The Centre rules during Buddhist courses

Centre rules and recommendations

1. We observe at least 5 or idealy all 8 precepts in our Centre.
2. We recommend simple clothes in light colour tones, comfortable, not too provocative or extravagant. Clothes that cover most of your body. Not using strong perfumes is also very considerate. Do not sunbathe or wear any noise-making jewellery.
3. We observe the noble silence, especially in common spaces. If you need to communicate with someone, do so away from the rest of the meditating people and minimize your talk only to important things.
4. We recommend minimizing the use of telephones. It is best to turn them off completely for the retreat time (or put them in flight mode). If you need to make phone calls, come to the reception or go out of the Centre to make sure you do not disturb others. There is an Internet connection at the reception for urgent cases.
5. Drinking water only is allowed in the rooms.
6. Please, have your coffee, tea and cookies in the dining room. Please use indoor shoes in the main building. If you practice outdoor and you are barefoot, wash your feet before entering.
7. Once the retreat has started, enter the building only through the changing room.
8. Our recommendation is not to read books, paper or electronic (on tablet or Kindle).
9. If you are the last person to leave the meditation room at night, please shut all windows, blow out the candles and turn off the light. Please, remember to shut the roof windows for the night and in bad weather also during the day (bathrooms, hallway, library and meditation rooms).
10. Please, practice yoga and other exercises on an individual basis and make sure you do not disturb others. The best is to practise in you room, or in the bottom meditation hall. Definitely not in the upper meditation hall or in front of it.
11. Do not sleep or lie down in the meditation hall. You may sit on a chair or be in standing position. If you need to stretch do it decently in such a way that you do not point your feet at the Buddha or your buttocks at your neighbour.
12. We have a biological waste water treatment unit. For that reason, drop only toilette paper in the toilettes (no dental floss, or hygienic tissues etc.)
13. Set the radiators to your needs in your room. In summer, excessive heat from the solar panels goes into the radiators. In winter, open the windows and air your rooms reasonably.
14. We offer washing of your laundry for € 2. If you do your laundry by hand, please use the outdoor laundry lines next to the upper cabins. Dry your underwear only in your rooms, please. Do not hang your laundry to dry on the window railing.
15. Karma yoga. This is our term for helping in centre. Each yogi helps aprox. 1hour a day with what is needed. You will recieve information upon your arrival. Noble silence and mindfulness is followed even during karma yoga.
16. We do not reccommend to observe fasting during a meditations. Balanced, light food is beneficial for your practise. Exceptions could be granted only by the teacher.
17. Please follow the instructions of the teacher. Meditations and interviews are compulsory. Exceptions could be granted only by the teacher.
    
    

Eight Precepts

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.
2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. Abrahmacariya veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual activity.
4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.
5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
6. Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the forbidden time (i.e., after noon).
7. Nacca-gita-vadita-visukkadassana mala-gandha-vilepana-dharana-mandana-vibhusanathana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyam.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics.
8. Uccasayana-mahasayana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.
   
   

The five precepts

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake to observe the rule to abstain from taking life
2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake to observe the rule to abstain from taking what is not given
3. Kāmesumicchācāra veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.
   I undertake to observe the rule to abstain from sensuous misconduct
4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake to observe the rule to abstain from false speech
5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
   I undertake to observe the rule to abstain from intoxicants as tending to cloud the mind