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.

Using Our Private Retreat Rooms 

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. All our private retreat rooms are located either in our coach house or the main house.

Private Retreat Rooms Requirements

• To stay for a minimum of two nights

• To be comfortable being on your own for however long you plan to stay, including not being able to use your mobile phone and ideally only accessing the internet for retreat purposes.

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

• Have the intention andability 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, senior student or friend 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. Therefore, you must be able to at least cover however much your retreat costs Land of Joy or find your own sponsor.

Private Retreat Room Facilities

Those doing personal retreat with us will be provided with the following facilities:

• An en-suite (shower & toilet) room in the coach house outbuilding or a single room with a shared bathroom in the main house which can be used as a practice and sleeping space with enough room to do prostrations.

• Three light vegetarian meals a day to be eaten in Land of Joy’s dining room. Please note, we can cater for serious food allergies, however, you will need to cover any additional costs this creates for the centre.

• 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.

• Meditation cushions/boxes, water bowls and other retreat supplies

• Friendly staff who will respect your retreat silence and be available to provide logistical support to retreaters if needed

• Laundry service during longer retreats

• Help with shopping for your daily needs 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.

• Dorje Khadro practice hut

Please note we do NOT offer any self-catering facilities in the main house. Retreatants usually come to the dining hall for meals, but in case of strict retreat it is possible to have meals delivered to your room.

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.