Over the weekend, I stayed for a few nights at a Theravada Thai Forest monastery. I didn’t really know what to expect as I drove through the front entrance. I had been to this particular monastery before just for a few hours during the day as it is (luckily) only about half an hour from my home.

I crunched up the path leading to the entrance, backpack slung over one shoulder and sat down in the porch on one of the hard wooden benches and took off my shoes. There was a piece of scrap paper selo-taped to the main door which said “Dan – Room 11”. After finding the correct bedroom I entered to find someone apparently had already been living there for several weeks. Laundry, dirty and clean was strewn about the place, on his bed and mine. Personal possessions and toiletries were also displayed marvellously for me to see. Gingerly removing these items from my half of the room I unpacked the few things I had brought and headed down stairs. I could hear noises coming from what I presumed was the kitchen and headed in to find 3 other lay people bustling about cooking, washing up and putting buffet style dishes out on the main table. I explained to one of the ladies there that I had just arrived and she told me that at 11.30am, everyone goes to the Dhamma hall (pictured) to wait for monks to collect their food.

Seeing the monks meditating was a sight to behold. Sitting as straight and as calmly as the statue of Buddha at the front of the hall they were a tableau of tranquillity. After about half an hour in the hall I served myself my meal and went to sit outside to eat. The atmosphere of the place seemed to have this effect of automatically calming and encouraging mindfulness. It was as if my heart rate had been slowed just by setting foot on the grounds. The rest of the day passed and I spent it reading in the small library and walking around the beautiful grounds. For the majority of the time I was there the sun shone and the weather was stunning. At five o clock there was a cup of tea in the main house – no evening meal which to be honest, was quite nice. I didn’t miss my evening meal nor felt hungry when 6 o clock rolled round. Food at this place felt like what food was for – simply fuel to keep the body running, rather then a desirable thing you could get attached to. I met with a few other guests and introduced myself and talked a little but mainly just sat and listened to the other people talking. It’s funny, during moments of quiet when people’s conversations naturally drew to an end anywhere else would have felt like awkward silences. But at the monastery, every second of silence was a moment of silent and private meditation and contemplation.

The day came to a close and at about nine pm I had a quick shower in the very nice bathroom facilities. I was thankful for this as I was slightly concerned about the horror stories I had heard about bathrooms at monasteries – cobras in the showers and scorpions in the toilets. Luckily as far as I’m aware there are no deadly serpents or insects in southern England, but I did always check. I then went back to my room and met Raphael, my Portuguese room-mate, who apologised for leaving the room in the way I had found it. Possibly the most laid back man I have ever met, he had been staying at the monastery for a couple of months and was looking to begin training to become a monk . He explained to me a little about what would be happening the next day.

At 4.30am the next morning the bell went in the corridor, and I got up and headed back to Dhamma hall for about an hour of chanting and meditation. I had’t quite sussed out the way to sit on the floor properly yet, so spent most of the time thinking what my life would be like if I lost both my legs and the use of my back, both of which were on fire with pain and discomfort. I was lucky to get the opportunity to really stretch out my legs and get the blood flowing again as morning chores was at 6.15am. No scrubbing toilets or waxing cars for me, just a little bit of hovering. Breakfast at 8am, then usually free time up until the meal at 11.30am, then afternoon tea at 5pm. Evening puja at 7.30pm. All the time in between was free and was usually filled with walking in the gorgeous grounds and 170 acres of forest (not all of it, mind) or maybe helping out around the monastery. On Sunday morning I spent a couple of hours doing Tai Chi at the side of a picturesque lake in the middle of the forest. On one evening there was a guided meditation, and on another, a Dharma talk given by the abbot. A work meeting on Sunday afternoon had me wading waist deep and bare foot into a small pond to clear weeds and reeds.

All in all, my whole stay was an excellent exercise in mindfulness and peace, and although a slight cliché, I really did feel as though the monastery was a genuine sanctuary which I could step out of the hustle and bustle, stresses, worries and problems of everyday life. Even helping with the washing up and chopping up spuds for the meal became a real treat and enjoyable thing to do. What struck me most, apart from the superb grounds and sense of calmness, was the approachability and attitude of the monks. I had expected them to be solemn, quite and almost brooding. Instead they were easy to talk to, down-to-earth and had a good sense of humour. They were always willing to speak and help you, extremely friendly and pretty much always smiling. The same goes for the nuns, or nun I should say, as I only saw one while I was there – they lived in a lovely cottage right by a river next to a waterfall in the forest about ten minutes walk from the main monastery.

I cannot recommend enough that everyone who reads this arranges to go and stay in a monastery at some point in the near future. From what I’ve seen and heard, it is generally free to stay, but of course some work is expected from you in return. The monastery I stayed at was called Cittaviveka in the UK, but there are many monasteries across the world which allow lay people to stay. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, and the experience and atmosphere is something I know I will never forget for the rest of my life. In fact, as well as going back during the day, I am seriously thinking about going back to stay for another few nights before I go to Uni in the middle of September.

Thank you for reading and may compassion and wisdom guide you through suffering.

I just wanted to add this little bit extra – would you mind taking the time to sign a petition to stop the demolition of the ‘Kid’s Cafe’ that is in the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp at Calais. It provides a safe place for unaccompanied child refugees to come and be registered, kept track of, get asylum advice, a meal and classes in English and French. It is facing demolition so this petition needs all the signatures it can to stop it being knocked down. Thank you.

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-kids-cafe-sauvons-le-caf%C3%A9-des-enfants?recruiter=47708306&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylink

All pictures from http://www.cittaviveka.org