Stays at the Monastery are free, being asked to bring genuine interest in spiritual practice within this context and to have the ability and willingness to participate in our daily routine and discipline.

In this sense, staying in the monastery is not exactly a retreat in which the person is completely isolated.

There is some interaction with others, and a daily balance between morning tasks and greater afternoon recollection is possible. Thus, there is space and free time for individual practice, but also some time with the community, absorbing its teaching and participating in its daily routine.

We ask guests to arrive between 8am and 6pm. We also ask that you deal with all your personal and professional matters before coming to the Monastery so that there is nothing pending in need of communications or interactions with the outside world.

To schedule your visit you should send us an email telling us a little about yourself, your motivation to come to the Monastery and on what dates I'd like to come. The minimum period is two nights, and for those who come for the first time the maximum period is one week.

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NOTE: In case of illness, flu or contraction of any other contagious disease, before or during the stay, the person is asked to cancel their visit or to leave the space. The monastery is not prepared or able to manage infectious situations that require proper medical assistance.

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Daily Routine that guests are asked to follow and enjoy:

5 a.m. – puja/morning meditation (if possible not to arrive after 5 a.m.)
6 a.m. – Songs (15 min.)
6:30 a.m. – Small task (30 min. – help make breakfast or general cleaning)
7:00 a.m. – breakfast
8 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Morning task (2h. -helping to prepare lunch; field cleaning; or house)
10.30 a.m. – meal/lunch

12h00 - Cleaning and stowage of the kitchen

Afternoons are usually free.

7.30 p.m. – puja / evening meditation
9 p.m. – curfew.

Those who stay in the Monastery are trained in the 8 Precepts during the period of their stay, which are:

1. Non-violence (respect for life): Do not intentionally kill any living being.
2. Trust (honesty): Do not take away/steal what is not offered.
3. Chastity (contentment): Refrain from any intentional sexual activity.
4. The right word (good faith): Avoid malicious, slanderous, false or abusive speech.
5. Sobriety (lucidity): Do not take drugs or intoxicating drinks that minimize consciousness.
6. Resignation (Frugality): Do not eat after noon, except teas, tonics or necessary remedies.
7. Refreio (modesty): not to wear adornments or unmodest clothing; avoid distraction and entertainment including music.
8. Alert status (surveillance): Get enough sleep and not too much.

We have space in the kitchen where we store the food they offer us and that are used to cook meals, in addition to fruit, bread, milk, etc. Whoever stays in the monastery, can help to prepare the meal for the community (monastics and all those who stay in the monastery under the eight precepts). Since there is no food intake after 12 p.m., the only complete meal to cook is lunch. Any donation is also voluntary and welcome, the main one being the help provided with its presence. Note that because we are a mendicant tradition and because we are dependent on the foods they offer us, we cannot provide specialized diets. Fasting is not allowed.

In our Rule we do not dine, which can be difficult for some people, however the goal is frugality and availability for evening meditation (19:30) followed by silent curfew. Everyone who stays at the Monastery follows this rule.

The remaining tasks mainly involve cleaning the land and buildings.

It is always good to bring comfortable clothes to meditate, slippers to walk around the house and some kind of shoes that are easy to put on and take off (socks, slippers, crocs) because it is always necessary to take off shoes when entering buildings. We ask all guests and visitors not to wear shorts or skirts, or trousers or trousers.

Although we provide bed linen and towels, the preference is for people to bring their own bed linen, sleeping bag, etc., if possible. It is also good to bring warm clothes because it can make cold at the beginning and end of the day and also throughout the autumn and winter.

Cancellation policy

Due to the high number of guest requests for overnight stays and the limited spaces we have available, we ask that reservations are not made until the person can firmly commit to the proposed dates, without there being a high probability of change or cancellation. Due to the limit of spaces we often have to reject requests from people who wish to stay overnight in the Monastery. Occasionally, people make reservations and then cancel or change them. If a guest makes a reservation and then cancels or makes changes, this usually means that someone else has missed the opportunity to stay overnight at the Monastery. Therefore, we ask guests not to make a reservation unless they can make a firm commitment to come on those dates.

If a prospective guest has made an overnight reservation, has received confirmation and does not come, without notice, stays in Sumedharama are prohibited to that guest for a period of one year from the date of reservation.

If a prospective guest has made an overnight reservation, received confirmation and then cancels the reservation less than two weeks before their stay (for non-urgent reasons), stays in Sumedharama are prohibited to that guest for six months from the date of booking.

In addition, if a guest stays in Sumedharama and leaves one day or days earlier than planned (for non-urgent reasons), their next stay may not exceed the number of days in the previous one (for example, if someone plans to come for a week and stays only four days, their next booking may not exceed four days).