Personal Practice Retreat Program
Mountain Cloud Zen Center offers Personal Practice Retreats as an opportunity to step away from ordinary routines and enter more deeply into contemplative practice, Dharma study, and the life of a practicing Zen community. Participants are invited to shape their days around meditation, study, reflection, time on the land, and participation in Mountain Cloud’s ongoing programming.
Program Elements
Duration: 2 (minimum) – 28 (maximum) nights
- Morning Zazen (sitting meditation)
- Daily Samu (work-practice)
- Wednesday & Thursday evening talks
- Weekly one-on-one practice guidance with a Mountain Cloud teacher
The Personal Practice program is largely self-directed, but participants are expected to engage in the above activities during their stay. We’ve created a program ‘container’ centered around the “Three Treasures of Zen”: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha. These activities ensure you will have time for the practice, the teachings, and the community as part of your experience at Mountain Cloud.
Schedule
Accommodations
As part of the Personal Practice Retreat, Mountain Cloud provides participants with on-site accommodation for the duration of their program.
Different styles of lodging are available, described below. All lodging options have 24/7 access to the main building, where we have our Zendo, a Study/Library, restrooms, shower room, laundry, dining room, and kitchen.
Cottage
The Cottage has traditional adobe brick construction and a beautiful ‘Santa Fe’ aesthetic. It features four private rooms, two private but shared bathrooms (each with a shower), a kitchenette, and laundry. Main cooking is done in the main building. There are three smaller rooms with twin beds, and one larger room with a full bed. Each room has a desk, shelves, and fans.
Cabin
There are four standalone cabins with more space and privacy than the Cottage rooms. The Cabins have electricity and heat, but lack plumbing, so all water-related activities are in the main building, a short walk away. The Cabins have a full bed, desk, couch (can be converted into another full bed) and storage, and are air-conditioned in the summer months.
Yurt
The Yurt is a more rustic version of a Cabin. It features the same furnishings, electricity, and a space-heater, but is naturally more connected to the external environment. It’s a lovely place to stay to feel closer to the land and elements.
Camping
Mountain Cloud’s 27-acre property features numerous beautiful locations for camping on the land (BYOG: bring your own gear), including three built-out platforms overlooking the arroyo and sites under both the trees and stars.
Meals
Program participants are self-sufficient for food, and so, are responsible for their own shopping and cooking. Participants may store food in the main building fridges and pantry space, and have full access to our shared kitchen appliances, dishes, and basic cooking supplies (e.g., spices and oils).
Pricing
| Duration | Two Nights | Three Nights | One Week | Two Weeks | Three Weeks | Four Weeks |
| Price | $200 | $260 | $420 | $665 | $840 | $980 |
BYOG campers receive a 50% discount for the first three nights; same program pricing as above for longer stays. Specific pricing for your desired retreat dates will be provided following submission of your form.
Stewardship Roles
The following stewardships are available on an as-needed basis.
Audio-Visual Steward: The AV Steward has the standard program expectations and is responsible for the set-up and operation of Mountain Cloud’s audiovisual equipment for the following activities:
- Daily Zazen
- Weekly Book Group
- Weekly talks (Wednesday and Thursday evening)
- Monthly retreats (i.e., Zazenkai, Weekend Retreats, Sesshin)
- Other events as scheduled (e.g., Sangha meetings, ‘Turtles’ meetings, Aging Buddhas)
Household Steward: The Household Steward has the standard program expectations and is responsible for the following:
- Recognizing household needs and prioritizing activities accordingly (e.g., post-retreat restoration)
- Providing Samu guidance to Program participants
- Preparing lodging for incoming participants
- Identifying supply needs and noting on Shopping List
Land Steward: The Land Steward has the standard program expectations and is responsible for the following:
- Tending to the land 10 hours a week through outdoor samu (five hours built into the schedule in the samu period and five hours on one’s own time)
- Meeting with the co-stewards of our Ecodharma Infrastructure Project to determine project priorities and share progress
For more information and to apply for a Stewardship, please contact grant@mountaincloud.org
Cancellation
- Bookings should be at least one week in advance. Exceptions may be possible, pending availability and team resources.
- Full payment is required to confirm participation. Payment is due at least 30 days before your arrival date, or at time of booking if your arrival is within 30 days.
- In the event of a cancellation within 30 days of arrival, Mountain Cloud will provide a 50% refund.
- Cancellations more than 30 days before arrival can receive a full refund minus a 5% processing fee.
- Program dates can be adjusted at no additional cost (pending availability).
- Our lodging capacity is limited and demand is high, these policies help ensure our team can sustain our program offerings for our Sangha.
Personal Responsibility
Personal Practice participants are primarily self-directed. Participants are responsible for determining their own capacity to participate in meditation, hiking, outdoor activities, and other aspects of the program.
Participants understand that Mountain Cloud is a contemplative practice center and does not provide medical care, psychotherapy, crisis services, or continuous supervision as part of the Personal Practice Retreat program.
