Why is retreat important? In order for our spirituality, pure morality, wisdom, single-pointed concentration and insight to really grow, we need time and space. The normal twentieth-century environment does not give us this. It induces either distraction or sluggishness, and retreat can take us beyond both. As human beings, we have the potential for unlimited growth, for limitless compassion and wisdom, bodhichitta and the six perfections. So retreat is very important in expediting this.

– Lama Yeshe.

Doing personal retreat is a very different to a group retreat. It gifts the opportunity to slip into your own rhythm with the chance to follow the flow of your mind by focusing on things that arise, when they arise instead of needing to fit in with a group. On the other hand, it requires the retreater to develop and maintain the energy to practice and to deal with difficulties that arise without the support of a group.

For this reason, it is advised to do personal retreat in a suitable place that is quiet, away from distractions, has been used by other meditators, where your practice will be supported and to be able to contact someone who is qualified to support through any difficulties that arise. This is particularly important for those who haven’t done a retreat on their own before.

Land of Joy is a wonderful environment for retreat. Our semi-rural location offers quiet, spacious and beautiful grounds which can be explored during your breaks while the retreat facilities provide a private space that will support your practice. Our private retreat huts are in a part of the woodland close to the main house overlooking the valley.

We now have two huts available for personal retreat and planning permission for a third. If you would like to contribute towards the completion of the third retreat hut you can do so here.

Requirements for Using the Retreat Huts

• To stay for a minimum of five nights and maximum of three months.

• To be comfortable being on your own for however long you plan to stay, including not being able to use the internet or a mobile phone.

• Have an established daily practice such as daily meditation or buddhist practices.

• Have the intention and ability to create and engage in a structured daily schedule of study or practice for however long you are planning to stay.

• Be clear what type of retreat you will do, create a schedule and gather any resources needed before you arrive at the centre.

• Have the support of a teacher or senior student to set up, maintain and complete your retreat.

• Be confident you can work through any personal or physical difficulties that might arise (such as lung or back pain) and arrange support from a qualified teacher or experienced friend who you can turn to for help if needed.

• To be happy to settle all travel arrangements, calls, emails etc before arriving at Land of Joy so you can focus on doing your retreat.

• As a relatively new centre who only recently started offering personal retreats, we are currently unable to sponsor personal retreats ourselves. Therefore, you must be able to cover the costs of your retreat or find your own sponsor.

The retreat huts are equipped with:

• A spacious practice and sleeping space

• An altar, meditation area and space to perform full prostrations (a prostration board can be provided on request)

• A desk and chair

• A small kitchenette with a sink, hot plate and kettle for making breakfast, drinks and heating up pre-made food. Please note, for insurance reasons you CANNOT cook meals in the hut, other than just heating something up.

• A toilet and shower room

• A balcony with views of the surrounding countryside

• Please note the retreat huts DO NOT have internet access or mobile phone signal. If you require access to the internet you can visit the community room in our coachhouse outbuilding.

We also provide:

• Three light vegetarian meals a day – we can cater for serious food allergies, however, you will need to cover any additional costs this creates.

• A lunch and supper delivery service which is left in a box a short distance from the hut at a designated time.

• Please note, if you complete a longer retreat it will be difficult for us to provide strict precept appropriate food as we have to cook for all retreatants staying with us at the same time. However, we will do our best to find a solution that suits you and the centre.

• Access to a well stocked dharma library (in the main house) – only after two weeks self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Mediation cushions, boxes, water bowls and other retreat supplies

• Friendly staff who will respect your retreat silence and be available to provide logistical support is required.

• Laundry service during longer retreats

• Assistance with shopping for essential supplies during longer retreats

• Assistance with fire pujas if required. Please note this MUST be discussed before you arrive and we will request a £108 donation to cover the costs.

Guidelines for Behaviour

We need your support to create and maintain a supportive environment that is harmonious and pleasant for all retreatants.

While you are here we ask you:

1. to be kind.
2. to be generous.
3. to live simply and be content.
4. to speak truthfully.
5. to be mindful of your behaviour and speech towards others and to keep to your retreat schedule and boundaries.
6. to be intoxicant free (no smoking in the hut or within Land of Joy’s grounds)

Thank you for your cooperation. Please note that the centre reserves the right to ask those doing personal retreat to leave should their behaviour become too disruptive for the centre.

If you would like to join us for a retreat please complete the form below and we will be in touch to discuss it with you as soon as we can.

Personal retreats come under our Generosity Model so you can choose how much you donate. However, we request that you please be mindful of how much your stay will cost the centre, for example the food and electricity you will use during your stay, and make a donation that will cover those as well as helping us with our other considerable costs if possible.

Please use the donation form below to select how much you would like to donate or enter a custom amount and then click ‘Donate’, choose your preferred payment method and share all the details we require to process your donation. When it is complete you will receive an email confirming we have received it or sharing the details you will require to complete it yourself if you choose to do so via an online bank transfer or by sending a postal cheque. Your generosity will help us continue to offer beneficial services to yourself and others, including helping others do personal retreat.

You may also like to make a regular contribution to the centre by becoming a Branch of Joy. This kind of support gifts us a steady and ongoing income, which in turn provides the confidence and means for us to continue to flourish for many years to come.

Thank you and may you be happy.