Give yourself seven days of time and space to rest, rejuvenate and deepen your meditation practice.
🌿 A TIME TO REST, REFLECT & PRACTISE
From the last Sunday of each month to the following Sunday, Santipada enters into a quiet retreat rhythm.
This seven-day meditation retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life and spend time in a peaceful monastic environment.
Take time to:
Rest • Rejuvenate • Reconnect • Deepen your meditation practice
Whether you are new to meditation or have been practising for many years, you are warmly welcome.
EXPERIENCE THE RHYTHM OF MONASTIC LIFE
The retreat is based on the normal monastic routine at Santipada.
Our daily monastic life follows a structured rhythm of:
Morning chanting & meditation
Periods of meditation and practice
Rest and mindful activity
Evening chanting & meditation
During the retreat, you have the opportunity to experience this rhythm directly and use it as a foundation for your own cultivation.
This simple and structured way of living has supported generations of Buddhist practitioners in developing mindfulness, concentration, calm and insight.
TWO WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE RETREAT
The same monastic rhythm forms the foundation for everyone.
You can choose how deeply you wish to engage with the practice.
🌿 MONASTIC RHYTHM
Approximately 3 hours of meditation daily
The communal morning and evening chanting and meditation sessions are the basic foundation of the retreat.
All retreat participants participate in these communal sessions, providing approximately three hours of formal meditation each day.
The remaining time is more spacious and can be used for:
Walking meditation • Personal practice • Reading • Reflection • Rest
or simply experiencing the quiet atmosphere of Santipada.
🔥 DEEPENING PRACTICE
Up to 7 hours of meditation daily
For those who wish to make a stronger commitment to meditation, additional practice periods can be arranged.
In addition to the communal morning and evening sessions:
Morning — 2 hours of meditation
Afternoon — 2 hours of meditation
Together with the communal sessions, this provides approximately 7 hours of formal meditation each day.
You may therefore choose a more spacious retreat experience or a deeper and more intensive practice according to your own aspiration and capacity.
Please let us know your preferred practice schedule before you arrive, so that we can prepare the appropriate retreat environment and timetable.
MORE THAN SITTING MEDITATION
A retreat at Santipada is not simply about counting hours of meditation.
It is an opportunity to experience a different way of living.
During these seven days, you can slow down and become more aware of the simple rhythm of daily life:
Waking • Chanting • Meditating • Walking • Eating • Resting • Being present
The monastic environment provides a supportive space where meditation can become part of the whole day rather than something separate from everyday life.
You are invited to experience this structured monastic rhythm and discover how it can support your own inner cultivation.
A TIME TO REST & REJUVENATE
You do not need to come to the retreat with the expectation that you must achieve something.
Give yourself permission to slow down.
Give yourself space to rest.
Give yourself time to listen inwardly.
Whether you choose the Monastic Rhythm or Deepening Practice, our intention is to support you in making the most of your time at Santipada.
THERAVĀDA & MAHĀYĀNA ZEN
Santipada offers a practice environment informed by both Theravāda Buddhism and Mahāyāna Zen.
The retreat is guided by Bhante Anuttara, resident teacher at Santipada Buddhist Monastery.
Dhamma teachings, guidance, and opportunities for questions and discussion are available during the retreat according to the retreat schedule and individual needs.
RETREAT DATES
25 October – 1 November 2026
29 November – 6 December 2026
27 December 2026 – 3 January 2027
31 January – 7 February 2027
28 February – 7 March 2027
28 March – 4 April 2027
25 April – 2 May 2027
RETREAT CONTRIBUTION
NZ$700 per person
The seven-day retreat contribution includes:
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Communal morning and evening chanting and meditation
- Opportunity for additional intensive meditation
- Dhamma teachings and guidance
- A peaceful natural environment for retreat practice
Maximum 10 seats
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the Seven-Day Meditation Retreat, please visit our website and go to:
Stay → Application form
Please select General Retreat and send us completed application form.
In your application, please indicate:
- 1. Your preferred retreat dates
- 2. That you are applying for the Seven-Day Meditation Retreat
- 3. Whether you would like to follow the Monastic Rhythm or Deepening Practice schedule
We will review your application and contact you to confirm your retreat dates and arrangements.
FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS
The regular retreat period runs from Sunday to Sunday, following the last Sunday of each month to the first Sunday of the following month.
If these dates do not suit you, or if you would like to attend for a shorter period within a retreat period, please contact the monastery.
We can discuss whether an alternative arrangement may be possible, depending on availability and the circumstances of your stay.
COME & EXPERIENCE SANTIPADA
Take a step away from the demands of everyday life.
Come into the quiet.
Experience the rhythm of monastic life.
Give yourself time to rest, practise and cultivate the mind.
We warmly welcome you to Santipada
Daily Dhamma talks and Q&A sessions will provide guidance and support throughout the retreat. Read Dhamma reflections here
Accomodation
Men’s rooms with balconies looking out over the canopy of the native bush.
Women’s rooms looking out over the canopy of the native bush.
Nestled in the tree line.
Woman’s shared bathroom facilities