Dharma Centre Frequently Asked Questions
Accommodation
What types of accommodation do you have?
Our buildings are situated on roughly 100 of our 400 acres and consist of private accommodation buildings and public buildings. Rooms are most often provided on a single person basis. Accommodations vary from single retreat cabins to single rooms in a multi-room complex. Most of our accommodations have nearby access to a toilet and shower and are equipped with electricity and baseboard heaters. Some of the more remote retreat cabins have no electricity and use propane or wood stoves for heating. These remote cabins have an outhouse located close by. The rooms are simply furnished with a bed, desk, and shelves or dressers. Our accommodations are simple and situated in a natural forest environment. Please note that none of our rooms have air conditioning or ensuite bathrooms (with the exception of Tara Cabin which is used by our teachers).
Do I get to choose which building or cabin I can stay in?
When you register for a retreat you can state a preference and we will do our best to accommodate your request. However, unless there is a medical condition which requires you to be housed in a particular building, accommodation requests can not always be guaranteed.
How far are the accommodations from the Main House and teaching space (Temple)?
We have 2 retreat cabins that are in close proximity to the main house and dining hall. We also have 5 rooms located on the ground floor of the Temple. The distance from the Main House to Temple is approximately a 5 minute walk. Both options are recommended for those with mobility issues. The temple also has an indoor toilet which can be helpful for some.
Do cabins have running water and electricity?
Our more remote retreat cabins have no electricity and use propane or wood stoves for heating. Some have a small solar panel providing enough electricity for a reading light 2-3 hours each day. The cabins have no running water and have an outhouse located close by.
Do the rooms have private bathrooms?
Most of our accommodations have nearby access to a toilet and shower. However, our more remote retreat cabins have no running water and an outhouse located close by. The only cabin which has an ensuite bathroom is Tara Cabin which is usually reserved for teachers.
Do accommodations have cooking facilities?
Three of our retreat cabins have basic propane powered hot plates. One of our cabins has electrical hot plates and a fridge. Tara Cabin has a fully functioning kitchen. We also have an onsite tea house kitchen which all retreatants can use to store and prepare food. Cooking and food preparation in the cabins is only permitted during the winter months.
Do I need to bring my own sheets and bedding?
Yes. Most of our beds have single bed mattresses and each room is provided with a blanket and a pillow. For your own comfort you may also wish to bring additional blankets, pillows, duvet or sleeping bag.
Food
What types of food are served?
The Dharma Centre provides three nutritious whole-food and home-made meals per day. We do serve meat or fish every other day. We can accommodate vegetarian and gluten free diets if requested in advance. Please let us know of any serious food intolerance or allergy. While we do our best to accomodate those with important dietary needs, those with extensive restrictions may need to bring their own food which can be prepared in our Tea House kitchen.
Can I bring my own food?
Yes, provided the communal kitchen is available you may choose to bring and prepare your own food for the duration of your retreat or join us only for certain meals. Please check on availability with the Retreat Coordinator. We usually charge $10 for breakfast, $20 for lunch and $15 for dinner. The course fee usually includes all three meals for the duration of your stay. If you have food intolerances and wish to bring food to supplement your diet you may do that too. All foods need to be stored and prepared in our tea house kitchen and cannot be taken to your room.
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. Our water is tested every three months to ensure it is potable.
When is food served?
Our meals are usually served at 8am (breakfast), 12:30pm (lunch) and 6pm (dinner). These times may change depending on individual retreats and course schedules. In general meals are provided whenever courses are running or when requested in advance.
What if I have allergies and/or special diet?
Please indicate any allergy or food intolerance on our registration form. Our kitchen manager will either be able to accommodate your needs or will contact you to suggest alternative options.
Property
Can I hike and explore the property during my retreat?
Yes, you can explore and hike on the property, however, you should let the teacher or administrator know if you choose to walk on one of the smaller trails which are only marked by ribbons in the trees. You should also check in with the teacher to see what kind of activity is supportive for the meditation practice you have come to engage in.
What sort of wildlife is on the property?
The Dharma Centre is home to many species of animals, insects and birds. You may see racoons, skunks, groundhogs and deer. Occasionally moose or black bears may cross through the land. You may also hear wolves or coyotes but they are very rarely seen as they are nocturnal creatures. Most animals are not dangerous to humans and will do their utmost to avoid you. We do however recommend that you treat all wildlife with respect and never approach, interact or feed any wild animal. Before going out on the property it’s important to review the notes about wildlife encounters in the DCC Orientation Handout.
Additional information on boreal forest wildlife, specifically black bear encounters, can be views on the Government of Ontario’s website here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise
How bad are the bugs, really?
Kinmount is famous for it's bugs and our Centre is located in an area that has a rich amount of natural water sources. This makes it an ideal habitat for black flies (mid May to early June), horse and deer flies (June, July, August) and mosquitoes (June - September). If you come during these months you will most certainly experience their presence. Knowing this, however, makes it possible to come well prepared which makes a peaceful co-existence possible and can even be an inspiration for ones practice. We recommend to bring a good bug repellent, light coloured loose and long sleeved clothing (ideally natural fibres) and a bug jacket and/or hat. You should also bring closed walking shoes and socks to prevent any possibility of a tick bite.
How far is the closest town from the Dharma Centre?
The closest town to the Centre is Kinmount, about a 20 min. drive away. It has a small grocery shop, post office and an ATM machine. Fenelon Falls and Minden are slightly bigger towns and are located about 35 min. driving distance. The closest hospital is located in Minden.
Is there cell service at the Centre?
There is some cell service but it is patchy and will depend on your service provider. We do have a wifi connection in the main house which you can access in case of an emergency.
Meditation Retreats
What do I need to bring for a retreat?
Please make sure to bring your own bedsheets and towel, as well as flashlight (with sufficient batteries), alarm clock, water bottle, meditation shawl, rain coat, sun hat and sun screen. Optional things to bring for your own comfort may be additional sleeping pillows, sleeping bag or duvet and a meditation cushion for your room. Each room is provided with a pillow and two blankets and there are sufficient meditation cushions in the temple. You may also wish to bring indoor slippers for the main house and temple. From May through to September we recommend good mosquito repellent, a bug jacket and light coloured long sleeve clothing (preferably made of natural fibre) as well as closed walking shoes. In the Winter we recommend you bring ice cleats and good, warm winter boots and a winter coat. You may also wish to bring snow shoes to walk on the smaller trails.
Are all retreats at the Dharma Centre silent?
No, not all retreats are silent, it will depend on the course that you are joining. However, many of the retreats are held in silence or at least reduce the amount of speech for the duration or for parts of the retreat. Often there are solo retreatants on property as well so we always ask course participants to observe silence outside around any of the retreat accommodations and in the common areas such as the tea house. Sometimes staff may need to engage in functional speech even during a silent retreat.
Do I need to bring my own meditation cushion?
The Temple which is the main teachings space is equipped with a number of meditation cushions and chairs that are supportive for sitting practice. However, if you have a favourite cushion, stool or chair it may be of benefit to you to bring it with you. The kind and quality of your meditation support can make a huge difference to the quality of your experience.
Do I need to have experience in meditation to attend a retreat?
No. All of our retreats are designed to accommodate participants of various levels of experience unless specifically stated differently in the course description. The teacher leading the retreat will be able to provide individually tailored guidance and support. For solo retreatants we usually arrange an interview with our Resident Teachers first to determine which kind of support and guidance will be necessary depending on your level of experience and whether a solo retreat is the right thing for you.
Can I continue my own personal meditation practice while attending a retreat?
In general it is beneficial to fully embrace and engage in the retreat practice that will be explored in the retreat you have chosen to participate in. However, there are always exceptions to the rule and your individual practice may compliment the retreat experience. You will be able to consult the teacher leading the retreat and it is recommended to work with their suggestion.
What is the difference between a solo and a group retreat?
A group retreat has a set focus or practice and participants will be guided throughout by the teacher leading the retreat. Most group retreats include Dharma talks or classes as well as group practice and interview opportunities with the teacher. Solo retreats are done in solitude with an individual focus of practice. It is therefore important to have a teacher who can provide you with this focus and whom you can consult during your retreat if questions or difficulties arise. If you do not work with a teacher you may choose to work with one of our Resident Teachers.
How do I behave while at the DCC?
We ask all retreatants to observe the 5 Buddhist Precepts for the duration of their stay. These are:
To abstain from taking life.
To abstain from taking what is not freely given.
To abstain from sensuous misconduct.
To abstain from false speech.
To abstain from intoxicants as tending to cloud the mind.
In general we ask that you conduct yourself respectfully towards others and behave in a way that supports your own and others unfolding.
What is Generosity Yoga?
The Dharma Centre is a community run centre and retreatants who come to do retreat at the Dharma Centre are expected to do up to one hour of generosity yoga (volunteer work) each day during their time here. In order to keep retreat fees down, the Centre maintains a very minimal staff. As such, the generosity yoga that retreatants perform while at the Centre greatly contributes to the smooth and effective functioning of the Dharma Centre and to a positive experience for all retreatants.
What tasks will I be asked to do for Generosity Yoga?
In most cases, generosity yoga involves cleaning up after meals or cleaning up common spaces around the property. These tasks are assigned by the Administrator or course coordinator and posted on a schedule in our Main House foyer. However, we ask that retreatants adopt a ‘leave no trace’ practice while they are here and be mindful of tidying up after themselves and wherever they see an opportunity to improve upon the cleanliness of a space.
What is Dana?
Teachers give Dharma freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue.
Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of Dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
How much Dana is appropriate to give while on retreat?
We usually recommend that you give the same amount per hour of teaching that you yourself would receive in your own work. However, Dana is a gift of generosity and the intention of giving is as important as the giving itself.