If you know the answer what is the question?
Do you own your breath?
Would you like to be asked rather than be told?
Can you see your eyes right now?
Have you ever wondered what it's all about?

Are you aged between 13-19 years old?
Available on 21-23rd November 2008?

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery runs a residential young persons retreat, that offers a unique opportunity to explore what it is to be human. We provide a welcoming space to explore the issues important to you. A variety of activities are used to help with this self exploration, including meditation, art, drama, Buddhist devotional puja. You do not have to be Buddhist to come along and all activities are optional.

Some of the benefits of this exploration, into what it is to be a teenager in the current world, is the development of trust, friendship, honesty, self-respect and peace. The unfolding to be a fully responsible adult is a difficult journey when trying to meet the needs and expectation of what others would like you to be. On the retreat we try to support you in being you, not what we want or expect - just you. This is more of a sharing where we are teachers and pupils at the same time - learning together from one another – on this some what exciting and terrifying journey called life.
Here some feedback from last years participants:-

“great relaxed atmosphere which was nice for me since i was very nervous, which was helped by everyones friendliness around the centre and i learnt a lot, mostly that i had some complete misconceptions about Buddhists always meditating!”

“I loved the fact that everything was optional and nothing was forced onto anyone ...The food at Amaravati was also really good “

“I learnt a lot about Buddhism and i think that it was good to see Buddhism in Every day life.“

Practical details

The retreat will be lead by Venerable Amaranatho, and supported by Sister Cittapala from the Amaravati Monastic community, and a small group of helpers. At least one male and female parent will also be resident to help organise domestic arrangement. A young peoples child protection policy is in operation and all helpers are either police checked or sign personal a disclosure form.

Accommodation is provided in the retreat centre at Amaravati, some individual rooms are available but most enjoy being in the male or female dormitories. Some cooking, cleaning and other duties are shared. There are three meals a day, and all food is vegetarian.

Part of the requirement of staying in a Buddhist setting is to take responsibility for keeping the five precepts during the weekend. This will form the foundation to allow a very open, relaxed and safe environment for all present:-

1 Not intentionally harming living beings
2 Not taking what does not belong to you
3 Not indulging in sexual misconduct
4 Not using speech to harm or lie
5 Refraining from taking drugs or alcohol

The retreat starts between 5-6.30pm on Friday 21st November and finishes at 4.00pm on Sunday 23rd November.

There is no charge for attending retreats at Amaravati. However the retreat centre does depend on the generosity of retreatants to meet costs. Previous retreatants have made a donation so that others can attend. As a guideline it costs about twenty pound a day per person to run the retreat center. Any donation made is anonymous and voluntary, and retreatants are invited to give whatever they are able to offer.

There are 45 places available for this retreat and they are allocated on a first come basis.

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