SRI LANKA

RELAX AND BE INSPIRED AT A SRI LANKAN BUDDHIST MEDITATION RETREAT.

►SUMMARY FACTFILE
Start Dates	All year round - you choose your start and finish dates!
Duration	1 or 2 weeks, or longer if you prefer.
Requirements	No qualifications or experience needed.
Price	£595 / US $895 for 1 week, £995 / US $1,495 for 2 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies
What's included	►Accommodation ►Food ►Meeting you at the Airport ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Full pre-departure support ►Local in-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support.
What's not included	Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance).
Who can do this Project?	All our projects are open to all nationalities. Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+

Also on this page:

• About the Buddhist Meditation Centre

• Programme Schedule

• Diary of a visit to the Meditation Centre

PROJECT OVERVIEW
After experiencing the meditation centre ourselves first-hand, we recommend this 1-week or 2-week course the Centre while on your placement .. you'll have a truly remarkable experience enjoying or discovering meditation.

Many of the other people in the retreat may be there for anything between 2 weeks and 6 months. Your stay of 1 or 2 weeks will be relatively very brief. However, as a westerner with little or no experience of meditation previously, this will probably be long enough.

During an initial exploration into meditation, a new sense of self-discipline must be acquired. To do nothing, all day long, is difficult. The first 2-3 days of a meditation retreat are the hardest. This is how long it takes to unwind and slow down from a life of deadlines, responsibilities, distractions, aggressive advertising, conflicts, rushing, traffic, communication, relationships, to-do lists and so on. For a long time you have been on fast forward in your life and suddenly there is absolutely nothing to do. All you have to do now, is be.

You will probably go through a range of emotions and physical sensations in the first few days. These will include everything from relief and peace to frustration and boredom. What you will notice however is that everything you feel and experience will change. Each state will pass to be replaced with a new one. Boredom will give way to euphoria; anger will give way to acceptance, fear to comfort and so on. All you have to do is just breathe, note how you feel and experience the feeling without fighting it.

When the noise of the outside world is turned down and the distractions are taken away from us, our awareness comes back to us and a meditation retreat enables us to journey inside and find a sense of calm and balance.

After the first few days, the meditation gets easier. You acclimatised to the pace, the silence, the routine. You slow down to the rhythm around you. It is now that you start to hear the sounds of the jungle better, notice the wildlife in the trees above you, the way the insects move, the changing lights of the forest. You begin to appreciate everything in a deeper way; the hot afternoon lemon tea, the sun on your back, a smile. You are not in a rush and your thoughts have slowed down also, they are less ferocious and demanding and sometimes, briefly, there are no thoughts. This is the time when inspiration can come, creativity, insights and understanding are able to surface when your mind is peaceful and you are completely relaxed.   

Should you want to stay longer than 2 weeks, of course you can (subject to availability), and this can be arranged through the Sri Lankan staff at the time.

CAUTION! A meditation retreat can be a very intense experience. Anyone who has recently been through a traumatic experience may find the experience too much and it may not be helpful to you at this stage. We highly recommend that you consider this meditation retreat only if you feel that you are currently in sound and stable mind.

ABOUT THE BUDDHIST MEDITATION CENTRE:
The meditation centre is situated in a town called Gampaha. This is about 1.5 hours north of Colombo and 50 minutes from the main volunteer house in Ja-Ela. The centre is separated into different areas, with lots of small cabana’s splayed out in extremely peaceful surroundings which will assist you in setting your mind free.

The centre is in a beautiful setting in a small and secluded area. It is very peaceful and relaxed, with sunny and shady parts and areas to sit and relax in. The retreat is split into two sections for males and females and the centre does not allow any interaction between the sexes. The retreat is a silent retreat, allowing you to focus on your own thoughts.

The centre is silent and no talking is permitted. The silence is something that takes some getting used to. However it also comes as a tremendous relief as there is no polite chitchat required! Should you need to ask a question or make contact with someone you may do so, respectfully.

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

• 4.00am Wake up
• 4.15 Puja (Pay homage)
• 5.00 Porridge/ gruel called Conglee
• 5.15 Meditation
• 6.15 Breakfast
• 7.15-8.15 Meditation
• 8.15 Drink of King Coconut
• 8.30-9.30 Cleaning rooms and centre e.g. sweeping
• 9.30-11.00 Bathing and washing of clothes
• 11.15 Lunch
• 12.30-1.30pm Meditation
• 1.30 Drink of tea
• 2.00 Mediation advice usually by head monk
• 5.00-6.00 Cleaning outside areas
• 6.00 Pay homage
• 6.30 Evening drink
• 7.00-8.00 Meditation
• 10.00 Lights out

MONK TIME: After lunch is free time until 2pm. Then the monk comes and sits for anyone who wants to come and talk with him. He speaks English. This is the time to ask questions, get help, or discuss any problems that you are having. Anything at all can be discussed here. Someone is there everyday at 2pm. Sometimes the monk may give you a book to read on how to meditate. Otherwise he will answer any questions that you may have about your meditation.

You are encouraged not to write or read, unless advised by the monk or teacher. Sometimes there will also be guided meditation sessions by the head monk, when he is in town. These take place in English.

OBSERVE THE 10 PRECEPTS

There are 10 Buddhist precepts to observe whilst in the centre, they are:

1.     Not to kill any living being.

2.     Not to take what is not given.

3.     Not to have sexual contact.

4.     Not to tell lies; not to indulge in idle talk or gossip (wrong speech).

5.     Not to take any drugs or alcohol.

6.     Not to eat solid food after 12 noon until the next dawn (– although beginners do not have to follow this strictly at first.)

7.     Not to dance, sing, listen to music

8.     Not to wear garlands or apply scents, use makeup, cosmetics or jewellery.

9.     Not to sleep on high and expensive beds.

10.  Not to accept gold and silver (money)

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

I have just got back from the meditation centre which was a fabulous experience. When entering Vipassana Meditation Centre for the first time you really are not sure what to expect. This is understandable and many people will never have been to such a place before.

The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable, and have in them special cushions for comfortable meditation. The cushions can be taken outside to meditate in the grounds. This is especially a good idea in the morning and evenings, as the sun and the moon and the beginning and end of the day, are beautiful. The fireflies are enchanting!

One of the main worries or concerns I had before I went was the food… do not fear! I can honestly say that I have never eaten so well! The quality and quantity of the food is quite amazing and I didn't feel hungry once during my week long stay. Many people keep some food over from the lunchtime meal just in case hunger strikes in the night but I assure you, food is plentiful! One thing you can take to make you feel more at home is tea bags, coffee sachets (cappuccino style) and you can have these instead of the drinks provided. Take care, if you wish to be a real Yogi then milk cannot be drunk after 12 noon and that does include powered milk!

At the end of your stay you may wish to leave behind a small gift to say thank you. The Yogis at the meditation centre do not want a great deal but basic things such as pens, mosquito coils and spray, tissues, hand dispenser sized washing up liquid, washing powder sachets are far more useful to them than biscuits.

I spent 1 week at the centre and entered it a complete beginner. I could not meditate in anyway shape or form and the idea of being virtually silent for week caused much hilarity within my friendship group but 1 week on I can do both walking and seated meditation. Without a doubt the first few days are unusual as everything is new and the people around you seem to understand what they are doing while you are still trying to grasp hold of it all. But just live in the present and listen to the advice given to you. Yes it is hard work but you are there to learn a new skill and that takes practice and time… one thing you have a great deal of in the centre. I felt very well looked after and cared for throughout the whole stay! I am really pleased that I took this opportunity and I do feel different, much calmer and ready to face the next part of my journey.’

LOCATION:
We cannot BEGIN to tell you how beautiful this paradise island is! Nor how cheap to live and get around.  It is almost too good to be true! But it is true. 

There is an abundance of fascinating places to visit. From towering Pagodas, Hindu temples and ancient fortresses to holy rivers and sacred mountains, Sri Lanka is blessed with a sense of deep spirituality and history.  The local people are extremely welcoming and friendly, especially in the rural areas. The tea plantations are a must, the lace making, monuments and architectural splendours,  etc., but the most appealing is the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala. Not to be missed!  It's an emotive sight that will send you away with memories you'll never forget!

ACCOMMODATION:
Travellers has a traditional Sri Lankan house in Ja-Ela. It has marble floors and 13 bathrooms! It is spacious and comfortable, with a garden, several balconies, two lounge rooms and many bedrooms. You will most likely share a room with other Travellers volunteers. There is a TV and DVD player for evening entertainment, in the upstairs lounge area and with the latest DVD copies just a pound to buy locally, there is usually something to watch!

A chef will cook all your meals and we have other staff at the house 24 hours a day for cleaning, assistance, security and comfort. There is a local live-in cook at the Travellers house who will prepare your breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, throughout the week. The food is usually local cuisine which means lots of curry, rice and salads. Whether a curry fan or not, you will be by the time you return as Sri Lankan food is delicious! You can buy snacks and treats, including a growing variety of Western tastes (chocolate!) from the local store. There is also a KFC in Ja-Ela for those who need a fix of home.

Once you've settled in to Sri Lanka and got over your jetlag you'll be taken to the meditation retreat. This is about an hour and a half away from the volunteer house in Ja-Ela. The foreigner accommodation in the meditation retreat is clean, but very basic. You will receive a private room (although it may not have an actual door, but a curtain instead.) with a bed, mosquito net and fan. You'll share a bathroom with the other yogis (meditators) in the accommodation. Again, this is clean and functional but basic.

"I just wanted to let you know, that I had the time of my life in Sri Lanka. It was FANTASTIC, I wish the entire experience had never had to end. I would just like to say thank you to your team of organisers for organising the spectacular trip. And also a big thank you to Roshan, Shivani ... and all the boys at the house for making my stay very welcoming and memorable. I miss them all very much. And I will definitely want to return and pay them a visit." Rajni Kanda

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
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Ja-Ela House

MAP OF SRI LANKA

Climate: In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with an average temperature of 27^OC in Colombo. In the higher elevations it can be quite cool with temperatures going down to 16^OC at an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres. Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during the height of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has no off-season. 

"I'd just like to say that the Travellers teaching placement in Sri Lanka was brilliant, couldn't fault it at all. Doing the placement was the best decision I ever made, it was absolutely fantastic and I was pretty sad when I finished. Met some really nice people too." Gemma Leonard

Read a hilarious story about Sri Lankan Cows and classrooms by Travellers volunteer Richard Anderson.

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com