Monastic Retreat in Scotland - Peace is the Way

Retreat booking has now closed.

Our other monastic events in Scotland are:

Edinburgh 23 - 24 May

Findhorn 6 - 7 June

The wisdom of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us to find a sense of peace within ourselves and serenity in the face of suffering. In a supportive community of like-minded people, supported by six monastics led by Sister Tam Muoi from Plum Village, together we will experience developing more kindness and compassion. In the sister’s words, we will be:

Learning how to cultivate peace, joy and non-fear in ourselves, even in the heart of great difficulty, we develop the clarity to know how to act with compassion, solidity and resilience from a place of love. Knowing how to be fully present for our joy and pain, we can heal and offer our presence to the world — Sister Tam Muoi

Schedule

Wed 28 May
3:00 PM onward — Arrival for retreatants
6:00 PM — Start of retreat

Sun 1 Jun
3:00 PM - End of retreat

Location

The University of Stirling’s campus is set in 360 acres of extensive grounds with wooded walks and its own loch. It is regularly described as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world.

The campus is just two miles from the centre of Stirling in central Scotland. Stirling is very accessible by train for all parts of the UK and there are excellent other public transport links from Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is a frequent shuttle-bus service from Stirling railway station.

Accommodation

Unlike many of our retreats, the accommodation is all single ensuite rooms. If you would like to be next to family and friends, please let us know. We are not able to offer a children’s program on this retreat and all rooms are charged at the same rate. If you would like to register an under-18 on the retreat, please contact us to discuss.

What to bring

— Please bring a mat and a meditation cushion or stool. There will be a limited number of mats available to borrow and chairs available for those who prefer to sit on them.
— Appropriate clothing for a retreat and Scottish weather in late May.
— Personal items such as toiletries and pen and notepad.
— You will be encouraged to turn off your phone during the retreat.

Diet

The University of Stirling’s will be providing a simple vegan diet for this retreat. Please confirm any additional special dietary requirements in the booking form.

Cost

The cost is £500 per person. £400 of this covers full board, the use of university facilities, hire of equipment and travel costs for the monastics. The remaining £100 will be donated to Plum Village to support their work.

Refund Policy

Due to the university’s policy, refunds are only possible up to 1 March. Ticket Tailor’s fee is non-refundable.

Dana

There will be an opportunity to offer additional dana (generosity, giving) in support of Plum Village both at the end of the retreat and when booking.

Five Mindfulness Trainings

There will be an opportunity to take the Five Mindfulness Trainings during a ceremony at the retreat. It will be helpful if you can indicate any interest in this when booking, although you can also decide to do this during the retreat itself.

Health

Many friends have experienced lessened anxiety, a lifting of depression and improvements in general wellbeing through mindfulness practice. However, we urge all friends to continue any medication or treatment prescribed by your health care practitioner during your stay.

If you suffer from any chronic long term mental or physical illnesses, please ask your doctor if it is advisable for you to attend the retreat. Please be aware that we cannot provide any professional care. If you have any concerns regarding this matter please ask us for clarification.

What further information will I receive?

You will receive an automated confirmation email once you have registered. Closer to the retreat, you will receive an email from the organising team with more detailed information to make your retreat as enjoyable as we can.

GIFT AID STATEMENT

If you will be making a donation towards a supported place or to Plum Village UK - thank you.

You can boost this donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate. Gift Aid is reclaimed by Plum Village UK from the tax you pay for the current tax year. If you pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations it your responsibility to pay any difference. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer.