both, the starting point is to gain some familiarity with one another. Long stays will depend on a mutual understandings of Buddha-Dhamma, practice, and the lifestyle at Liberation Park. We will ask you to come for a visit or personal retreat as the first step, along with email and phone communications.
