Retreat Booking Information

Retreats are held in a facility separate from the main monastery. Accommodation is mostly in dormitories, but there are a few rooms available for those with special needs. Retreatants are asked to participate fully in the daily schedule of sitting and walking meditation.

NOBLE SILENCE: Meditation instruction is given by the monk or nun leading the retreat and there is usually an opportunity to ask questions about meditation practice. Otherwise retreatants are asked to maintain ‘noble silence’, that is not engaging in any talk with each other, or anyone else, unless it is really necessary.

On the first day, retreatants are asked to arrive between 4pm and 7pm. On arrival, please come to the Retreat Centre Reception to register and find out where you are sleeping.

The schedule for the first evening is as follows:
Registration: Retreat Centre Office 4-7pm
Supper: Retreat Centre Kitchen 6-7.00pm
Orientation Talk: Retreat Centre Kitchen 7.15pm
Opening Meditation: Shrine Room 8.15pm

Weekend retreats finish at 4pm; five and ten day retreats finish after lunch on the last day.

Cancellations

In case of cancellation: please let us know as soon as possible so that your place can be offered to someone on the waiting list. If you no longer wish to be on the Waiting List for a retreat, also please let us know.

If you have any problems or queries concerning the booking procedure or the retreat itself, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Note: bookings are only accepted on receipt of a completed booking form. Bookings can not be made over the phone or through e-mail messages.

Staying for Extra Days At The Monastery

It is not usually possible to stay on at the Retreat Centre outside organised retreat times but, if you wish to come early or stay on after the retreat, it may be possible to stay as a ‘guest’ at the main monastery by writing to the ‘guest monk’ (for males) or ‘guest nun’ (for females).

Requests to stay as a guest cannot be made over the telephone or through e-mail.

Booking In

When you arrive for the retreat, please check in and register at the Retreat Centre office.

A Typical Retreat Day

05:00 Wake-up bell
05:30 Chanting and meditation
07:00 Breakfast
07:45 Working Meditation
08:30 Meditation (sitting and walking)
11:00 Lunch
13:30 Meditation (sitting and walking)
17:00 Hot drinks
19:30 Chanting, meditation and talk
21:30 Sleep

Things to Bring

Please bring the following items:

Sheets and pillowcases (blankets and sleeping bags are available)
Towels and toiletries
Waterproof outdoor clothing and footwear (slip on shoes are useful)
Thick socks (no shoes are worn indoors)
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes (retreatants are asked to dress modestly and not to wear short or tight fitting clothing)
Small torch, hot water bottle and ear plugs may be useful
Please note: retreatants are asked not to use mobile phones during retreats. A payphone is available at the monastery

Electrical Appliances - Please note that due to current Health and Safety regulations, every electrical appliance - i.e. anything which needs to be plugged into a wall socket in the monastery, must first be checked and approved by a qualified electrician. This means that visitors can no longer bring items such as mobile phones, laptops, ipods, etc. from home to plug in and use while staying here. We regret any inconvenience caused.

The Eight Precepts

The residents of Amaravati follow a monastic code of conduct, based on the eight precepts:

1. Harmlessness: not intentionally taking the life of any living creature.
2. Trustworthiness: not taking anything that is not given.
3. Chastity : refraining from any sexual activity.
4. Right Speech: avoiding false, abusive or malicious speech.
5. Sobriety : not taking any intoxicating drinks or drugs.
6. Renunciation : not eating after mid-day.
7. Restraint : not wearing make-up, jewellery or immodest clothing; not playing radios, music tapes or musical instruments.
8. Alertness: to refrain from overindulgence in sleep.

Cost of Retreat

The running of the Retreat Centre is made possible through the generosity of previous retreatants who have made a donation so that others can attend. The Retreat Centre now totally depends on this generosity to meet its running costs.
Similarly, all retreatants will be given an opportunity at the end of their retreat to make a contribution so that others can attend future retreats.
It has been calculated that the basic costs of running the Retreat Centre (food, heating, maintenance, administration, insurance, etc.) averages out at about £60 per person per weekend and £200 per person for a 10 day retreat.  Any donation made is anonymous and voluntary, and retreatants are invited to give whatever they are able to offer.  It is hoped that this spirit of generosity will enable the Retreat Centre to continue to provide facilities for teaching and practice into the future. For, after all, the teaching of the Buddha is that of generosity, virtue and meditation.

Donation Towards Projects Of Benefit To The Monastic Sangha

Separate from donations to the Retreat Centre, at the end of the retreat there will also be an opportunity to make a contribution towards English Sangha Trust projects of direct benefit to the Monastic Sangha.
Again, any donation made is anonymous and voluntary, and retreatants are invited to give whatever they would like to offer.

Gift Aid Scheme

As a charity, the Retreat Centre can benefit considerably from the Gift Aid scheme. This gives it 28 pence for every pound donated by United Kingdom taxpayers. For the donor it takes very little effort and costs absolutely nothing. Please ask for further details.

Booking Procedure

TO BOOK A RETREAT, obtain a booking form by

downloading from the website, or
e-mailing the Retreat Centre, or
writing to the Retreat Centre.

Amaravati Retreat Centre
Great Gaddesden
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP1 3BZ
England
e-mail: retreats AT amaravati DOT org (be sure to change the “AT” and “DOT”)
tel & fax: (++44) (0)1442 843239

Confirmation

Applicants requiring confirmation either that they have a place on the retreat or that they are on the waiting list are requested to supply a stamped addressed envelope or an e-mail address.