We warmly invite you to join our Sangha of monastics and lay practitioners for the annual 90-Day Rains Retreat at Deer Park Monastery.
The arrival date for those attending the full 3-month retreat is Oct 17
There will also be opportunities to register to attend shorter stays during the Rains Retreat. If you are interested in shorter stays during the Rains Retreat, please keep an eye on our website here. This page is for those interested in applying to attend the FULL 3-month Rains Retreat only.
This sacred period, deeply rooted in the ancient 90-day practice tradition which dates back to the time of the Buddha, offers a unique opportunity to dwell peacefully in the great hidden mountain of Deer Park Monastery, nurturing your mind and spirit.
The Rains Retreat is a time to immerse yourself in the practice of mindfulness, to look deeply and learn profoundly.
Living in the serene and healthy environment of Deer Park Monastery, we create the conditions to nurture wholesome seeds within us, allowing them to grow stronger each day. This mindful environment helps us to recognize the roots of our pain and suffering, transforming them and bringing peace to ourselves and our loved ones. Together, in a mindful community, we can accomplish many wonderful deeds to alleviate the suffering in society, far beyond what we could achieve alone.
Many Rains Retreat participants envision this sacred time as a sabbatical from their professions, allowing them space to gain deeper clarity, new tools, and an intentional community to support them on the path of Right Livelihood. The monastery also draws from a deep history and commitment to Engaged Buddhism, which guides the framework of our teachings and retreat programs.
We hope you will join us for this transformative experience. Come, breathe, and walk with us. Together, we can touch the wonders of life and the peace within and around us.
With love and trust,
The Monastics of Deer Park Monastery
NOTE: We will also be offering one-week and two-week long stays during the Rains Retreat, which are called General Practice Retreats.
Eligibility Requirements
You must be willing and able to stay at the monastery for the full 90-day period, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Please know there will be NO REFUNDS given for voluntary early departure.
There are boundaries in place with the intention of encouraging your full participation in the Sangha for the entire 3-month period.
Please note that all Rains Retreat participants will be reviewed after two weeks and your full 90-day stay is not guaranteed. In the event that someone is not practicing in harmony with the community, they may be asked to depart (in which case we would of course offer a refund).
You must be 18 or older to attend without a parent or guardian present. For all retreat stays at Deer Park (with the exception of Teen Camp) we cannot accept minors under the age of 18 attending without a parent or guardian.
Important Dates
The opening ceremony for the Rains Retreat will be held Sunday, October 26, 2025 during the Day of Mindfulness at Deer Park Monastery. We will close the retreat with a ceremony on January 25, 2026. Applications are due September 19, 2025 but we encourage you to apply as soon as possible as this retreat will fill up quickly.
- September 19 — We ask that all interested parties submit a registration form a minimum of four weeks in advance of the retreat arrival date
- October 17 — Arrival Day, 2 pm – 4 pm
- October 25 — Counting Sticks Ceremony, 7:30 pm
- October 26 — Rains Retreat Opening Ceremony
- November 9 — Review of each person attending retreat
- January 25, 2026 — Closing Ceremony
- January 26, 2026 — Departure Day, 9am
Retreat Cost
Supporter Rate $13,500 (Dorm Room); $9,450 (Tent Camping)
Benefactor Rate $10,800 (Dorm Room); $7,560 (Tent Camping)
BASE RATE $9,000 (Dorm Room); $6,300 (Tent Camping)
* Reduced Rate $6,750 (Dorm Room); $4,725 (Tent Camping)
** Special Case Rate (18-35) $4,500 (Dorm Room); $3,150 (Tent Camping)
* For Reduced Rate, we require a letter of request to the community prior to approving this rate. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status.
** The Special Case Rate is for those ages 18-35, we require a letter of request prior to approving this rate. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status.
If none of these rates meets your financial situation, please write a letter of request to the community. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status (please include what rate you are able to afford). You may be requested for a virtual interview prior to approval.
Applications for attending the full Rains Retreat are now open.
Action Wake Up
Action Wake Up (AWU) is a new 15-month residential training program in Buddhist spiritual practice, applied ethics, community living, mindful service, and leadership development. Deer Park Monastery will welcome the first Action Wake Up cohort of young people (aged 18-35) to live and train in Escondido, California in October 2025, with the beginning of the Rains Retreat.
FAQs
I'm interested in monastic life. Is this for me?
Yes, in fact, those interested in monastic life are required to attend the three-month Rains Retreat first. Learn more about becoming a monastic here.
I am NOT interested in monastic life. Is this for me?
Yes, you do not have to be on the path of monastic life to enjoy the teachings and practices of the 90-day Rains Retreat. Immersing yourself in 90-day practice can bring much peace, healing, and harmony to you outside of the monastery in whatever you are pursuing in your career and personal life.
Is there an age requirement?
Yes, you must be 18 or older to attend without a parent or guardian present. For all retreat stays at Deer Park (with the exception of Teen Camp) we cannot accept minors under the age of 18 attending without a parent or guardian.
What happens during the Rains Retreat?
The Rains Retreat is a time to immerse yourself in the practice of mindfulness, to look deeply and learn profoundly. Our daily schedule will be rich with sitting meditation, walking meditation, working meditation, and service meditation. You will have the chance to participate in Dharma talks, receive mentoring, and take classes designed to deepen your understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.
Throughout your stay, you will be a part of all Sangha activities, including eating meditation, listening to the bell, singing meditation, and practicing loving speech and deep listening. You will also have the opportunity to work side by side with our Sisters and Brothers, serving the Sangha and sharing joy with all who come to us.
What Scholarships or financial assistance are available?
You may be eligible for a Contemplative Fellowship for partial cost coverage. Please note that Contemplative Fellowships only apply to the first 30 days of long retreats, such as the Rains Retreat. Fellowships only apply to the BASE RATE and cannot be combined with other scholarships or discounts.
* For Reduced Rate, we require a letter of request to the community prior to approving this rate. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status.
** The Special Case Rate is for those ages 18-35, we require a letter of request prior to approving this rate. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status.
If none of these rates meets your financial situation, please write a letter of request to the community. Upload your letter on our Contact Us page. Please include your gender and a statement of your current financial status (please include what rate you are able to afford). You may be requested for a virtual interview prior to approval.
Please note that all Rains Retreat participants will be reviewed after two weeks and your full 90-day stay is not guaranteed. In the event that someone is not practicing in harmony with the community, they may be asked to depart (in which case we would of course offer a refund).
If you have questions about which hamlet to apply to, or if you have any additional questions, please contact our registration office: Contact Us
