Monastery Etiquette and Visitor Guidelines

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery has rented Earthspring Sanctuary for the month of November 2022. Two monks from Metta Forest Monastery will be in residence.

Earthspring is a large nature sanctuary, a wilderness refuge suitable for forest monks and for those wishing to participate in the daily schedule of a Theravada Buddhist monastery. Earthspring is approx. 40 minutes by car from downtown Victoria. See Travel Directions below.

The daily meal offering and meditation gatherings will be held in the Kitchen/Sanctuary building. Registered Day Visitors are welcome to offer food and join the Daily Schedule at any time. Please see the application for Day Visitors.

The monks will stay in separate cabins.

There is some room for overnight guests in the Main House. Overnight guests are asked to participate fully in the Daily Schedule of the Monastery. Please see the application for Overnight Guests.

There is no charge for room or board, or, teachings. Everything is provided in the spirit of generosity by the monks and supporters of the Monastery.

The Sanctuary entrance is by use of a ramp.
The Main House is not wheelchair accessible.
There is a pond of water near the Main House that is not to be used by Day Visitors or Overnight Guests.

Eight Precepts and Right Speech

This event is not a scheduled retreat as found at some meditation retreat centres. Aranya Refuge at Earthspring, is modelled after Metta Forest Monastery that is always in “retreat” mode. While at the Monastery, all lay guests will follow the Eight Precepts.

The Monastery is not a place for total silence. Visitors are encouraged to be quiet to support an atmosphere conducive to meditating. However, there are certain chores to be done and cooperation necessary among the guests, so some speech is necessary. The Buddha taught the principle of Right Speech. Before speaking, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it useful? Is it the right time?

Daily Schedule

5:30 am Morning Meditation
Chanting
Recorded talk and guided meditation from Taan Ajaan Geoff
6:45 am Work Period - meal preparation, cleaning
9:00 am Meal Offering to the Monks
10:00am On Saturday and Sunday the meal will be offered at 10am

After the meal offering to the monks, the  meal is shared with guests
Clean-up

Noon Self-directed time for meditation

4:00 pm Work Period 

5:30 pm Gather for short Q&A with Ajaan Geoff in Sala
Tea and allowables (in the sala) during Q&A
Evening Meditation (Chanting, Meditation and Dhamma talk)

How to Participate

Day Visitors

Registered Day visitors are welcome to join any time of the day and stay for all or part of the Daily Schedule. Application for Day Visitors is available here.

All visitors are required to agree to and follow the Monastery Etiquette and Visitor Guidelines, the COVID-19 Safety Protocols and sign a Participant Agreement.

For those wishing to make a food offering, please arrive by 8am with your food ready to serve. A sign up form is available here to let us know in advance when you plan on coming.

For more information contact us at info@aranyarefuge.ca.

Overnight Guests

There will be rooms for some overnight guests to stay for up to one week. Arrivals will start on Mondays and Departures will end on Sundays.

The Main House can accommodate up to 9 overnight guests:

  • 3 single rooms with ensuite toilet and sink.

  • One single room with two single beds (same gender) with ensuite toilet and sink.

  • 4 single beds in a Dorm room occupied by those of the same gender. Shared washroom nearby.

  • Three single-use showers are available nearby.

For information and to apply, click here.

Unfortunately, Earthspring is not set up to receive overnight guests who require wheelchair access.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols can be found here.

Requirements for travelling to and from Canada can be found here.

Guests are responsible for their quarantine plan such as renting a hotel or Airbnb if one becomes ill while staying at the monastery.  All guests must have appropriate medical insurance.

Preparations for Visitors - What to Bring

Bring KN95 or N95 masks. We ask that guests wear masks when gathered in enclosed spaces, such as the Kitchen, Sanctuary, Dining Hall, hallways in the Main house where the bedrooms and dorm room are located.

Be prepared for rain and cold weather between 5 and 10 celsius.

The buildings are spread out. Expect uneven terrain and a small hill to access the Sanctuary Building. For those with mobility concerns, there is a small secondary parking lot next to the Sanctuary. There is a ramp access to the Sanctuary.

Bring footwear that will keep your feet dry and for walking in the woods, on gravel and unpaved pathways. Bring heavy socks or slippers for indoor spaces.

Dress conservatively. Casual and comfortable is fine, but no shorts, and nothing provocative or revealing. This applies to all genders. Avoid using scented products.

Bring your own sitting implements and blankets/shawls. There are some meditation cushions, meditation benches, large foot stools and folding chairs for use. The Sanctuary has a hardwood floor and is heated by a wood stove and a propane heater.

Overnight guests

Bedding is available and we ask that if possible, to please bring your own sheets, pillow cases and towel as laundry facilities are limited. Single rooms have queen sized beds. All other rooms have single sized beds.

Soap and shampoo will be available. Please bring unscented products if you bring your own products.

Bring a flashlight or headlamp, alarm clock, and batteries.

There is one main meal per day and so if you eat breakfast, please bring your own items but note that there is limited fridge and storage space.

Ajaan Geoff will consider exemptions on a case by case basis for those who have medical or special dietary needs and cannot follow the 6th Precept of refraining from eating after midday and before dawn.

Bring a water bottle and, or thermos.

What Not To Bring

  • electronic devices such as microwave ovens, hair dryers, and irons. Smart phones and laptops are okay, but you might consider leaving them behind anyway.

  • items that require frequent laundering as laundry facilities are limited.

The Monks

Please avoid the monks’ area of the Monastery where their cabins are located. There is a sign posted at the driveway area that marks the entrance to the monks’ section. If you’re not sure, ask a monk or a steward for guidance.

Guests are asked to be supportive of the Vinaya rules that the monks follow. When interacting with the monks they might alert you to certain protocols or restrictions. First, be respectful of their requests. Second, they do not expect the laypeople to know all the Vinaya rules and will be happy to explain them to you, time permitting. If you want to learn more about the monks’ rules, you can download and peruse the eBook version of the Buddhist Monastic Code.

Offering Food and other Requisites 

Please come to the Kitchen by 8am to drop off food or arrange a time to bring your food so that a steward can receive your food offerings.  Please use the sign up sheet. For more information, email info@aranyarefuge.ca. Please know that we cannot respond to phone calls.

Please inquire with a Steward or contact us by email if you would like to offer other requisites to support the monks. To offer financial support, please click here.

Travel Directions

Earthspring Sanctuary is in the Highlands, approx. 15 minutes from the municipality of Langford, BC. and 40 minutes from the city of Victoria, BC.

Driving to and from Earthspring will require careful attention. The road is very narrow, with several tight bends and blind spots, making it easy to miss turn-offs. At night, the road will be exceptionally dark and likely wet from rainy November weather.

Directions to Earthspring are available here.

We recommend that you drive to Earthspring using the route from Hwy 1 to Millstream Road to Millstream Lake Road that leads to 405 Hazlitt Creek Road. This is the route on the Earthspring website that is described as coming from the BlackBall Ferry in downtown Victoria, BC.

The other route from Victoria International Airport leads to narrow, windy roads. It can be difficult to navigate, especially at night.

Note: the Google Maps pin is actually not completely accurate; you’ll want to drive a few meters AFTER the location on the Google Maps pin to take the left turn to enter the property. You’ll know to take a left when you see this “Earthspring” sign on your left.

Information about services in Langford can be found here. The closest hospital is the Victoria General Hospital, approx. 30 minutes from Earthspring.  

Public transit buses operate from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal to Victoria (map) and from Victoria to Langford (map).

Car Rentals are available at the airport, in Victoria or Langford.

Taxi service is available from the airport or ferry terminal.

Ride-hailing services are also available: Lucky To Go and KABU.

Where to Park

Please park in the main parking lot. There will be a few vehicles there.

The dorm and single bedrooms are in the Main House, close to the parking lot. To get there, take the first path AFTER the parking lot, to your LEFT.

From the parking lot area, you can also walk up the hill to the Kitchen and Sanctuary building. To get there, take the path at the RIGHT, AFTER the parking lot.

You are welcome to park for a short time in front of the Kitchen/Sanctuary to drop off food, and meditation gear you wish to bring with you. Those with mobility concerns can park for longer periods of time in this secondary parking area.

Health Services

If you are not a resident of British Columbia, you must have appropriate medical insurance for your time in British Columbia. 

The closest urgent care facility is in Langford, BC.

Guests are responsible for finding appropriate accommodation should you become ill while staying at the monastery.

Some hotels in the Victoria, BC area have quarantine provisions for visitors with COVID-19. Here are some suggested hotels for you to consider:

For information about what to do if you think you have COVID-19, click here.