Retreat Amenities

 

Overview

All cabins offer a choice of heating methods:  efficient modern wood stoves, electric baseboard heaters, or a combination of the two; flash heaters keep up a constant supply of hot water.

Each cabin has its own well and septic field, and reliable electricity supply from the provincial grid.  Buddhalocana has a bathtub, and Samayatara and Mamaki have walk-in showers.

All cabins are equipped with a four-burner propane stove and oven, coffee-maker, microwave, toaster, teapots, all types of basic cookware, and plenty of kitchen knives, dishes, and cutlery.

All cabins are furnished with bed-frames and foam or futon mattresses, dining tables, chairs, smaller tables, lamps, floor rugs, storage shelves/cabinets, and cupboards and dressers for clothing.  There are entry vestibules for shoes, boots and outdoor wear. For Buddhalocana cabin, the large bedroom has a queen-size bed and there is a single bed in the main shrine room area.  Other cabins have single beds.

Location and privacy – Buddhalocana is located near the main house and barn, but faces the lake and is regularly used for solitary retreat.  Samayatara and Mamaki, although only a short walk from the main buildings, are hidden among the trees, out of sight of human activity (although we can’t guarantee that you won’t see the deer family grazing outside your windows!).   As the two most secluded cabins, they are ideal for a solitary retreat for any length of time.  You can drive to all cabins for loading and unloading and can park your car at your cabin for the duration of your stay.

Meditation shrine – For meditators, there is a full Shambhala Buddhist shrine with pictures, practice table, and meditation cushions.  If you are doing an advanced Buddhist practice or a practice from another tradition, before packing all your practice implements you might want to discuss your specific material needs with Milk Lake’s directors to see what is already available for your use here.

Internet and Wi-Fi – During retreat many decide to have limited or no communications from retreat.  If you choose, wi-fi in some areas of Milk Lake gives retreatants the option of responding to important emails or connecting to an online meditation or study program, that they may be participating in while on retreat.

  • Accessible from Buddhalocana cabin and the Barn Office (available to all retreatants).
  • Not accessible from the other retreat cabins.

 

Retreat Cabin Amenities

The three, wood-built, well-lit cabins are all (unless otherwise noted) equipped with:

  • Meditation supplies
    • Meditation shrine with implements and pictures (Shambhala and traditional Buddhist)
    • Meditation cushions and practice table
  • Electricity
  • Running hot and cold natural well water
  • Indoor bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower (2 cabins) or bathtub (Buddhalocana cabin)
  • Heating
    • Efficient Vermont Castings wood-burning stove
    • Split wood ready to use (2 cabins have indoor woodsheds)
    • Optional electric baseboard heating
  • Kitchen
    • Refrigerator/freezer
    • Propane gas range with oven
    • Microwave
    • Coffeemaker and toaster
    • Cooking utensils, dishes, and cutlery
  • Furniture
    • Bed-frame(s) with spring or foam mattress
    • Chairs, tables, lamps, floor rugs
  • Full recycling/composting capacity

 

Barn Office and Shrine Room

In the barn, there is an office that has been cleared out, cleaned and decorated as a practice and work space. This room has practice materials, photos, and dharma books, all of which can be borrowed for retreat. There is also a shrine and a desk. Also, there is now a very stable and strong wireless internet connection.

The office is available to retreatants whenever an internet connection is needed. It’s an ideal space for a small group retreat that might be organized around an online dharma program.