How to Book

Essential Knowledge Before Booking

 

The following gives you information concerning:

schedule, conduct, accommodation, diet, financing Satipanya,

the Treasurer's appeal  and How to Book.

There is a lot to digest. Please take you time.

If you have been before to Satipanya, it is worth reading over it again.

Everyday Schedule for the Mahasi Courses.

These are structured courses of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation. It is a challenging course, as you will see from the Schedule, but this can be easily modulated.
It is very important to try and follow the course right through to its completion. Absolute beginners have completed a week's course and found it very fruitful.

Daily Schedule for Weeklong and longer courses

Please note: courses run by other teachers and/or covering other teachings may run to different schedules.

Regular Weekend Schedule

 

Why stay till the end of the course?

People may have all sorts of reasons for not staying for the full course. They may have plausible reasons to leave early. Even so either they should not come or determine to stay.

Firstly group creates an atmosphere of support. It is selfish to take only what one wants. Others need our support as we do theirs. It can be discouraging to see people leave, often without being able to say goodbye because of the rules of silence. As the group loses members so does its energy lessen. This is more evident when the group is small. There it is a responsibility, driven by metta/care, not to abandon a group.

Secondly, this entails developing the Parami, the Perfection, of honesty. Part of this virtue is that one completes a commitment save in extraordinary circumstance or emergency. Keeping to our word is necessary in any walk of life, let alone for spiritual development.
Thirdly, a course is designed to be completed. There are exercises at the end which help vipassana insights be translated into relationships and daily life.

Please, do not apply if you do not have the intention to stay the course.

 

Our Code of Conduct

The Training Rules and all the other requests concerning behaviour need to be seen as basic requirements to establish the necessary atmosphere and conditions for spiritual growth.

The tenor of Satipanya takes the Monastic Code (vinaya) as its model.
You will have no difficulty with our way of life so long as you come with the clear intention to study yourself and not to disturb.

Basic Moral Code and Rules of Training

We understand that newcomers may find this sort of 'regime' difficult and that it may take a little time to adjust.

 

Accommodation

The Accommodation Block was  completed  in June 2016, and has 8 single rooms. With two others in the Bungalow  / Vihara there are 10 single bedrooms altogether.  Because covid is still an issue for us, we are only taking 8 people at the moment, to allow for good social distance in the meditation hall and dining room.

Hearing impairment:  We provide written texts of dhamma talks to support those with hearing impairment. We are in the process of researching and evaluating the need and benefits of a hearing loop for the centre. If you need a hearing loop or have direct experience  or expertise in this area, please contact [email protected]. We are also keen to hear about the experience of sound at the centre from people with hearing difference / difficulties.

 

Diet

Note from Trustees:

We feel there are compelling reasons to reduce the use of animal products.

Even though the Buddha himself made no ruling as to the consumption of animal products, he made it clear that animals suffer.

These days added to the suffering of animals in factory farming, is the hunger of human-beings, an estimated one billion, which could be alleviated, should arable land no longer be used for meat, milk and cheese.

Furthermore, the production of CO2 from production, methane from digestion and nitrous oxide from manure is the second biggest source of global warming gases - 18% compared to 13.5% caused by transport.

Therefore, the centre will reduce its dependence on animal products. Satipanya will not be providing milk, cheese, eggs or any products containing these.
We will, of course, be providing a full, nutritionally rich diet as normal.

Retreatants are, however, free to bring any vegetarian items themselves to be shared with the group.

Intolerances and Allergies

We are willing to try to accommodate meditators with simple food intolerances.

True allergies, such as coeliac, would be difficult for us.

Please tell us of any food  issues in advance. We will try our best, but cannot guarantee we will be able to service your needs.

You can check out the menus here:   SATIPANYA RECIPES

Please note : Attendance by those with specific dietary requirements, other than Gl, is entirely dependent upon the ability of the Assistant to deal with their issues & that attendance at one retreat does not mean definite attendance at another retreat.

 

Travel: 

You are invited to come mid-afternoon after 15.30. You may find this supportive of your practice since you have time to settle in and rest - and there is always a cup of tea!

If you are coming by public transport, please check out the bus timetable. The best bus is the 14.45 -  https://www.satipanya.org.uk/travel/

See the Travel Page for more information and directions.

 

D A N A - Generosity 

How Satipanya is financed.

We follow the ancient tradition of Dana : an economy based on generosity.
This means that apart from a booking fee, there are no set fees, as we want retreatants to be able to come on retreat and learn about meditation and Buddhism, regardless of their financial situation.

Everything you receive at the centre has already been funded by the generosity of others.

There is, therefore, no need to 'pay' for anything.

So whatever you give will be for the benefit of others.

After your stay, you can determine how much you wish to support others in their practice.

We ask you to take on responsibility for the financial welfare of Satipanya
and give what your means will allow you.

The Satipanya Buddhist Trust's independently examined financial accounts provide details of the charity's annual running costs. See the Charity Commission website – on the home page select Find Charities, enter the Satipanya Buddhist Trust in the search box, click and then select the registered charity. On the Satipanya page select 'view accounts', which should provide links to the accounts from 2008.

If you are in employment, please give as generously as you can. This will help cover the costs of those wishing to attend who may not be able to offer very much.

The best way to support Satipanya is a bank mandate, no matter how small. This assures us of a regular income and allows us to plan for the future.

If you are a UK tax payer you might wish to make a Gift Aid declaration, which would enable Gift Aid to be claimed whether on a one off donation or a standing order.

The Benefits of Dana - Generosity

Generosity brings joy to the heart.

Increases our love for the other.

Expresses our compassion to help someone to be free of suffering.

Selfless giving unburdens the heart of attachment and possessiveness.

To give unconditionally of time and wealth is itself a path to liberation.

‘THE GIFT OF DHAMMA EXCELLS ALL GIFTS’ The Buddha

Satipanya converts your financial gift into the gift of the Dhamma to all who ask for it.

 

Treasurer’s Appeal

We have done amazingly well since the Trust was established in 2003 and it is more and more supportive of a strong meditative atmosphere. In all, over the past eleven years, in excess of £1,000K has been raised. All praise to our donors!

There are still developments:

  • To buy a local property where a future  manager can live. This opens up the possibility of  couple.

 

Running Costs

This means that we shall be able to accommodate up to 10 retreatants in their own room. Even so, such are all the growing running costs, the centre still needs to raise the equivalent of  £45 per person per night to cover expenses and raise enough capital for the developments above.

Mandates are the backbone of our finances.

Do remember even a small regular monthly gift of even £1 is a worthy gift.

There are now around 90 plus mandates and this with Gift Aid rebate is the principle source of income for enhancing the property.

The income from retreats rarely covers the running costs. So donations go to help finance the retreats. We want to keep it on a donation basis so that those with little income or on benefits can come.

We are also raising donations to buy a local house to help with the future running of the centre.

We want to thank you for your generous and continuing support.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch for any further details about financing Satipanya.

Wishing you a safe journey!

Richard Benjamin
Treasurer on behalf of the Trustees.

 

How to Book

When you book your retreat at Satipanya, you are asked to pay a deposit of £20 for every night of the retreat as a token of your commitment.

This covers our most basic costs only and is non-refundable unless you give at least two calander months notice or we have to cancel the course as has been the case with Covid. See our full cancellations policy here.

If we are unable to offer you a place, we will email to ask you if you want to be placed on the Waiting List.

If we do have a place, you will receive an invoice from Paypal for an amount of £20 x by the number of nights you stay. (We have had to raise the deposit this year from £15 which to £20 this year (2024) because of rising costs, especially electricity.)

When you receive the PayPal email, please click on the link that will be provided. This will take you to the secure PayPal website, where you can pay by credit or debit card.

You do not need to be signed up to PayPal to pay this way.

Coming as Assistant? As an assistant, you do not have to pay the deposit or offer a donation because you have generously offered your time. For more info. Assistants

Please note: We no longer accept cheques or Internet Banking for deposits.

Of course, it costs far more than £15 a night per person to maintain Satipanya and a further donation from you will help us keep the centre flourishing for years to come.

The centre has been made possible through the generous donations of literally hundreds of people. When you come, please do ask about our finances and projects and how you can support the centre.

Please Note: You need to pay your deposit within 2 weeks, or you will be moved to the waiting list and then you will need to recheck that a place is still available if you decide later on that you do want to go ahead with this retreat.

 

Infectious Diseases! 

If you suspect you have a serious infectous disease such as covid or flu. Please inform us and do not come. We will reimburse your deposit.

And Finally

 

What to bring

One final request: If you have not done a week retreat before in a vipassana, insight meditation method, you should only apply for one week stay.

Once you have digested all this information, please fill in the Application Form and submit.

N.B. After you click Send, you should see this message : Your message was sent successfully. Thanks. If you don't see this message you haven't filled out the form correctly and it will not be sent. Please review.

If you continue to have difficulty submitting the form, please email Barbara: [email protected]   And say what course you want to apply for. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Should you not get an acknowledgement with three days, please leave a phone message on 0044 (0) 1588 650 752

And don't forget to find out how to Get to Satipanya.

Thank you for taking the time to read through all this!

For further information or clarification, please email: [email protected]