You don’t need to be a Buddhist to go on a Buddhist retreat. Or even be aspiring to be a Buddhist.
Many of these Buddhist retreat centres across the UK and Ireland are open to individuals of all faiths and none. The centres are promoting a practical philosophy for living rather than a religion to follow.
To gain an insight into what to expect on a Buddhist retreat, let’s start by understanding something about what it is to be a Buddhist.
Buddhists train and purify their minds by following the truths set out in the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. They cultivate wisdom, kindness and compassion. They develop concentration through the practice of meditation. They behave ethically. They are mindful of themselves and others. They speak with forethought.
How different this philosophy is to the values of the pressured contemporary Western world in which we live!
Take a look at our knowledgeable books on Buddhism in the Yogamatters Bookstore if you’re interested in learning more about Buddhists’ unique way of living, including the Buddhist Path to Simplicity, and A Path with Heart – written by a teacher, psychologist and meditation master of international renown, Jack Kornfield.
The thought of attending a Buddhist Retreat may be well outside your comfort zone. You have a picture in your head and it’s not one you can visualise yourself in. You’re nervous. And yet something is drawing you in. You’re fascinated. You know how important meditation is and you know you’re not great at it and you know that the Buddhists are masters of meditation.
Could there be something for you there? Could you get away from it all and really get to grips with the art of meditation? You find yourself yearning to step outside of your daily life and into this calm contemplation.
Firstly, you need to do your research. There are different schools of Buddhism and a wide and diverse range of meditation courses out there. Just because there is a Buddhist Retreat Centre close to your home doesn’t mean that it is necessarily the best one for you.
You need to carefully consider the options:-
- cost
- transport
- accommodation
- food
- activities
- expectations surrounding joining in daily tasks or long periods of silence
If you’re unsure, you could build up slowly to a retreat. Many of the centres are open to visitors. You can have a wander around the grounds. You can have a cup of tea in the World Peace Café. You can have a look around the temple. And then, when you’re ready, you can attend one of the meditation services – this can be as short as fifteen minutes long. You can go on a guided walking meditation. You can share a meal with the community. At some point, you may then feel ready to participate in a weekend retreat. You can come as a complete beginner to any introductory course.
Here are fifteen Buddhist Retreat Centres across the UK and Ireland for you to have a look at. Visit their websites and see what you think. A Buddhist retreat is probably not for everyone, but it may be just the right thing for you!
Fifteen Buddhist Retreats
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Location: Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire
Amaravati is a Theravada Buddhist monastery, a place of practice for monastics in the Thai Forest Tradition. The monastery welcomes visitors from all over the world. Some come for a few hours, a day or a longer stay. Aramavati is a place of refuge from the stresses of the world and a space for peaceful reflection. The Retreat Centre is located in the monastery grounds but is run separately. The retreats vary in length and offer an opportunity to pause and reflect. There is no set cost for your stay and giving is done by donation.
Chloe from our Marketing team shares her experience…
“I took a trip down to the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery on a Saturday afternoon for the two hour meditation workshop. As soon as we hit the rural countryside after coming off the M25, we knew we were close to our destination. Nestled in the quiet countryside, the Monastery is undoubtedly a place of sacred escape. You’re unlikely to stumble across this hidden gem without doing some research beforehand; it’s rural, the paths are narrow and it is surrounded by fields and quaint cottages.
As soon as I saw the grand architecture of the Monastery, I was instantly filled with a sense of peace. I felt a million miles away from the frantic motorway journey I had just experienced a matter of moments before.
The workshop was held in the Amaravati Temple. It was busy, so I would recommend getting there around half an hour before the 2pm class starts. Meditation cushions were provided, so my friend and I set up camp eager to see what was in store for us. I meditate regularly but I have little knowledge of Buddhist culture, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. A sangha member sat before us and introduced the workshop by calmly explaining the journey of meditation and its importance.
The first 40 minutes of the workshop was a seated meditation. There’s something about a large group of people, all of different ages, all from different walks of life, coming together to meditate and find peace. The collective feel of the workshop made it very powerful and easy to get into the exact frame of mind I needed, so the 40 minutes passed in what seemed like 5 minutes.
We were then told to venture outside and take a 30 minute walking meditation (shoes optional). This is something I have never done before but I decided to embrace the moment and walked out into the Monastery’s beautiful fields bare-footed and ready to experience something new. A field of 50 people walking 20 steps forward, turning and walking 20 steps back (repeatedly) may have looked rather strange but there was a real calming, community vibe to the workshop, so it didn’t matter. We were all in the same boat. The workshop finished with another 40 minute seated meditation and our blissful Saturday afternoon workshop was complete.
I would thoroughly recommend this workshop and a visit to the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. It felt like I had escaped civilisation for the afternoon. I felt refreshed. Inspired and enlightened. The Saturday workshop I attended was for beginners but it will most definitely be suitable for those who have previous experience in meditation. There are also talks held every Sunday where everyone is welcome, and family events during the holiday season. Everything is free although it is encouraged to bring offerings. My friend and I brought a bag of herbal tea to show our gratitude but any food and household items are greatly received. Check the FAQ’s here before visiting to ensure you wear appropriate clothing and gain a full understanding of what the Amravati Buddhist Monastery is about before visiting.“
See the full events calendar here.
Dhanakosa Buddhist Retreat Centre
Location: Balquhidder, Perthshire
Dhanakosa Buddhist Retreat Centre in the southern part of the Scottish Highlands offers a wide range of retreats including yoga, hill-walking, Tai Chi, arts and alternative health. Each retreat includes a programme of introductory meditation teaching. There is a booking fee, but all other giving is on a donation basis.
Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Retreat
Location: Near Castletownbere, County Cork
Dzogchen Beara has been hosting summer retreats for over 30 years. The location of this Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre is breathtaking, set high on the cliffs looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. The spacious shrine room with floor to ceiling windows looking out to sea holds daily guided meditation sessions that any visitor is welcome to join in with. The full retreat programme covers meditation, listening and developing compassion.
Gaia House
Location: West Ogwell, Newton Abbott, Devon
Gaia House is a non-denominational Buddhist retreat centre housed in a converted convent. It offers a wide range of retreats year round, where you can focus solely on silent meditation or mix meditation with yoga, qi gong or a Buddhist theme such as compassion, joy or wisdom. You’ll be expected to help out with basic chores while you’re there, but you’ll also have plenty of time to enjoy the spacious grounds and lovely views. The cost includes accommodation and meals; teaching is by donation.
Harnham Buddhist Monastery
Location: Harnham, Belsay, Northumberland
Aruna Ratanagiri is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in Northumberland. Day visitors are welcome to attend meditation groups and talks. The adjacent lay retreat facility is known as Kusala House. Meditation instruction is provided by the senior monk leading the retreat, with periods of sitting and walking meditation typically scheduled for the morning, afternoon and evening. There is no set cost for your stay and giving is done by donation.
Jampa Ling
Location: Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, Ireland
‘Jampa’ and ‘Ling’ together mean ‘place of loving-kindness’ and this is what this Tibetan Buddhist centre is all about. It aims to be a place of blessing for everyone of all faiths and none. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been a patron for over 20 years and Jampa Ling has a full-time resident Tibetan teacher, Venerable Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche. People come for Buddhist teachings, training in meditation, periods of retreat and reflection, and for spiritual guidance and renewal. You are free to establish your own programme and join in the morning and evening meditations, or you can opt for a more structured retreat.
Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre
Location: Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Kagyu Samye Ling is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and Centre for World Peace and Health. Founded in 1967, Kagyu Samye Ling was the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to have been established in the West. The centre offers courses in aspect of Buddhism and other related topics such as Yoga for Peace and Harmony. There is a range of accommodation from camping to a modern guesthouse. Everyone is asked to contribute some time each day to help with essential chores. Full details of courses and prices can be found on the website.
Passaddhi Meditation Centre
Location: Near Adrigole, County Cork
The Passaddhi Meditation Centre promises calm, clarity and contentment. It is a small meditation centre in the southwest of Ireland, situated on a quiet hillside and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was built as a family home by Marjó Oosterhoff and her husband and Marjó herself is now the resident teacher and manager of the vipassana/mindfulness and metta/loving-kindness retreats that are run there between April and October. Cost is by donation for food, accommodation and teaching.
Rivendell Buddhist Retreat Centre
Location: High Hurstwood, East Sussex
Rivendell is run by the Triratna Buddhist Community and offers a range of Buddhist, meditation and yoga retreats for people all levels of experience. Everyone is welcome. These retreats introduce you to meditation and help you apply Buddhist truths to life in the contemporary world. Food is provided and you will be expected to help with basic daily tasks.
The Samatha Centre
Location: Llangunllo, Powys
Samatha means calm. Samatha meditation trains the mind gently and effectively to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil. This path leads on from calm to insight, like the path followed by the Buddha himself. In this converted Welsh farmhouse, you can attend one of four structured introductory weekends a year, open to people of all faiths and none.
Tara Buddhist Meditation Centre
Location: Etwall, Derbyshire
Tara KMC has been established for 30 years and offers a variety of courses and events. It is open to anyone who is interested in learning meditation or studying Buddhism. There’s a Basic Buddhist weekend for beginners. The World Peace Cafe boasts a wide range of hot and cold drinks, light lunches and snacks and anyone is welcome to visit and relax there.
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
Location: Carrshield, Northumberland
This retreat centre offers weekend introductory retreats and longer courses in Soto Zen meditation tradition. You will be expected to join in the life of the community, where all work is performed as an active meditation. Everyone sleeps together in the spacious ceremony hall with a curtain dividing the sexes. The cost is by donation.
Vajraloka Buddhist Meditation Centre
Location: Corwen, North Wales
Vajraloka was founded in 1979 and has now been running retreats for over 30 years. The centre is run by a team of Buddhist practitioners, each with many years’ experience of running Buddhist meditation retreats. The centre’s main retreat leader, Tejenanda, has taught Buddhism and meditation all over the world. Vajraloka is a cluster of converted stone farm buildings situated beautifully amidst the gently rolling hills of North Wales.
A Buddhist Festival
Buddhafield
Location: South West of England
Buddhafield is a collective of Buddhists who live all over the UK and are all involved with the Triratna Buddhist Community. Over the Summer, they run a programme of camping retreats in the South West of England, focused around the teaching and practice of Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. They organise their own Festival each year and run the Buddhafield Café, which goes to festivals and fairs. You may have seen them at Glastonbury!
If you’re unable to make a Buddhist Retreat and you’re interested in learning more about Buddhist tradition and delving further into the art of mindfulness, take a look at some of Yogamatters recommended books on Buddhist practice, including the Buddha’s Brain: The Physical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom book – which explores the forces of modern neuroscience to show readers how they can work towards greater emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships and developing a deepened religious and spiritual understanding.
