May 15, 2015

Dear Friend in the Dharma,

It's exquisite Spring here in Taos and I've just concluded teaching our 11th annual month-long Mountain Hermitage retreat with a full-house of 20 wonderfully dedicated and diligent practitioners. It was a joy to teach this retreat, in part because we were able to offer scholarship help to seven people who 'sat' this retreat, which included two full scholarships...one for a Buddhist nun and another for a Buddhist monk.

I'm delighted and filled with gratitude to let you know that a primary aspect of The Mountain Hermitage's original vision and mission...to be able to offer scholarship aid to those who would otherwise not be able to attend Mountain Hermitage retreats...has become a substantial reality. Along with the scholarships that we offered for our Spring month-long retreat, during this year of 2015 we will be offering scholarship aid to five Dharma students for Brian LeSage's fully subscribed one week June-July retreat and to seven students for Gina Sharpe and Larry Yang's very close to full August ten day People of Color Retreat.

Our Sept. weekend retreat/workshop with Buddhist teacher, scholar, and climate change activist David Loy and our Nov. week-long Loving-Kindness Study Retreat with Ven. Dhammadinna are both beginning to fill. I'm happy to say that we will have some scholarship funding available for each of these retreats.

This important and deeply heartfelt aspect of the Hermitage vision and mission

has been made possible totally through the incredible generosity of people like yourself.

Here at The Mountain Hermitage office we keep our overhead low with a very small part-time staff. Our retreat costs are also kept to a minimum without scrimping on providing very comfortable and beautiful accommodations for students and teachers, along with delicious and nutritious meals. Those of you who have participated in Hermitage retreats know first-hand the exceptional service and care that is offered throughout every retreat.

With this Spring fundraising campaign...our first on-line fundraising campaign...we ask that you please consider offering a generous gift to The Mountain Hermitage. Ongoing financial support for our scholarship fund, Hermitage staff, teacher support, and general operating costs are always needed. We also have a dream that in the near future we will be able to build a small meditation kuti/cottage and meditation hall on the property where The Mountain Hermitage office sits.

Your gift will sustain this precious refuge of The Mountain Hermitage allowing us to offer the teachings and practices that bring greater wisdom, compassion, peace and happiness to our individual lives and out into the world.

With deep gratitude and lovingkindness,

Marcia Rose, Guiding Teacher-The Mountain Hermitage