Fees per person:
Accommodation:
$35 per night per person shared (3 or 4 beds per room)
$45 per night per person twin share ensuite.
All bed linen is provided and rooms have heaters and fans, participants need to bring their own towel and toiletries. Men and women are accommodated in separate rooms for Buddhist retreats (even couples).
Meals:
$25 per person per day for 3 meals including morning and afternoon tea
Please note: This is based on the minimum group size of 10 people.
The Atisha Centre has a commercial kitchen if your group would prefer to self cater. The facility fee will increase by $5 per person per day. The kitchen is strictly vegetarian. There is no minimum group number.
Facility Fee: $20 per person per day, which includes the use of the Meditation Hall
Total inc of GST: Fully catered: $88 for shared or $99 for ensuite room
Total inc of GST: Self catered: $66 for shared or $77 for ensuite room
Room make up and fee clarification
2 rooms accommodating 2 people each with ensuite bathrooms ($45 per person per night)
2 rooms accommodating 4 people – common bathroom ($35 per person per night)
4 rooms accommodating 3 people – common bathroom ($35 per person per night)
Maximum accommodation is for 24 people.
Extras
Tour of centre: By donation [please advise us before arrival]
Sunday Meditation: By donation
A Sunday morning community meditation with a member of the Sangha is held in the Gompa at 10am. This meditation is integral to our spiritual programme, thus we prefer to keep this going even during a retreat, or when groups hire the facilities, and we invite retreat participants to attend. Of course participants can choose to use this hour for personal reflection in the centres grounds, engage in Karma Yoga or read in our library. We find though that the meditation adds a rich element to most retreats. You may choose to offer this to participants as an option and they make a donation to Atisha Centre directly if they attend.
Many people find the tour worthwhile as well. When we run Yoga days, the tour always gets a great response. The land accommodates not only Atisha Centre, but also the Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery and the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, and these are all included in the tour. Depending on the number of questions and interest, the tour takes about 60 minutes.
Dates
Please confirm your dates as soon as possible. Please advise us of participants’ expected times of arrival and departure prior to the course.
Deposit and payment dates
A $100 non refundable deposit is required upon booking.
50% payment of expected numbers is required 2 weeks prior to event start date and the outstanding amount and final numbers (for catering) 3 days prior to event start date.
Cancellation Policy
If the group cancels 7 days or more prior to the event then 90% of the amount paid will be refunded. If the group cancels within one week of retreat start date then 50% of the amount will be refunded.
Key deposit
A $20 refundable key deposit for each participant is payable on arrival.
Karma Yoga
The Atisha Centre has existed for over thirty years through the kindness and generosity of members and friends. To help keep the Centre open and to keep costs down for everyone, we rely on volunteers to maintain the Centre. We request all retreatants to engage in light Karma Yoga in order to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and comfort. Please sign up for a task on arrival and clean your room before leaving.
Ethics
In order to live within pure morality during all visitors and guests of Atisha Centre will observe the five precepts of avoiding killing, or harming living beings, not stealing or taking what is not freely given, not speaking untruths or using hurtful speech, not engaging in sexual activity, and not using drugs, tobacco and other intoxicating drugs.
Fire Prevention
Atisha Centre is located in a fire risk area so it is necessary to avoid all danger of bushfires. It is forbidden to use camping gas, or to light fires, candles incense or mosquito coils in any of the accommodation facilities or designated camping areas. Candles are not to be lit in the Gompa.
Emergency Procedures
In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation such as a bushfire, please assemble quickly inside the Atisha Gompa and follow the directions of the Atisha Centre staff.
Water
Water is very precious at Atisha Centre. We are not connected to mains water and we are dependent on tank water.
Please limit your showers to no more than one brief shower per day and be mindful that all taps are properly closed after use.
Please do not leave taps running while cleaning your teeth.
Toilet cisterns have dual-flush systems and we ask that you use them accordingly.
Please report any problems with toilets or showers to Atisha Office
immediately. If the Office is unattended please leave a message on the whiteboard outside the office.
Please limit your washing to small items such as underwear.
Facilities:
Atisha Gifts shop will be open on Sunday from 11am to 2pm, Extended hours can be negotiated. EFTPOS facility is available.
The dining room is always open, where you can obtain drinking water & refreshments.
The water in the kitchen is tank water. Please do not drink the water from the accommodation or ablution block taps.
Please note that email or internet access is not available for retreatants.
There are no washing machine facilities.
Dietary requirements:
Please inform us well in advance about any dietary requirements. With advance notice we will try to cater for specific dietary requirements.
For those with severe food allergies we cannot guarantee that you will not encounter your allergens in our meals.
All meals are vegetarian.
Preventive Health
We share our beautiful bushland environment with a variety of native animals, birds and insects – some of whom may present a danger to us when encountered unexpectedly. To prevent problems with insects, spiders and snakes please ensure that tents and bags, etc. are securely closed, and shake out shoes and clothing before putting them on. Please keep the screen doors to the accommodation shut. Cover legs and arms to avoid mosquito bites.
What to bring:
- The weather conditions can vary from extreme heat to cold during the year.
- We suggest a shawl or light blanket for meditation.
- Bring comfortable, loose clothing and please note the dress etiquette is to cover legs to at least over the knees and to cover the shoulders. Please no shorts or singlet T shirts.
- Personal toiletries and towel.
- Torch, alarm clock, insect repellent, sunscreen, ear plugs, a refillable water bottle for drinking water.
- The grounds of the Centre have stony paths and areas of bare earth so please bring suitable footwear for walking around. Please keep within the bounds of the Atisha Centre land when walking.
- It is also handy to have comfortable footwear to slip on and off when entering the Gompa.
- Please be mindful that Atisha Centre is situated in bush land and snakes also live here.
Check out Procedure
Please follow the karma yoga request for cleaning your room and dealing with linen. You will find this information on the back of your room door. Please do not lock your door and remember to return your room key to the office to collect your deposit.
Directions:
Atisha Centre is located just 15 minutes from the centre of Bendigo. Follow the Loddon Hwy through Eaglehawk and turn left at the Allies Hotel (Allies Rd). Turn right into Sandhurst Town Rd. For Google map and more detailed directions, as well as transport options from Melbourne airport, please click here.