On formal retreats there is generally an introduction to meditation. When you come on a self retreat you can ask our staff to give you meditation instruction .
Emoyeni has been created to provide a space to retreat and connect with your spirituality and with the simplicity of the moment. We have a meditation hall, a librar hall and a beautiful natural environment you can walk in, While we generally encourage much non-doing, you are welcome to sweat your karma in the kitchen or garden or by clearing alien vegetation in the veld.
Our daily pattern is as follows. Lunch at 12h30. Light supper at 18h00 in winter and at 18h30 in summer. Meditation at 19h30 to 20h30. After the meditation we keep Noble Silence till after breakfast the next morning. The morning meditation starts at 6h30 and breakfast is served in silence at 7h30. After breakfast you are encouraged to do an hours work, either in the garden or kitchen. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. We have an excellent library and the beautiful Magaliesberg in our back yard where you may wander about freely. The meditation hall is open all day and night.
Should you wish to, we can help to set up a formal retreat programme for you. We also provide, on request, instructions on how to meditate or Buddhism. There is also a trained clinical psychologist available should you wish to have a conversation.
Generally a formal retreat begins with a light supper at 18h30. To avoid the traffic and settle into your room, you are welcome to arrive early in the afternoon. After supper there is an introduction and a short meditation. Retreat days begin at 6 in the morning with a wake up bell. This is followed by exercises and / or a meditation. Brealkfast is served at 7h30. From 8h30 to 9h30 we have an hours work period during which we help with chopping vegetables, work in the garden or do any other general chore. Talks or workshops begin at 9h30. Lunch is served at 12h30 and supper at 18h00.
Our retreats generally end with a Meditation on Loving Kindness and lunch.
Generally our programme says whether a retreat is in silence. However, we do keep Noble Silence every day from after the evening meditation till the beginning of the workperiod after breakfast. This is to support the practice of mindfulness and to give ourselves space from the complexity of personal interactions.
All meals are vegetarian and may include eggs and dairy products. Breakfast generally consists of porridge, cereals, fruit and toast. Lunch is the main meal and is substantial. Our evening meals are light, consisting of soup and bread. Should you have wheat, dairy or any other intolerances do let us know.
Our accommodation is simple but comfotable. Altogether we have 14 beds available. In the main house there are two large double rooms and a small single room with a shared bathroom. The Teacher's Cottage - generally reserved for visiting teachers - has a double and a single room with bathroom en suite. Then there is the Lodge which has an indoor and an outdoor shower and two toilets. There are four single and a double room in the Lodge. We also have a camping site.
If you are flying in to Johannesburg we will generally put you in touch with any other retreatant who might be coming in. If there is no one available, and if we are able we could fetch you at a fee. Johannesburg airport is two hours away from Emoyeni and Lanseria is one hour away.
If a booking is cancelled 1 week (or earlier) before that retreat starts, then the deposit will be refunded less a cancellation fee of R50. If the cancellation is received less than a week before the start of a retreat, the deposit will be forfeited.
When making a booking, it is advisable to phone or email the Retreat Centre to make sure that there is space available on the retreat.
Next step is to send a deposit equivalent to 50% of the cost of your stay within 10 days of making the initial booking. Deposits can be sent by post or can be deposited directly into the Centre's bank account (see below). Upon receipt of your deposit we will confirm your booking.
BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS
Account Name: Emoyeni Retreat Centre
Account Number: 033-215-103
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Rustenburg
Branch Number: 052646
The cost of a retreat covers accommodation, three meals and during formal retreats, the cost of the course. However, at Emoyeni we follow the Buddhist tradition of not charging for the teachings, and rather encourage the practice of Dana or Generosity, whereby each person is invited to contribute an amount over and above the basic accommodation rate, as a way of recognizing the benefits of their stay at Emoyeni and to express their appreciation to the teachers.
The costs of formal retreats is given with the retreat description.
Weekday cost (from March 2010)
En-suite accommodation (single or double) – R350/ person/ night
Bathroom to share accommodation (single or double) – R290/ person / night
Veranda room and camping – R260/ person/ night
Open weekend cost
Till June 2010
R375 / person/ night
From July 2010
En-suite accommodation (single and double) – R450/ person/ night
Bathroom to share accommodation (double and single) – R375/ person / night
Veranda room and camping – R340/ person/ night
Work retreats - five hours of work per day = free
- two-and-a-hald hours a day = half the daily rate
We also give pensioner and student discounts.
Emoyeni offers you the opportunity to ground yourself in work such as gardening, maintenance or cooking, In exchange for five hours of work a day we offer you free accommodation and meals. Should you wish to work for two and a half hours we will only ask you pay half of the daily rate. Generally we prefer to take people who have attended a retreat at Emoyeni before.
We welcome anyone with a sincere interest in cultivating wisdom and compassion as a way of life. Our aim is to provide an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity which is conducive to the practice of meditation, a safe space where the weary can find a moment of rest and peace.Our approach includes the practice of mindfulness and an attitude of non-harming towards all living beings.
Please click on the Road Map link.
- Comfortable clothes
- A torch
- Walking shoes
- Hat and sunblock
