ALL VISITORS interested in Buddhism are welcome by appointment at Marpa House.

The village of Ashdon  is near Saffron Walden in Essex.  Contact us  before visiting. You can come as a day visitor, or stay as a resident in the  house, following our daily programme.  Visitors who want to stay here are welcome. For special events, accommodation can book up quickly, so contact us early.  During special  events you can come as a day visitor, stay in the  house, or stay in local accommodation in the village or towns in the district.  Infants and children under 16 years old
are welcome during designated family, or some special social, weekends.

Arrange  your stay in advance with the secretary:  mail@marpahouse.org.uk.

Retreats may be undertaken in the  retreat wing, which has several comfortable single rooms, a private garden and  bathroom facilities. In a full retreat the time is spent in complete solitude  with meals brought to the room at the usual times. In a semi-retreat the day  is spent practising in the retreat wing but meals are taken with the other residents and staff  -  you have the choice of joining in the morning and evening  pujas.

To maintain the meditative atmosphere, we don’t have newspapers, music,  TVs/radios etc. in the house or retreat area.  Gossip is actively discouraged.  As with  all visitors, retreatants maintain the basic precepts of Buddhism, and observe  the guidelines indicated on the house notice board

Before starting a retreat you should have a letter of recommendation from your own  teacher of Buddhism.