Fri
28 Nov
Sun
30 Nov
Buddhism & Meditation Weekend
This retreat is suitable for those who have no experience of meditation or are in their first two years of practice with the Triratna Buddhist Community.
More info
Curious about retreats? This introductory weekend is an ideal first taste. Break out of your routine and spend two days learning transformative practices, connecting with others, and enjoying the beautiful Suffolk countryside. Whether you’re new to Buddhism and meditation or have been exploring it for a little while, this is an opportunity to discover the effects of immersing yourself in the practice.
Starting on Friday evening and ending at mid-afternoon on Sunday with an option to travel by coach from London. Find out more below.
Learn or deepen two meditation practices: Mindfulness of Breathing and Cultivating Loving-Kindness
Gain an introduction to the Buddhist vision
Experience Buddhist ritual
Enjoy short periods of silence, as well as free time for walks, exercise, or rest
Be part of a retreat community for the weekend
Daily schedule
Led by
Maitrikumara
Vimoksamati
Who runs the retreats
Life on Retreat
A Buddhist retreat is a chance to escape the noise and complexity of modern life and deepen your experience of yourself and of the world around you. It’s not a holiday or a spa, however most people come away refreshed and inspired.
Retreat life is simple, with a daily programme to follow. There will be periods of meditation, talks on aspects of Buddhism and simple rituals as well as free time for rest and walks in the countryside. As the retreat progresses there will be more meditation and longer periods of silence to allow for reflection. On most retreats there will also be small groups led by a team member in which you can discuss your experience of the retreat. Our retreats are known for being friendly, inspiring and enjoyable.
More info
Accommodation & Food
Living communally is an important aspect of being on retreat and you’ll be sharing rooms and meals with others, as well as practising together in the shrine room. It’s often a surprise just how warm the atmosphere of communal life can become on retreat and how supportive it can be for individual practice.
Our retreats are usually for up to 60 people, with most accommodation in shared single-sex bedrooms. We require couples to stay in separate rooms from one another so do let us know when you book if you’re coming with a partner.
We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. If you have dietary restrictions many of these can be accommodated if you let us know when you book. Toast, biscuits, fruit and hot drinks are available via self service at any point on retreat.
More info
How to get there
For all retreats we provide an optional return coach from the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green, which you can add for £50 when you book.
Alternatively you can read about other ways to get to Vajrasana below.
Travel by Car
Travel by Train
Taxi options
Travel by National Express Coach
Local Buses
Map Link
Practical Information
Starts:
Fri
28 Nov
|
19:00
(Coach departs LBC at
17:00
)
Ends:
Sun
30 Nov
|
15:00
We will ask you to turn off all electronic devices and not contact anyone outside the retreat
We will provide a number which you can give to anybody who might need to contact you in an emergency
No alcohol or recreational drugs are allowed
We will ask that you don’t bring news media with you or work to do
Smoking and vaping is allowed only in designated places
We will provide further information when you book, including a list of the things that we suggest you bring with you
Mental Wellbeing & Accessibility
Please bear in mind that all of our retreats feature extended periods of silence and the challenge of engaging with our minds, our habits and the big questions of life and death. Although it is a very supportive environment, we cannot offer any therapeutic help, so if you’re currently experiencing mental health difficulties, grief or any other strong or upsetting states of mind, please consider if a retreat is right for you at present and whether there are other supports you need in your life. If you’re unsure, please email or call us directly before booking.
Vajrasana caters for most accessibility requirements, with disabled access rooms which can be allocated upon request. If you have any particular access needs for a retreat please read more information below and feel free to get in touch to discuss how we can accommodate you.
More info and contact
Payment & Cancellations
If money prevents you from booking on a retreat then we’d like to try and help. There are a number of ways we might do that including a bursary fund.
Our retreats are not transferable or refundable, however if you cancel your place on a shorter retreat (up to 4 days) more than a month in advance, then the amount paid minus a £50 cancellation fee will be returned to you. If you cancel your place on a longer retreat more than a month in advance, then the amount paid minus a £100 cancellation fee will be returned.
More info
About the London Buddhist Centre
The London Buddhist Centre is at the heart of a varied and vibrant community of Buddhist practitioners in East London.
We teach Buddhism and meditation in a way which is relevant to contemporary life.
We host regular classes and courses at our centre in Bethnal Green as well as retreats at Vajrasana in rural Suffolk.
See our full schedule.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions about our retreats, you can email bookings@lbc.org.uk or call us on 02087099978 (10am-5pm weekdays).
Price & timings
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Suitability
While this is a Buddhist retreat, you don’t need to be a Buddhist to participate. All you need is an openness to try out new things and explore the bigger issues in life.
Are retreats always suitable for everyone?
Not always. Bear in mind that retreats can be challenging. They feature extended periods of silence, meditation, and reflection on the big questions of life and death. They also offer much less distraction than our usual lives so we experience ourselves more directly. Thoughts and feelings might come alive, both pleasant and unpleasant.
Although it is a very supportive environment, a retreat is not a substitute for therapeutic help and we can’t offer support of that kind. If you are experiencing psychiatric challenges, emotional upheaval, or moving through other strong or difficult states of mind, please consider if this is the right time for you to go on retreat. You may consider whether there are other supports you need in your life first. It’s also true that going on retreat at a time when we’re facing difficulties in life can be very fruitful, as it gives us a chance to pause, process our experience and gain perspective.
You may also not be able to benefit from a retreat if for health reasons you are unable to participate in the full programme.
If you’re unsure about how you’ll manage on retreat, please get in touch with us and through discussion we can establish whether it is suitable for you at present.
For those under 18 years old, we need to speak with a parent or guardian before a booking is made.
