regular events


Please read this announcement for current conditions regarding day visits.

Listed below are activities held regularly at the monastery; also opportunities you might wish to know about. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Meditation Classes

See meditation groups.

Sunday Evening Chanting and Meditation

Sunday evening chanting and meditation starts at 7pm and the evening closes around 8.30pm. Outside of the Winter Retreat period of January, February, March (see below) Dhamma talks and guided meditations are regularly offered. For up to date details please see our online calendar. All are welcome.

Requesting a Dedication

If you are unable to come to the monastery in person, then you may like to know that it is possible to request that the sangha read out a dedication of punnya at the meal time or at evening puja. You may request a dedication by sending the wording to sangha@ratanagiri.org.uk. The wording you submit might not be read out in its entirety and it may not always happen at the time you request.

Lake and Garden Work Days

These are held at regular intervals, usually once a month on a Saturday. Please check the calendar for future dates. The work day starts with a session in the morning from 8.30 til 11am, then a break for the meal and a second session between 1 and 4.30pm including a tea break. You are welcome to join in for any part of the day, or to help prepare the meal or tea. Please bring wellies and suitable clothing as it may be muddy.

If you need more information, please contact the Office Administrator on 07767 750648 or secretary@ratanagiri.org.uk

Festivals

In keeping with Theravada Buddhist tradition we observe the festival days of Vesak and Kathina. These are less formal occasions and a good opportunity for family and friends to join a celebration.

Vesak, sometimes informally referred to as ‘Buddha’s Birthday’, encompasses the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha. The exact date varies from year to year according to the lunar calendar, but typically falls in April or May.

Kathina usually takes place at the end of the Vassa (the three-month rains retreat) in October or November (see calendar). N.B. Sometimes the Kathina is replaced with a Pah Bah robe offering ceremony.

Winter Retreat

The monastery is open every day of the year for visits by the public. However, please note that during the months of January, February and March the resident community primarily focuses on their private practice. During this time, the Sunday Evening Chanting and Meditation usually continues. For details about other public events such as Tea with a Bhikkhu, Dhamma talks and Lake Volunteer Days consult our online calendar. As always, visitors are still welcome to participate in the meal offering and meal.