General Guidelines for Your Visit
During the retreat, we will be following the Eight Precepts (the 6th precept of not eating past noon is optional) the Buddha designed for spiritual growth. You can see them listed below. These guidelines are grounded in compassion and wisdom, creating a safe space to transform, relax and let go of our anxieties, fears, and worries.
There is also a range of practices around maintaining a contemplative environment in residences, using the lodgings and material items with care, and dressing in a modest and simple way. These are designed to help us train in cultivating more awareness in our daily activities. These precepts and observances (sila) lay a foundation for a unified heart-mind-body (samadhi) that culminates in insight and wisdom (prajna). Sila, samadhi, and prajna are the three non-outflow trainings that are the hallmark of the Buddha’s path of awakening and compassion for all beings.
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New Covid Protocols
This Covid Protocol pertains to all residential retreatants, Teachers and Resident Volunteers.
1. Testing:
○ Effective May 4th, 2025, DRBUx no longer requires COVID testing for asymptomatic participants.
○ We will continue to ask participants to report any symptoms of sickness, and for those with cold and flu-like symptoms, we will require testing and masking.
2. Full vaccination is recommended.
3. If you have cold/flu symptoms, or symptoms of other contagious illnesses, you are encouraged to stay home, rather than attend the retreat.
4. If you have had COVID in the 1 month before the retreat, you may attend the retreat as long as:
● It has been 7 or more days since your first symptoms appeared
● It has been 6 days since your symptoms began improving
● You have not had a fever for the 6 days preceding your arrival (without fever-reducing medication) and
● Your symptoms are mild or absent
● You take a self-administered FDA-approved rapid test 24 hours before arriving at DRBUx retreat location and bring a photo of the result, which must be COVID-negative.
Masking Requirements
1. Masking will be optional unless there is currently a high rate of infection or someone on the retreat tests positive for COVID. Watch for emails from the retreat registrar. Anyone has the option to remain masked at all times if they would like.
2. When masks are required, everyone will be required to wear masks in all public spaces inside the building. Only N-95, KN-95 or KF-94 masks are acceptable. If possible, bring your own; if not, DRBUx will provide them. Cloth masks are not sufficient.
3. Remain masked inside the building when it is required until and unless instructed otherwise.
If you fall ill:
1. Come to the retreat with a provision to be able to return home if you fall ill (or you will be taken to a local hospital if seriously ill) and are found to have COVID, pneumonia, flu, or another serious respiratory infection.
a. If you cough/sneeze due to allergies or other non-contagious reasons, please let the managers know promptly, otherwise they will inquire with you about your symptoms.
2. Come to the retreat with a provision to be able to return home if you fall ill (or you will be taken to a local hospital if seriously ill) and are found to have COVID, pneumonia, flu, or another serious respiratory infection.
Safety Measures at DRBUx:
1. Retreatants will be able to do sittings and walking periods outside, weather and air quality permitting.
2. During instructional sits and dharma talks, individuals can spread out into the walking hall and lounge.
3. Practice discussions will be in a well-ventilated room or may be outdoors.
4. Eating: Participants have the option to spread out from the dining hall to outside tables.
5. DRBUx has installed air purifiers in each room, and improved the fresh air intake and filtration on its heating system. In addition, weather permitting, doors and windows can be kept open to improve
ventilation.
***
Though DRBUx is doing its best to implement procedures in the interests of everyone’s health, COVID has been unpredictable and we are unable to ensure that you will not become ill with COVID or another virus while staying at a DRBUx Retreat. All of the above is provisional, based upon the status of public health.
1. Testing:
○ Effective May 4th, 2025, DRBUx no longer requires COVID testing for asymptomatic participants.
○ We will continue to ask participants to report any symptoms of sickness, and for those with cold and flu-like symptoms, we will require testing and masking.
2. Full vaccination is recommended.
3. If you have cold/flu symptoms, or symptoms of other contagious illnesses, you are encouraged to stay home, rather than attend the retreat.
4. If you have had COVID in the 1 month before the retreat, you may attend the retreat as long as:
● It has been 7 or more days since your first symptoms appeared
● It has been 6 days since your symptoms began improving
● You have not had a fever for the 6 days preceding your arrival (without fever-reducing medication) and
● Your symptoms are mild or absent
● You take a self-administered FDA-approved rapid test 24 hours before arriving at DRBUx retreat location and bring a photo of the result, which must be COVID-negative.
Masking Requirements
1. Masking will be optional unless there is currently a high rate of infection or someone on the retreat tests positive for COVID. Watch for emails from the retreat registrar. Anyone has the option to remain masked at all times if they would like.
2. When masks are required, everyone will be required to wear masks in all public spaces inside the building. Only N-95, KN-95 or KF-94 masks are acceptable. If possible, bring your own; if not, DRBUx will provide them. Cloth masks are not sufficient.
3. Remain masked inside the building when it is required until and unless instructed otherwise.
If you fall ill:
1. Come to the retreat with a provision to be able to return home if you fall ill (or you will be taken to a local hospital if seriously ill) and are found to have COVID, pneumonia, flu, or another serious respiratory infection.
a. If you cough/sneeze due to allergies or other non-contagious reasons, please let the managers know promptly, otherwise they will inquire with you about your symptoms.
2. Come to the retreat with a provision to be able to return home if you fall ill (or you will be taken to a local hospital if seriously ill) and are found to have COVID, pneumonia, flu, or another serious respiratory infection.
Safety Measures at DRBUx:
1. Retreatants will be able to do sittings and walking periods outside, weather and air quality permitting.
2. During instructional sits and dharma talks, individuals can spread out into the walking hall and lounge.
3. Practice discussions will be in a well-ventilated room or may be outdoors.
4. Eating: Participants have the option to spread out from the dining hall to outside tables.
5. DRBUx has installed air purifiers in each room, and improved the fresh air intake and filtration on its heating system. In addition, weather permitting, doors and windows can be kept open to improve
ventilation.
***
Though DRBUx is doing its best to implement procedures in the interests of everyone’s health, COVID has been unpredictable and we are unable to ensure that you will not become ill with COVID or another virus while staying at a DRBUx Retreat. All of the above is provisional, based upon the status of public health.
