There are a number of small administrative necessities which must be observed for the successful running of this retreat. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.

1. Retreat Coordinator
The Retreat Coordinator is the Agama Yoga staff person who is designated to watch over all the administrative retreat details and to solve any problems that arise during the retreat. This person is an assistant to the Retreat Leader and may at times receive whispered instructions from the Retreat Leader.

The Retreat Coordinator introduces himself or herself during the retreat registration session, and will be the one who announces the rules and guidelines during this session.

Please do not approach the Retreat Leader with any issues other than those involving a spiritual crisis or emergency for you; he must use his time and energy to remain focused on the spiritual leadership of the retreat for the sake of the retreat itself and all participants. If you have unresolvable administrative or other problems during the retreat, please detail your issues in writing and alert the Coordinator, who will do his or her best to assist you in a timely and appropriate manner.

2. Registration
Registration is held on the day prior to each retreat, at Shiva Hall on Srithanu Campus. Check monthly calendar for time. During this session, the retreat rules and any special guidelines will be explained to participants and a forum will be provided for any questions. Participants will need to register themselves with their name and contact data, sign a medical release / liability waiver, and provide their emergency contact information.

For Hridaya Retreat registration, participants will need to sign a form that affirms their agreement to abide by the rules of the retreat. In addition, for this retreat only, a lecture will be given exploring some of the definitions and esoteric aspects of the retreat methods, and participants must join a meditation session following the attention to administrative details.

This session is an opportunity for the Retreat Leader to evaluate the potential attendees and to ensure that each person present is fit, both mentally and emotionally, to attend. In rare cases, the Retreat Leader may recommend based on this evaluation and his observations that a hopeful participant not join the retreat or postpone participation. In total, this retreat session may last three and a half hours; please plan accordingly.

Attending this registration session is mandatory for all participants, including those who attended the same retreat previously. Registration is held on the day prior to the retreat’s commencement so that the retreat itself may begin in silence. Mauna will start from the first consecration to the Absolute Reality of the Heart on the morning of the retreat’s first day.

3. Retreat Fees and Discounts
Retreat fees are due at registration. Please come prepared with your payment. Several ATM machines are located within 100-200 meters (near 7-11) for your convenience. Retreat fees for all retreats amount to 3,000 Baht. A discount is offered on multiple retreat attendance for all Agama Yoga retreats attended in the same calendar year, whether Hridaya or Crown Chakra , etc. The second and all subsequent retreats attended in the same year have fees of 2,500 Baht.

4. Refunds
As with other Agama Yoga events, there are no refunds for event participation. If a person makes the decision to leave a retreat, he or she does so with the foreknowledge that the fees are forfeited.

The only exception to this scenario is for cases of medical emergency, in which case – following substantiation of a refund request – Agama will return fees for the unattended portion of the retreat (on a per diem basis, according to the rate of fees paid).

Due to this policy, we encourage participants to consider carefully their retreat participation prior to registration if they are suffering from acute or chronic conditions, diseases, or pain, if they are in recovery from a serious injury or have unhealed wounds, etc. Hopeful participants should, by their intent to register, have evaluated their physical fitness to participate in the retreat fully.

5. Attendance
Agama Yoga does not offer its retreats on a “drop-in” basis, therefore attendance of all meditation sessions is compulsory. The only exceptions will be made for:

• people who are sick and cannot attend sessions;
• teachers who are teaching classes which may overlap retreat sessions.

During this retreat, a number marks the place of each participant; when a number marks an empty place, that participant’s absence is noted by Retreat Monitors.

Note: Hridaya Yoga students who are enrolled in Yoga courses simultaneously with a retreat are not recommended to attend those classes, even in mauna, while participating in the retreat.

For this reason and to encourage retreat participation, Agama relaxes its attendance standard for such students. Students attending the retreat and also in Levels 2 and 3 may miss 4 of 12 classes in a course cycle and still progress to their next course level; 2 of the 4 absences must take place during the retreat. Retreat attendees who are students of Levels 4 and up may miss 3 of 8 classes in a course cycle; 2 of the 3 permitted absences must occur during the retreat.

6. Partial Attendance of Retreats
Partial attendance of retreats is generally not allowed and is not encouraged by Agama. We intend these retreats to be a complete experience of 10 days, with the energy built and sustained over this period of time for each participant. We feel that the effects of the retreat cannot be evaluated properly by only a few days’ participation.

That said, on some occasions, hopeful participants need to leave Koh Phangan during the middle of a retreat period and would like to join anyway several days or half of this special event.

In such cases, we agree to partial participation, but there will be no discount and full retreat fees must be paid. This option is only approved in cases in which a participant starts the retreat with the group and then leaves the island. This option is not approved for those arriving to Koh Phangan during the retreat who may wish to join mid-event. Such people will need to wait until the following course cycle to join the next retreat.

7. Disturbances
Hridaya Yoga does everything within its power to provide retreat attendees with a peaceful and undisturbed meditation environment during events. We appreciate your help and cooperation to achieve an ideally supportive atmosphere. Participants are asked not to disturb in any way the peace of mind of their colleagues during the retreat. We ask that participants not make sudden movements, produce sharp noises, hyperventilate, or perform other disturbing bodily actions. Participants are asked not to stand up, move about, or conduct any other activities during meditation sessions with the exception of the discreet rearrangement of the position of one’s limbs. Stretching, using the toilet, etc. should be reserved for break times.

Please be considerate about the use of products with strong odors (perfumes, tiger balm, etc.). A retreat atmosphere is one in which people are in close proximity for long periods. Some people have sensitivities to fragrances or find strong odors intolerable and very distracting.

Please make fair use of the mats, pillows, and benches during the retreat. If you feel like creating special conditions of comfort for yourself, use your own resources (for example, by bringing extra pillows from home) and do not disfavor the others.

8. Questions
This retreat experience aims to create an atmosphere resembling solitude as much as possible – a cave retreat of your own – where there is no one but yourself to answer your questions. Try to persevere through the process of the retreat, quieting the mind and allowing the meditations themselves to give you answers.

However, you may ask questions related directly to the practice at any time by sending your written questions to the seat of the Retreat Leader. The answers will be given at the beginning of lectures. Apart from this, a formal Q&A session will be held on the last day of the retreat, at which time participants are also invited to share their experiences.

9. Food Generally and Meal Catering
Food may not be eaten in the hall or around it (within visible range) and no food items should be brought with participants to the meditation hall. However, sealed receptacles for water, tea, etc. (bottles, thermoses) are permitted, but they may be used strictly and only during break times.

Meal catering is arranged by Agama Yoga to support the retreat experience, rest periods, and mauna of participants. The meals are simple vegan Thai food, without spiciness (no onion or garlic is used) and without extensive, especially Western-style condiments. The meal catering cannot accommodate remarkable food allergy and other special requests. In order to join the meal buffets during the retreat, it is necessary to choose which meals you will take and to pay for them during registration. It is possible to take only lunches, for example, or all meals, or all meals except any meals on your fasting day(s), etc.

According to your meal requests, you may join the meals, which will be held in Atma Restaurant, just at the front of the Srithanu Campus, on which Shiva Hall sits. Lunches will be ready at 12:00 each day, available for 100 Baht each. Suppers, constituting smaller, lighter meals, will be available at 20:30 each day, for 80 Baht each. All meals inclusive will cost 1,800 Baht. An Ohsawa 7 diet option (brown rice only) will be available for 30 Baht per meal, or 600 Baht for the entire retreat.

Your meal payments must be received at the retreat registration session. Once the retreat begins, it will not be possible to change your meal requests, unless you wish to add meals – in this case, send a message to the Retreat Coordinator, who can have you added to the roster for the following day (or potentially, the next meal). Plan to provide the correct payment for all meals requested if you will be adding them after the retreat begins.

Please consider carefully whether you are willing and able to eat simple vegan food for 10 days if you will decide to join the meal buffet. If you generally are a very selective eater with many special preferences, etc. you may prefer to make other arrangements or to join the Ohsawa option. No meal refunds will be given once the retreat begins.

      10. Use of Toilets
      Toilets are located just 10 meters north of the meditation hall. There are multiple toilet facilities with unisex designations on all units except urinals. Most are mechanical flush, yet squat (Asian style) toilets.
      Toilet house lights will be switched on just before dusk. The toilets are cleaned daily, but if you notice any urgent needs, please inform the Retreat Coordinator in writing of the problem. In addition to the morning cleaning, the Retreat Coordinator will inspect the toilets twice daily so as to minimize any problems for participants.
      Please use the toilets only during breaks, except in cases of emergency.

 11. Supply Runs
      We strongly advise you not to go into the city, do shopping, etc. We promote the retreat guidelines well in advance of the retreat in order to give you ample opportunity to prepare for your needs, do preparatory shopping, etc. We would remind you to shop in advance for the following items:

• Food, fruit, snacks, etc.
• Water (an ample supply, enough for 10 days)
• Gasoline for your scooter
• Batteries for your flashlight
• Medical supplies
• Feminine hygiene supplies

If you realize during the retreat that you did not prepare adequately and need something essential urgently, the Agama Retreat Coordinator can arrange to buy something for you. You should give the Coordinator an envelope containing more than enough money for the item you need, plus a written description of it. The envelope will be sealed with your change and a receipt and returned with the item at the next opportunity.

No extensive searches will be done for rare items, etc. We will shop only in the Srithanu area (i.e., the hall neighborhood); no trips to Thongsala will be undertaken for this purpose.

This service is meant to be a support for the retreat experience and mauna of participants.

However, we reiterate, please make every effort to predict your needs prior to the start of the retreat.

12. Valuables
Retreat participants are encouraged to keep their valuables (passport, money) with them, if their house or bungalow is not secure. Alternately, participants who don’t wish to be worried about or distracted by the safety of such valuables may feel welcome to leave these items with the Agama Finance Department, in our safe. Contact the Retreat Coordinator at registration for more information and the stipulations surrounding this option.

13. Retreat Day Bag
During the retreat, we recommend that you carry a bag with you to and from the meditation hall that contains the following useful items:

• Mosquito spray (please apply sprays only outside of the hall and during breaks)
• Pen and notebook
• Earplugs
• Flashlight
• Raincoat
• Yoga mat or sarong
• Water bottle

14. Wildlife
Thailand is located in a tropical climate, which is host to many types of wildlife. Most insects and animals that you will encounter are harmless. Some, such as scorpions, centipedes, and some snakes, can sting or bite and should be approached cautiously. If you find such creatures in the meditation hall or its immediate vicinity, try first to remove them peacefully and without harming them. If this is not possible or you prefer not to be involved, please alert the Retreat Coordinator who will step in to resolve the situation