Rules & Regulations

Considerations to Keep in Mind Before Starting a Retreat

Vipassana mindfulness goes beyond the ordinary awareness of everyday life, and can be developed into a spiritual power that enables one to know a Transcendent Reality, also called the Unconditioned or Nibbana. It is a path of growth through the development of “insights”, that is, experiences of wisdom – or intuitive knowledge – that enable us to understand the three universal characteristics of existence: impermanence (Anicca in the Pali language), unsatisfactoriness (Dukkha) and the absence of a self (Anatta). The scriptures and commentaries identify 16 levels of Insight, culminating in the first experience of the Unconditioned. This goal is a great and real opportunity for human beings, and is within reach of all those who dedicate themselves to the practice with motivation and confidence, following the method and the teachers’ instructions. We would like to emphasize the value of the retreat as a dimension that is difficult to access in modern society; here, in fact, we have the opportunity to enter a path of inner exploration traced by the Buddha himself and practiced by Noble Persons throughout time. For these reasons, it is important to dedicate oneself to the practice with the utmost diligence, bearing in mind that one’s commitment can contribute to the success of the retreat for the benefit of everyone. We believe it is useful to provide some suggestions to make your stay and coexistence at the Center easier.

Daily Mindfulness

During Vipassana retreats, you will be asked to move slowly and maintain silence. Being mindful of the presence of others, move through the spaces of the house with awareness, avoiding walking noisily and slamming doors (especially the entrance door). You can already consider this a mindfulness practice and you will be able to realize how mindful you are by the way you close the door. Please pay particular attention in the dining room, which is located directly above the meditation hall. The commitment to silence is essential for the proper functioning of the retreat and must be observed throughout the Center and the outdoor area for the entire duration of the retreat. For any needs, you may speak with the manager, staff members or the teacher.

The Precepts

At the beginning of each retreat, you will be asked to observe the following precepts:

Respect the life of every living being;
Take only what belongs to you or what is offered to you, including food;
Adopt respectful sexual conduct (during the retreat this precept becomes abstinence from any sexual activity and flirting)
Use speech wisely (during the retreat this precept becomes Noble Silence)
Do not take substances that may cloud the mind (alcohol, drugs, etc.)
Eat solid food only before noon (before 1:00 p.m. during standard time); in the evening, a hot or cold drink will be offered
Avoid wearing jewelry, perfumes or clothing inappropriate to the retreat setting, without devoting too much time to enhancing your appearance.
Do not adopt overly comfortable meditation postures or seating arrangements that may induce laziness or drowsiness.

The sixth precept is at your discretion, but following it is recommended, according to the Eastern tradition, as not eating food in the afternoon is very conducive to good practice. If you choose not to observe the sixth precept, the evening meal will nevertheless consist of a light snack with hot and cold drinks.

If, on the other hand, you decide to observe the sixth precept, write your name on the notice board near the kitchen. In any case, it is always possible to change your decision and not observe the sixth precept if you find that you are unable to maintain it (in this case, remember to remove your name from the notice board).

Meals

The food is vegetarian and meals are served buffet-style. At the end of each meal, we ask you to return plates and utensils to the kitchen according to the instructions provided.

With regard to food intolerances and allergies, the kitchen staff are required to prepare only one menu for everyone. At their discretion, the staff may prepare additional food or make arrangements with people with intolerances and adapt the existing menu to different needs. (If you are gluten intolerant, you may bring your own cereals or bread for breakfast.) We also remind you to show consideration and respect for the people who work here by making their work easier and keeping the spaces you use clean, arriving on time for meals and finishing meals on time so that they have enough time to clean up.

Things to Keep in Mind

We ask you to wear slippers inside the building.
Smoking is not permitted within the Center grounds; smokers are asked to go outside the gate, remembering not to throw cigarette butts on the ground but to extinguish them and place them in the appropriate bin near the gate.
Reading during retreats is discouraged, even Dhamma books; if you really wish to read, please do so in private and not in common areas.
Mobile phones must be kept switched off both inside the house (including in the rooms) and in the immediate surroundings; this means that you should not send or receive text messages, WhatsApp messages or emails. This also applies to computers and tablets. If it is essential to communicate with the outside world, you may do so by moving a reasonable distance away or, upon request, by using the Center’s telephone or computer.
We recommend that you do not leave the Center grounds, so as not to become distracted and lose continuity of mindfulness; however, if you wish to take a walk, remember to greet people politely if you meet anyone from the village.
In the garden, we ask you not to practice lying-down meditation, nor to sunbathe in swimwear. Remember that there are ticks in the grass (even near the Center), so, especially if you take a walk in the woods, check yourself when you return.
You will be asked to help with the running of the house by carrying out small daily tasks; practicing mindfulness in daily activities and generosity are an integral part of the practice. It is also necessary for the functioning of the Center and helps create a sense of community and Sangha. You will find the list of tasks, the names of the people assigned to them and an explanation of the tasks on the notice board near the kitchen door; the staff will be available to provide further explanations regarding your task.
A bell will signal when it is time to return to the meditation hall or when an activity is due to begin after meals; it will be rung in turn by different people, who will have this responsibility at the same time every day. The bell should be rung three times, gently; there will also be a smaller bell to be rung outside the building. You will find the list of bell ringers and their times on the small table near the entrance to the dining room.
Out of respect for the surrounding natural environment, we ask you not to pick flowers or fruit.
Please respect and take care of the items and equipment provided by the Center.

The Meditation Hall

The meditation hall is the heart of the Center, and therefore we ask for particular care and respect in its use. Only sitting meditation is practiced in the meditation hall, so lying-down meditation (or sleeping), lying down during teachings, physical exercises and walking meditation are not permitted. We also ask you not to point your feet toward the teacher (in Asia this is considered disrespectful). Try to arrive on time for the beginning of meditation sessions and do not enter if the session has already begun. Wear appropriate clothing, do not bring bottles or bags into the hall, do not use perfumes and keep your place tidy. Please take care of and respect the Center’s property; do not fold the mats and do not use blankets as cushions or to rest your feet on, but only to cover yourself. If you sit on a chair, please do not position yourself in front of someone who is sitting on the floor. Do not take blankets or mats outside. Shoes must be removed before entering the hall.

For reasons of energy conservation and safety, the task of opening and closing the windows and airing the meditation hall, managing the lights and lighting the candles will be assigned to one person only; we ask you to respect this responsibility and not interfere for any reason, patiently accepting the conditions you find.

Walking Meditation Areas

For walking meditation, if the weather is good, you may use any part of the garden; we also remind you that we have prepared an area behind the Center, accessible via a small path starting from the first small field, dedicated to walking meditation and equipped with paved paths. This area has been named “the garden of the divine snails” and we will be pleased if you wish to use it. If the weather is bad, you may use the spaces inside the house: your own room, the corridors, balconies, the small room near the dining room, etc.

Interviews

The way interviews with the teacher will be conducted and their location will be communicated at the beginning of the retreat. Remember to check the list of names and interview times on the notice board outside the meditation hall every day, and to arrive early for your interview. You may practice walking meditation while waiting.

Rooms and Bathrooms

During retreats, participants are expected to keep their room and the spaces they use clean and to leave them clean and tidy for those who will arrive afterwards. Please do not take duvets or pillows out of the rooms; if you need anything, you can ask the staff. Do not bring food into your room. Take care to close the windows and external shutters if a storm is approaching, if it is raining or if it is windy. When the heating is on, if it is too hot or too cold, you can use the valve on the radiator. Do not leave the window open with the valve open, as this wastes heating; if you open the window, turn the thermostatic valve down to 1. The optimal setting is 3.

Please follow the instructions for using the bathrooms that you will find in the facilities.

The Center has a laundry room, but we discourage washing your own laundry, either by hand or in the washing machine, except for long stays. Participants are expected to bring enough changes of clothing for at least one week; use of the washing machine must in any case be agreed with a member of staff.

Use water (hot or cold) sparingly; take short showers and do not leave taps running when you are not actually using the water. If you notice a fault or malfunction, report it immediately.

For the proper functioning of the phytodepuration system we have adopted, do not throw toilet paper, sanitary products or other items into the toilet, but use the bin provided in each bathroom, remembering to empty it frequently by taking the bag to the large container outside near the entrance stairs.

For safety reasons, lighting candles is not permitted anywhere in the house.

Respecting the retreat rules is essential for the proper functioning of the retreat itself and for living together at the Center, and is a commitment and responsibility that each person accepts when registering.

We trust in the meditators’ sense of responsibility, recognizing that everyone is personally free to commit themselves or become distracted at their own discretion; however, please bear in mind that a retreat is a rare opportunity to dedicate yourself to introspection and personal growth, and it is good to use your time productively.

It will nevertheless be our responsibility to protect the quality of the retreat by intervening whenever someone’s behavior disturbs those who are practicing seriously; in extreme cases, if a person persists in inappropriate behavior and fails to respect the rules indicated, we will be forced to ask them to leave the Center, without refunding the fee paid.

We wish you a fruitful retreat at Pian dei Ciliegi, and hope that you may gain profound insights in your practice and progress rapidly.

The staff