This page gives information about private retreat places at Sitagu Buddha Vihara (Austin, Texas, USA) offered to Beth’s dedicated students (an application link is given at the bottom of the page).
Out of the generosity of the Sayadaw of Sitagu Monastery, students who have previously been on retreat with Beth are welcome to live and practice full-time at the monastery for a minimum of one month and a maximum initial visit commitment of three months.
Daily life at the monastery
Schedule
In addition to the daily outlines given below, at 6pm on Fridays, all resident yogis are encouraged to meet and discuss a Dhamma topic for 1 hour (this is optional). We also do an hour of chores around the monastery everyday.
Sunday-Friday
| 5:30 - 6:15AM | Morning Chanting (mandatory) |
| 6:30AM | Meal Offering to monastics (mandatory) |
| 7:00 - 7:30AM | Breakfast and cleaning for resident yogis |
| 7:30 - 7:45AM | Logistical meeting |
| 11:15 - 11:30AM | Meal Offering to monastics (mandatory) |
| 12:00 - 1:00PM | Lunch and cleaning for resident yogis |
|
8:00 - 8:30PM *7:00 - 7:30PM on Sundays |
Evening Chanting (mandatory) |
Saturday
| 5:30 - 6:15AM | Morning Chanting (mandatory) |
| 6:30AM | Meal Offering to monastics (mandatory) |
| 7:00 - 7:30AM | Breakfast and cleaning for resident yogis |
| 7:30 - 8:30 AM | Group sitting with Refuges and Precepts (mandatory) |
| 9:30 - 10:30AM | Group sitting (mandatory) |
| 11:15 - 11:30AM | Meal Offering to monastics (mandatory) |
| 12:00 - 1:00PM | Lunch and cleaning for resident yogis |
| 1:00 - 2:00PM | Group sitting (mandatory) |
| 3:00 - 4:00PM | Group sitting (mandatory) |
| 5:00 - 6:00PM | Group sitting (mandatory) |
| 7:00 - 7:40PM | Group sitting and chanting (mandatory) |
Lodging
There are simple single-person cabins, called kutis in the Pali language, separated for men and women. Some of them have modest furniture besides a twin bed, and there are AC units and small space heaters in each kuti.
Rules for Beth’s private retreat community
Precepts
Sitagu residents live by at least the 8 Buddhist precepts (9 with maintaining a mind of metta), so it is highly suggested to take these. Minimum 5 precepts are to be observed.
Noble silence
While we are practicing in community, it is important to note that we will be maintaining noble silence with the exception of defined meetings in our schedule, giving us the gift of only talking when it is the time to do so. The other residents and visitors at the monastery, including the monastic Sangha here, however, are not living in noble silence. This means you may be approached during silent periods by others outside of our private retreat community, so this is to be expected.
Monastery Etiquette
In case you haven’t stayed at monasteries much, and to learn more about the attitude one should embody while staying at Sitagu, here are some details:
- One should hold in mind that we are guests in the monks’ home. Respectfulness and a humble attitude are essential!
- Mindful sweeping as a meditation practice is encouraged as well as keeping spaces cleaner than they’re found. More values of the monastery: punctuality for scheduled activities and keeping bathrooms and personal living spaces clean.
- Read more about Sitagu’s monastery etiquette
Dana (donation) info
The space is being generously offered to Beth’s students on a donation basis by Sitagu Buddha Vihara. Offerings to Sitagu help cover the costs to Sitagu Buddha Vihara for hosting long-term resident yogis.
Donations to Sitagu can be made through Dana Vihara, a non-profit supporting Beth’s work in the Americas. When making a donation, please check the box “add a note to Dana Vihara” and mention your dana goes to “Sitagu”.
Dana is a practice of generosity, renunciation, wisdom, gratitude, humility, freedom from attachment, interdependence, joy and faith. If it helps in deciding the amount of your dana, the minimum cost to run the facility is available upon request by emailing sitagubethguestyogi@gmail.com. We encourage you to make your donation neither too little nor too much relative to your possibilities.
Interested in staying at Sitagu?
We welcome you to apply for a private retreat place at the Sitagu Buddhist Vihara Old Students’ Retreat, supported by group instruction from Beth by video call.
Applicants must commit to a minimum of one month stay, and first-time guests may apply to stay for a maximum three months. Places are only available to those who have already sat a residential retreat with Beth, and, if applicable, will be given on a lottery basis with a waitlist. This is an ongoing opportunity; you can apply at any time.