RETREATS
WHY GO ON RETREAT? New Buddha Way puts on short retreats, usually three times a year. It is always worthwhile trying a retreat, at least once. It is an invaluable opportunity to withdraw from the pressures of everyday life for 6 to 48 hours, relax with a small group of friendly like-minded people (usually between 8 and 16 people), learn more about meditation, study yourself and deepen your mindfulness practice.
FOR HOW LONG? COST? NBW has day-retreats (usually 10am-4pm), 24-hour residential retreats, and 48-hour residential retreats, usually in the Surrey, UK area. NBW does not itself charge for retreats, but NBW has to pay for the venue for the residential retreats so that fee is passed to you, with no profit to us. Day retreats are free of charge and you bring your own lunch. The residential retreats (full board and lodge) are usually about 70 UK pounds per day per person. Inquire about the precise cost at . If you cannot afford it, let us know, because we always subsidize a few places from the general donations we receive.
WHAT DO WE DO AT A RETREAT? To give an example, on a 24-hour retreat we start on a Friday at about 5pm, stay at a convent or monastery overnight, and finish at 5pm the following day. You will have your own room, which will be quite Spartan but comfortable and quiet. You will do the same kind of practices you do at the weekly Community Sessions in Guildford and Woking, but for longer periods and more intensely. You will need to have done at least the Beginners’ & Newcomers’ Class and attended once or twice at the weekly Community Session. At the retreat there will be free time when you can rest, walk in the gardens or read a Dhamma-related book. The timetable is composed of sitting meditation, walking meditation, standing meditation, free time for contemplation, and a Dhamma talk and discussion.
PAYMENT? Payments are made by cash or cheque at an NBW session, by bank transfer or a cheque posted to New Buddha Way, PO Box 1500, Woking, GU22 2QY, Surrey, United Kingdom. Cheques must be made payable to “New Buddha Way”.
WHERE ARE THE RETREATS HELD? Currently the residential retreats are held in Godalming (10 minutes south of Guildford). To be precise, at Ladywell Retreat and Spirituality Centre, Ladywell Convent, Ashstead Lane, Godalming, GU7 1ST. It has large gardens for refreshing walks.
GUIDANCE Forgive us for advising you that these are serious retreats rather than mini-holidays. You may not bring in guests. No alcohol is allowed, no outside calls (except in emergency) and no back and forth to shops, etc., please. Vegetarian food is provided for all, but also inform us about other special requirements.
INQUIRIES All inquiries to the NBW Retreats Facilitator, at WEB www.newbuddhaway.org