Download commit 2 dharma program application

ICD Commit2Dharma Program Application
Please complete each item fully. Please type. NB: signature required at the end of application.
All questions are confidential to the management of the program.
Application Instructions
1. Please follow all instructions exactly.
If at all possible, please do NOT handwrite the application.
2. Please answer each of the questions as indicated. Please type your answers. Please fill out
ALL questions and pages. The consideration of your application is contingent upon having
completed all the requested information; otherwise your application may be discounted.
3. Please make sure you read the section at the end of the application concerning Dana and
support of the program. Please sign the agreement on page 5.
4. Please email your completed application file to: [email protected].
5. In addition, snail mail one printed copy of your completed application with your
commitment signatures to: Insight Community of the Desert, PO Box 2331, Palm Springs,
CA 92263-2331, ATTN: C2D
6. Applications need to be received by a December 1, 2013 deadline. Please, no exceptions.
For questions: Contact program administrator and guiding teacher at [email protected]
Please note:
For the health of participants with environmental illnesses, please do not wear fragranced
or scented products to any of the year-long program events.
Priority will be given to those who are full-time residents and can attend every session. For
those who are part-time residents, you will be asked to identify exactly which sessions you
will need to miss. In addition, you will be expected to fulfill all the other aspects of the
program in your absence including reading all the materials, staying in touch with your
dharma group, as well as participating in the quarterly interviews with the guiding teacher.
Date of application ____________________
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Telephone(s): __________________________________________________________________
Street Address: _________________________________________________________________
City:____________________________________________State: ______Zip: ______________
E-mail address: ___________________________________Date of Birth: __________________
How do you self-identify your racial and ethnic heritage or background?
______________________________________________________________________________
How do you self-identify your sexual orientation? _____________________________________
How do you self-identify your gender identity? _______________________________________
Do you identify as a person with a disability or disabilities?
( )Yes
(
)No
Please describe anything you might need ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Livelihood/Occupation/Life Interest: ________________________________________________
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Dharma and Practice History
1) When did you begin your meditation practice?
2) Please list in the table below the Vipassana (Mindfulness or Insight) and/or Metta
(Lovingkindness) daylong retreats, residential retreats, or class series that you have attended.
Add lines or space, if you need to.
Month/ Location
Year
Teachers
No. of
Days
Total number of days:
3) Please list any other daylong, residential retreat, or class series experience with non-Vipassana
spiritual teachings (Buddhist or other spiritual traditions). If many, list the most recent + longest.
Month/ Location
Year
Teachers
No. of
Days
Total number of days:
4) Whom do you regard as your primary Buddhist teacher(s)?
5) Describe your meditation and spiritual practice:
(5a) Please give a brief history of your spiritual practice since you started meditating.
(5b) Please give a brief description of your current sitting or meditation practice.
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5c) What has been your experience with residential meditation retreats?
6) What is your past history and current relationship to non-Buddhist spiritual practices and
teachers outside of Buddhism?
7) What Buddhist study and reading have you done?
8) What motivates you, at this time, to participate in the Commit2Dharma program?
9) What are your plans (retreats, classes, or otherwise) for future Dharma or meditation practice?
10) Are you currently part of any sitting group or spiritual community? Please describe.
13) What other forms of personal growth have you engaged in?
14) Please note any other information you would like us to know:
15) Please seriously consider this question: Is there any reason you would not be able to fulfill
your commitment to participate completely in this program?
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16) If you are a part-time resident in the Coachella Valley and you are applying, please know
that one major component of this program is to build spiritual friendships and spiritual
community together. The more absences there are, the less likely this intention can fully develop.
If you need to be away for a portion of the year, please specify the exact dates of which sessions
that you will be missing. In agreeing to your application, you will also be agreeing to maintain
all the other aspects of the program including meeting with your dharma group (by phone or
Skype), and being current with all the readings and assignments. Please specify the dates of your
absences:
The Dana Component of the ICD Year-long Program
Unlike Training Programs at other meditation centers, the ICD Year-long Program will be
solely supported by Dana or the Practice of Generosity and do not require any stipulated
registration or administrative fees. This is in keeping with the mission and vision of Insight
Community of the Desert. While the C2D Program is offered without cost to participants, it does
not mean that the experience is “free” or without financial responsibility. The Commit2Dharma
Program cannot exist without financial support to create it, administer it, implement it, manage
it, teach it, and host it. Commit2Dharma is intended to be an offering of the Buddha’s Teachings.
The Teachings of the Buddha have been regarded for 2600 years as priceless—one cannot put a
price tag on the guidance towards freedom and happiness. Please consider this deeply before
you apply. You will also be committing to supporting the Program’s welfare and ability to
sustain itself.
Most similar programs have an upfront administrative or registration fee along with a
registration fee for each meeting event to cover facility costs, not to mention the time it takes to
offer the Teachings. (A comparable administrative fee for a year-long program in other
communities might be in the range of $500-$1,000 per person upon acceptance to the program.)
In keeping with the vision of ICD, in lieu of these fees, the practice of Generous Giving is offered
to support the continuation of this program and the Teachings.
There will be resource materials, reference materials, and possibly published books
which will be offered freely to participants of Commit2Dharma. There are costs to duplicate
these materials, as well as procure the published works. These will also be offered as an
opportunity to practice Dana.
The teachings by the guiding teacher are also offered in this same spirit of Generosity.
You will be asked to practice Generosity for the length of the Program in supporting the Teacher
and the Center for hosting the events. Your support for this effort and time would be greatly
appreciated and would assist the program to be able to live into its full potential.
One of the key dynamics of an all-Dana model is to accommodate those who have more
limited resources and to provide accessibility for everyone to the teachings. The only way that
this will happen in a sustainable way is for those who have a greater amount of personal
resources to offer more than they would ordinarily, so that people with less can still participate.
Your consideration of this is greatly appreciated by all of us—and is a deep practice in
supporting the well-being of the entire community.
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17) In a few paragraphs, please describe your understanding of Dana and how you intend to
approach the practice of Dana during the program. If you have any additional specific ideas of
how Dana can sustain the program, the teachings, and ICD, please also describe them.
Agreement and commitment
With my signature, I understand how important it is to sustain the Teachings of the
Buddha and the Commit2Dharma Program. I have the intention to deeply reflect on what
support through Generosity that I can offer for the Program. I commit to do what I can to
contribute to the level that I am able in order for the Teachings to be offered freely.
With my signature, I agree, to the best of my ability, to participate fully in the ICD
Commit2Dharma Program if I am accepted. This would include attending all scheduled
meetings; completing all readings, practices, and reflections; meeting with my small
dharma groups; and attending the daylong retreat at the end of the program.
Signature of Applicant _________________________________________date ______________
Please make sure you sign this when returning your hard copy of your application to ICD.
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