The Summer Retreat: The Five Buddha Mandala

Whether you are new to Buddhism or have years of experience, this retreat is for you. For the first time, we're upgrading from the weekend to our first-ever full-week retreat. Join us for a unique opportunity to go deeper into practice and community life.

Taking the Five Buddha Mandala as our inspiration, each day we’ll investigate their archetypal qualities of awakening: Clarity, Beauty, Love, Fearlessness and all-encompassing Wisdom. Through story, meditation, discussion and ritual, we'll discover ways to develop these qualities within ourselves.

Communal living is also central to the retreat; we’ll share meals, rooms and meet each day in small discussion groups. Together we can create the best possible conditions for truly encountering what meditation and Buddhism have to show us.

Cost £400/£340 conc [concessions policy is here - If you are unable to afford the concession rate for this retreat please email the centre team to let them know and they’ll do their best to help.]

Some Practical Information

The weekend starts with dinner on the Friday at 6pm (you’re welcome to arrive from 4.30pm) and ends at 10.30am on the following Friday.

During the retreat we’ll ask you to turn off you’re phones, so in case of emergencies you may inform your family and friends that they can contact Adhisthana on 01359 259 067.

Adhisthana caters for most accessibility requirements, with disabled access rooms which can be allocated upon request.

We serve three tasty vegan meals a day. If you have dietary restrictions many of these can be accommodated if you let us know when you book - you can read more information here.

Our retreats feature periods of silence and the challenge of engaging with our minds, our habits and the big questions of life and death. Although it is a very supportive environment, we cannot offer any therapeutic help, so if you’re currently experiencing mental health difficulties, please consider if a retreat is right for you at this time.

Location & Travel

Travelling to Adhisthana

trains TO ADHISTHANA

There are frequent trains from Birmingham and Hereford to Colwall or Ledbury, both about 5 miles away from Adhisthana, and a few direct trains from London to Ledbury. You can walk from Colwall which is the closer of the two stations, it takes around an hour and can be done via the roads or over fields using public footpaths. You’re advised to go to Ledbury if you need a taxi due to almost all the taxi companies being Ledbury based, so they actually charge more to pick-up from Colwall. You need to book a taxi in advance by phone to meet you from either station as there isn’t a taxi rank. Ask to be taken to Coddington Court (the taxi driver may know it as Coddington Court School). The fare is approximately £15.

walking from the station

Walking can make your journey into a pilgrimage. For more info click here. It is about an hour to walk from Colwall Station to Adhisthana. It is also possible to walk across the fields along footpaths, and you can find a suggested route here. Please note that this route may be virtually impassable in winter, and may be overgrown/wet at any time.

taxi companies

Ledbury based:

G and T Taxis –

07922 126136

Ledbury Private Hire –

07976 288140

A2b Taxis (was Venture Taxi)

07889 299283

There are more taxis at Great Malvern but the journey will cost more.

Malvern Taxis –

07775 060704