Welcome to Rivendell Buddhist Retreat Centre

About Rivendell Buddhist Retreat Centre
Rivendell is part of the Triratna Buddhist Community and has been successfully established as a Buddhist Retreat Centre for over 35 years. 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 and where we can encounter challenging ways to transform our inner and outer lives.

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 superb 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 comfortable lounges. At the heart of Rivendell is our beautiful and peaceful shrine room.

Our appetising and healthy vegetarian food is prepared by one of our experienced team of volunteer cooks. Retreats at Rivendell our 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 there 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. You do not have to think of yourself as a Buddhist to come here, or have any intention of becoming one. All we ask is that you bring along an open heart and mind, participate fully in the retreat and be curious about what emerges. If you are willing to be surprised, it could transform your life.