The Buddha’s teaching is a radical invitation to change our lives. Rivendell is a place where we cherish the Buddha's teaching and values, exploring its potent message for our lives today. A retreat here provides the opportunity to come together as a community, to engage with ourselves at a deeper level where we can encounter challenging ways to transform our inner and outer lives.
Rivendell is part of the Triratna Buddhist Community and has been successfully established as a Buddhist Retreat Centre for nearly 40 years. Situated on the edge of a small East Sussex village, the retreat centre itself is housed in a former Victorian rectory. Surrounding the house is a lovely garden, beyond which lie fields and woodland. Our simple communal accommodation is warm and comfortable. Shared single-sex accommodation is in upstairs bedrooms and there are also two lounges. At the heart of Rivendell is our beautiful and peaceful shrine room.
Our appetising and healthy vegan food is prepared by our experienced team of volunteer cooks. Retreats at Rivendell are founded upon the principles of community, generosity and co-operation to create an atmosphere of care and mutual concern. To help connect everyone on the retreat, you will be asked to share and help out with light domestic tasks. Many lasting friendships have begun by washing up together at Rivendell!
Different teams come to run each retreat at Rivendell, each bringing their own particular skills and experiences. They will be on hand throughout any retreat to support everyone present, answer questions and make sure everyone gets the most out of their stay.
All our retreats are set in the context of Buddhist meditation and ritual as practised within the Triratna Buddhist Community.