Staying overnight

If you would like to stay overnight, please read the information below and then send an email according to the instructions on the bottom of the this page. First time visitors may usually stay for a maximum of three days. If you are travelling from abroad, it may be possible to arrange for a longer stay.

Although there is much time for individual meditation and contemplation, visitors should be aware that this is not a retreat centre. The emphasis here is on applying the Buddhist Path in all activities throughout the day, and not just during formal meditation.

During their stay, guests are expected to take part in the daily routine, and also to help out with certain tasks. The Buddhist monks' rule, the Vinaya, does not allow monks to store and prepare their own food, nor does it allow work that involves cutting plants and digging the earth. Helping out in the kitchen and on the grounds are therefore ways in which lay guests can be of great help in the day to day running of the monastery.

On many days there is other necessary work which guests are expected to take part in, and there is also often voluntary work available to those who would like to help.

Accommodation

At the moment, some of the guest rooms we offer are without any nearby toilet facility or running water, but guests staying in these dwellings are invited to use the bathroom in the downstairs area of the main house, about fifty metres away.

Most often we can offer a single accommodation, but occasionally we might have to ask people if they are willing to share with others.

The Eight Precepts

While in the monastery, everyone is expected to observe the Eight Precepts. They are:

Abstaining from killing. I.e., not to kill or hurt other beings, even mosquitos and other insects.
Abstaining from stealing. Literally, "not to take what has not been given". This includes not helping oneself to food and tonics which have not been served.
Abstaining from sexual activity. This includes all sexual and/or romantic behaviour, verbal as well as physical. Visitors are asked to refrain from hugging, holding hands, and other physical contact with members of the opposite sex.
Abstaining from lying. This includes even "white lies". One should also try to abstain from other forms of unskilful speech, such as coarse and/or hurtful speech. Try to minimize useless chatter and worldly topics, especially topics that are potentially controversial or inflammatory.
Abstaining from drinking alcohol. This, of course, applies to all other recreational drugs as well. Smoking is prohibited in all monastery buildings.
Abstaining from eating at the "wrong time". All food must be consumed in the period between dawn and mid-day (13:00 during summertime; 12:00 during the rest of the year). There is usually breakfast served at around 07:00. At 11:00, the community meets for the main meal. After that, no more food may be consumed until breakfast the following day. During the rest of the day, only certain types of "tonics" may be consumed for the sake of providing energy. In this monastery, they include for example: sugar, honey, juice, milk-free chocolate, tea & coffee, and soyamilk (but not cow's milk) to mix with the tea or coffee. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Abstaining from listening to music or watching movies; to abstain from beautifying the body with jewelry, makeup, or perfume.
Abstaining from luxurious beds. I.e., to not indulge in sleep. (This can be a danger when living in a place that's very quiet and with little going on...)

Daily Schedule

This is a summary of our daily routines. It may change slightly from day to day but is mostly as follows:

05:00-06:00 Morning puja (chanting and meditation) - in the meditation hall
07:00 Breakfast & wash-up - in the main house

08:00-10:30 Work period
11:00 Main meal - in the main house
19:00 Evening puja (chanting and meditation) - in the meditation hall

Useful to bring

Torch, water-proof shoes/boots (it can get muddy here), bed sheets, towel, alarm clock, umbrella/rain gear.

Camping Policy

People who wish to camp on the monastery's property and use the monastery’s facilities must follow the following requirements:

To read the information on this page and book themselves in for a specific time period before they arrive.
To make themselves available for any kind of work projects going on at the monastery during the time they are staying.
To join in with all communal activities, such as morning and evening pujas.
For lay guest: to observe the eight precepts (see above) during their entire stay at the monastery’s property.

Health Care

If you are coming from a European country, you should bring the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you which gives you access to medical services here. If you come from another country, it is advisable to have a travel insurance.

Conventions at the monastery

As a place of contemplation and a sanctuary from the passions of the world, the practice of celibacy is fundamental to life and practice in a Buddhist monastery. This applies not only to the monks, but also to all visitors so long as they are within the grounds of the monastery. Please show your respect and help to support this by dressing modestly. Please wear clothes that cover the body from the neckline and the upper arms to below the knees, and avoid semi-transparent or tight clothing.

Relating to the monks: Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition are not supposed to shake hands; laypeople usually greet monks by putting the palms of the hands together. Monks may be addressed with the title "Bhante" (bun-tay); senior monks may also be addressed as "Ajahn". Because of the Vinaya-rules, monks must have another man present when together with a woman.

Booking requests

To request a stay at the monastery, please submit this Google Form, and the guest monk will get back to you in due course.

Support

Everything in this monastery, from the property itself to the food we eat, is made available through donations by lay supporters and guests. It is against the rules of the monks to earn a living, own and use money, and to produce and cook their own food. Everything is offered freely; nothing is charged for. Feel free to contribute as you wish.

For those who are interested in further deepening their knowledge and awareness of monastic practices and etiquette, this book is available; (but it is not a requirement to have read this book in order to be able to stay as a guest at the monastery.)