Hello and welcome to Adhisthana! Whether it’s your first time here or you haven’t come for a while, have a read to familiarise yourself with being here.
MEDITATION
Morning meditation is at 7-7:50 and 8-8:30. Ensure you arrive with enough time to set up your seat and start at either 7:00 or 8:00. Then there are bells for the start and end of each meditation session. Please help yourself to cushions, blankets, and extra mats. You can take any seat/mat that doesn’t have personal meditation gear on. We start with the Tiratana Vandana in unison, there are puja books and printed texts at the back of the shrine room if you don’t know it.
MEALS
Breakfast is at 8:45, lunch at 13:00 and dinner at 18:00. Seconds are served at ten past the hour.
If there isn’t a retreat then breakfast is a case of helping yourself to cereal, toast, fruit etc. It may be that during your stay you eat some meals on your own, as retreats are self-contained. Eating in the men’s or women’s communities is by invitation only, although you’re welcome to ask people in the community to eat with you.
AROUND THE SITE
There is a map at the bottom of this page so you can familiarise yourself with where things are.
Instructions for entering Urgyen House are on the noticeboard opposite the servery hatch in the dining room. If you would like to see Bhante’s bedroom and living room which are kept locked, please ask in the office.
You’re welcome to visit the main shrine room and refuge tree shrine as well as the library throughout your stay, although it’s worth checking with the office in case anyone is using those rooms.
JOINING IN
The Adhisthana operations team and volunteers meet around 11:15 in the upper dining area for 15 minutes (sometimes a bit longer!) and you are welcome to join us for a cup of tea.
There is a Buddhism and meditation class at Adhisthana every week which you are welcome to attend on a dana basis. Arrive from 19:15 to start at 19:30 until 21:30. The evening will involve meditation, tea, and a dharma discussion. Check which day it is happening with a member of the community.
If there is no retreat on site, please help with washing up in the evenings. When last in any room in the evening please turn out the lights.
It is the expectation that you leave your bedroom and most frequently used bathroom as you found them (empty bins, clean toilet, hoovered floors etc.)
SAFETY INFORMATION
Please read the information and fire safety sheet in your bedroom and if you discover a fire sound the alarm using the red call points in corridors and entrances. If you hear an alarm, leave the building immediately, leaving behind any personal belongings, and gather in the main courtyard. Please do not use candles/open flames/incense in the library building at all – if necessary, use electric candles. If you’re the last to leave shrine room, please blow out all the candles and turn off the lights.
In case of an emergency that needs an emergency service quickly, go straight to the small reception building where there is a landline telephone (mobile signal is intermittent here). There is also a first aid kit below the window. The Adhisthana community are of course available as a resource and many have received first aid training, but don’t waste time looking for someone if you need to call an emergency service.
The kitchenette in the terrace building (above the main shrine room) is completely gluten free, so please don’t store or eat any items containing gluten in here.
Thank you for reading and enjoy your time at Adhisthana!
