August 31, 2021

Funding for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and 18-32 Year Olds for Longer-Term Practice in 2024

Thanks to generous donations, funding is again available to support a number of experienced Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) meditators, and young adults (18-32 year olds) who wish to undertake longer-term practice at IMS in 2024. This is in addition to our ongoing program of financial assistance, which annually supports about a third of our retreatants.

For experienced BIPOC meditators who are unable to afford IMS’s usual fees, we are offering a special rate to participate in Part 1 or Part 2 of the 2024 Three-Month Retreat.  A reduced rate is also available for a month or more of personal retreat next year at our Forest Refuge.

For young adults (18-32 year olds) who are unable to afford IMS’s usual fees, we are offering a similar reduced rate to participate in Part 1 or Part 2 of the 2024 Three-Month Retreat.

Fees are on a You Choose basis. This means you can establish the rate you are able to pay, at or above $20 per night. (If paying more than $20 per night is possible, it will allow additional yogis to receive support.)

Prior retreat experience is required. For Part 1 and Part 2 of the Three-Month Retreat, the prerequisite is three silent retreats of a week or more with recognized insight meditation teachers. One of the three qualifying retreats can be an online retreat of 7 days or longer with recognized insight meditation teachers.

At the Forest Refuge, it’s recommended that applicants have participated in at least one six-week structured and teacher-led insight meditation retreat, or six similar one-week retreats.

Since our funds are limited, we will be awarding spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage those interested to apply as soon as possible. Here’s what to do:

For Part 1 or Part 2 of the Three-Month Retreat, contact our Registration department to request the You Choose rate. A link will then be sent to you to an online registration form that will include questions regarding your application for this fee, as well as other questions related to this particular retreat. Please note that a deposit of $150 will be necessary to secure a space.

For the Forest Refuge, email fr@dharma.org to indicate interest in applying, as BIPOC, for a period of retreat during 2024 at the You Choose rate.