Amaravati .org

The Retreat Centre

Amaravati Retreat Centre
Great Gaddesden
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP1 3BZ
England
e-mail: retreats at amaravati dot org
Skype: amaravati.retreat.centre
tel (0044) (0)1442 843239

Welcome to the Amaravati Retreat Centre web pages.


The information below is of general nature and is designed to help you to navigate through the landscape of various events on offer at the Retreat Centre.

Firstly, please be clear that there are two distinctly separate ways of spending time at Amaravati: you can either stay at the Monastery as a guest or attend a scheduled meditaion retreat at the Retreat Centre.

If you wish to stay as a guest please contact the Guest Nun (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or Guest Monk (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)). More information about staying as a guest is also available on the website at http://amaravati.org/index.php/participate/index

If you are interested in attending a retreat at the Retreat Centre, please read on.

A group of buildings is set aside at Amaravati specifically for formal meditation retreats.
You are very welcome to apply for any of our retreats. Weekend retreats are usually suitable for people who have not done any meditation before or recently. Weekend retreats are of an introductory nature, while longer retreats provide an occasion for deeper investigation and practise of meditation. Broadly speaking, the teaching is from the vipassana or ‘insight’ meditation tradition; on some retreats a particular theme or approach to practice is emphasised.

We offer two types of retreats at Amaravati Retreat Centre: those lead by monks and nuns and those lead by experienced lay teachers.
Please read the following information carefully, especially with respect to whom to contact regarding bookings.

 

Monastic Retreats at Amaravati Retreat Centre

On these retreats meditation instruction is given by the monk or nun leading the retreat. All our monastic retreats are group retreats for adults.
You will find ample information about our monastic retreats under Retreat Information and our retreat schedule on the website. The 2012 retreat schedule will be published on our website in October.

If you would like to book a monastic retreat, please complete one booking form for every retreat you wish to attend. You can download or print a booking form from our website. Once we have received your booking form, we will be in touch to confirm your place or add your name to the waiting list.

Please do not be discouraged by the fact that many of our retreats are fully booked. There are frequent cancellations and we will get in touch as soon we can offer you a place. All bookings and enquiries are dealt with by Amaravati Retreat Centre Office.

 

Other events at Amaravati Retreat Centre

Amaravati Lay Buddhist Association (ALBA) retreats and Days of Practice
You might be interested to know that we also hold retreats with experienced lay teachers associated with Amaravati. For more information, bookings and contact numbers, please visit http://www.buddhacommunity.org (link) This is an excellent way of being at Amaravati, especially for those who have not been on retreat here before. However, the retreats are also suitable for experienced practitioners interested in a lay-perspective on Buddhist practice and who are wanting a slightly more interactive experience. ALBA retreats follow a similar format to those led by monastics, however, the timetable is generally a little more relaxed, and there are some periods for discussion.


Family and Young Persons’ retreats and Creative Weekend for Adults (Family Camp events)
There are also retreats at Amaravati organised especially for families with children as well as separate retreats for young persons. In addition, every year we hold a Creative Weekend for adults. You can find out more at http://www.family.amaravati.org


Buddhist Women’s Network (BWN) retreats and Days of Practice
A few times a year there are also events organised by the Buddhist Women’s Network.
For further information about these, please contact Shirley McDonald at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 


Additional Information

Staying as a guest at Amaravati Monastery (not at the Retreat Centre)

In addition to these events that take place at the Retreat Centre, you can also stay at the Monastery as a guest. Please read the relevant section on the Amaravati website (‘Participate’ and ‘Staying at the Monastery’) and write to the Guest Nun or Monk. Many people combine their stay as a guest at the Monastery with attending a retreat either before or after that stay. Please make sure you are clear whether you would like to apply to attend a retreat at the Retreat Centre or come to stay at the Monastery as a guest and contact the appropriate office as bookings are handled separately.

Meditation Workshop
There is a meditation workshop, mostly lead by a monk or a nun, every Saturday 2:00 - 4:00 pm. This takes place in the Sala or the Temple and not at the Retreat Centre. There is no need to book.

The Newsletters
Amaravati’s newsletter Looking Ahead  at www.forestsangha.org


The Retreat Centre relies on the generous support of many who continue to help in a number of ways from offering their time and skills, cooking on retreats, DIY support, office support and a multitude of other ways.

For further details, please read Generosity or Dana (Cost of Retreats) in the Retreat Information section. Also, you can always check if the Retreat Centre could use various items by checking the Dana List for the Retreat Centre, which is below the general Dana List for the monastery towards the bottom of the Dana page of this website.


Retreat Centre Staff

Joanna Swiecka (Niccala)


Joanna was born in 1973 and brought up in the North East of Poland. She came to England at 19 propelled by a strong desire to leave Poland, travel and study English. In her early twenties, she married (and divorced!) studied law, was called to the Bar of England and Wales, worked with refugees in a legal setting and explored other human rights issues. The death of a loved one put her on a path of enquiry which lead her to a meditation class with the FWBO in London in 2002 and to a retreat at Amaravati a year later.
She felt an immediate heart connection to the teaching. She joined the Retreat Centre as office manager in May 2009.

Joshua Pogge


Joshua was born in Northallerton, Yorkshire, and moved to Ireland in the early seventies. He worked in retail for 20 years. During this time Joshua explored different spiritual paths and became interested in Buddhism in 1999. He attended a 10 day workshop at Kagyu Samye Ling, then visited Amaravati for one week, then ten days, then a month. Eventually Joshua moved to Amaravati as a long term lay resident in 2003 and worked as a groundsman. He became part of the Retreat Centre staff in the winter of 2008.