Daily Schedule
During your stay at Deer Park Monastery, we encourage you to practice and observe the monastic way of life. Since the teachings emphasize practicing with the Sangha in order to enjoy its collective energy, retreatants are encouraged to participate fully in all scheduled activities. Retreatants are invited to help in communal activities, such as preparing meals, general cleaning, washing dishes etc. as a way of continuing mindfulness practice while performing everyday tasks.
The daily sample schedule is as follows:
- 5:00 a.m. Wake up - Temple Bell in 30 minutes
- 5:45 Sitting Meditation - Walking Meditation
- 7:30 Breakfast
- 9:00 Working Meditation or Dharma Talk
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
- 2:00 Rest / Personal Time
- 3:00 Classes / Meeting
- 4:30 Sports and Exercises
- 5:30 Light Dinner
- 7:00 Sitting Meditation and Chanting
- 9:30 Noble Silence
- 10:30 Light Out and Bed Time
Since
the teachings emphasize practicing with the Sangha in order to enjoy
its collective energy, retreatants are encouraged to participate fully
in all scheduled activities. We also ask our guests to observe the Five
Wonderful Mindfulness Trainings, and thus to refrain from smoking and
drinking alcohol. Please do not bring non-vegetarian foods or alcoholic
beverages to our practice center.
One day per week at Deer Park is
Lazy Day, when there are no scheduled activities and the bells are only
invited to announce meal times. Lazy Day is an opportunity to let the
day unfold in a natural way while still maintaining mindfulness. People
can enjoy making a picnic with friends, taking a walk, reading a book,
or just relaxing and enjoying the day in mindfulness within the retreat
boundaries. Meditation halls may be used for purposes other than
meditation only with specific permission .
