Retreat Information

INFORMATION

We are pleased 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, don’t hesitate to call us on (707) 632 5629 or email info@padmapeace.org

Registration and Payment

Registration is prepaid -- places are only confirmed on receipt of payment. To pay by credit card, please call 415 663 9421. Please do NOT send any credit card details via email. Note that fees will increase about ten days before the event.

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 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.

Sponsorship

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.

Driving to PPI

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’. 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.

Recommended route: For a beautiful coastal drive, take Highway 1. From Guerneville, head west on Highway 116 to Jenner. From Sebastopol, either:

1) head west on Bodega Highway (mostly coast), or

2) take 116 through Forestville and Duncan's Mills (coastal/inland)

then head north on Highway 1 through Jenner. A few miles past Jenner, after a cattle-guard, turn right onto Meyers Grade Road. Follow Meyers Grade for about 4 miles then turn right again onto Fort Ross Road (a hairpin turn that is not clearly signposted!). Keep going about 4 more miles on this road through woods and uphill until you reach an open stretch with a mail box on the left marked PPI and prayer flags on the right flying over a long concrete barrier. The entrance has a large sign saying 'Padmasambhava Peace Institute' and 'Black Mountain Camp' as well as 'Fort Ross Fire Dept'. Follow the road for about 1.5 miles until you reach a cluster of buildings -- the office is the first long building on the right.

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 service at $90 for a comfortable minivan. (Taxis from the Day's Inn to PPI cost around $120-$130; call 707 526 4888 or 707 544 4444). It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Santa Rosa to PPI. Plese call or email us at least 5 days 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. Alternatively, bedding plus towel is available for $15 for the event.

Private rooms in the main (lama) house may be available -- please check.

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 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 retreat by practising patience and understanding!

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 tobacco products and recreational drugs is not permitted at any time. Also, please do not bring meat or alcoholic 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.

People with disabilities

Several areas of the camp, but not all, are wheelchair-accessible, and we are happy to make whatever arrangements are necessary for your comfort in the shrine room, living areas and when moving around the property. Sometimes we are also able to offer passenger and wheelchair transportation to and from Santa Rosa or further, and physical assistance on site, as necessary. Please contact us in advance to discuss your requirements.

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, please bring texts for daily puja (Red Tara, Riwo Sangchod, Essence of Ongoing Yoga, concise Chod) 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

Sleeping bag/bedding, blanket, pillow, towels, if staying in the dorms and not paying for bedding

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)

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

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.

While we are able to cater to certain food allergies, please note that we need ample advance notice of these. Whenever possible and with adequate notice, we are happy to offer nourishing and tasty alternatives to the main dish each meal-time. We also always offer a range of fresh fruits, organic whole-grain breads, and stock both dairy and soya milks, as well as vegan 'butter'. However, if you require other specialty breads, desserts (eg wheat-free cookies) or drinks (eg rice or nut milks), please be sure to bring your own supplies, since in order to keep our costs competitive, we cannot guarantee that we will provide all such items.

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.

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Shrine room and library are available for silent personal sitting or study outside of session hours.

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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 18, 2007