Before a retreat
A retreat is a unique opportunity to put down the wider concerns of our busy lives. To help cultivate these special conditions, we ask all retreatants to:
• For study retreats, please arrive prepared: your booking confirmation will detail essential reading.
• Put aside habitual distractions such as newspapers, magazines, music and rubbish novels!
• Let others know you are unavailable, and resist the temptation to phone or text during the retreat. (You could change outgoing voice-mail message on your mobile, saying you are unavailable, and give Padmaloka’s phone number in emergency 01508 538 112).
• Retreats begin with the evening meal on the first evening at 6:30pm and end at 1.30pm on the final day, (weekend events end at 2.30pm). People generally start arriving from 4:00pm onwards, and the check-in desk in the lounge opens at 4.45pm. If you think you will be late arriving, or if you need to leave early, please contact us beforehand
• We provide a balanced, tasty vegan diet. If you need a special diet for medical reasons, please talk to us beforehand.
• Abstain from smoking, drugs, alcohol and sex during the retreat.
Retreat Types
Men of all levels of experience
For everyone, including newcomers, and the activities will be arranged to accommodate for different levels of experience.
Men with experience of FWBO Meditation
For men who have experience of Buddhist meditation and devotional practice. Within the FWBO this would be someone who knows the Mindfulness of Breathing, Metta Bhavana meditations and puja practice.
Men with at least six months meditation experience
These retreats are suitable for those who have been meditating regularly for 6 months or more.
Men training for ordination
These are retreats for men who are working towards being ordained into the Western Buddhist Order.
Dharmacharis
For Order members only.
Mitras
For men who have had a mitra ceremony at an FWBO centre.
