Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery
Two-Month Monastery ‘27

We are very happy to invite you to participate in Aranya Refuge's seventh temporary monastery during the months of February and March 2027. Following the success of our 2025 and 2026 programs, we’re returning to Tugwell Cottage—two adjacent homes on adjoining properties in rural Sooke, approximately 1 hour west of Victoria, BC.

Monks from Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) will be supported to further their practice and offer teachings on a daily basis to those who come to support them. There will be opportunities for those wishing to offer a meal or to come as a day visitor. As well, there will be some room to stay for one-week as an overnight guest.

The Monastery Experience

The schedule is that of a typical monastery in the Thai forest tradition, to which the monks belong: early morning group meditation, morning meal, free time to meditate in solitude for most of the day, Q&A session in the evening, followed by chanting and another group meditation, along with a Dhamma talk at night. Lay visitors benefit from direct contact with the monks who have devoted their lives to the practice of the Dhamma and Vinaya. Guests help in the daily preparation and offering of food, and assist with the upkeep of the facilities. There is plenty of time for meditating in the meditation hall or in the forest.

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

Visiting and Staying at the Monastery

Meal Offering (Dāna) to the Monastics

Each morning, the monks walk through the local area on alms round (pindapata), carrying their bowls to receive food offerings. You're welcome to bring food for the monks on any day from February 1 through March 28, 2027. Just come — no need to let us know in advance.

Learn more here.

Day Visitors

Day Visitors are welcome from Feb 1 to Mar 27 2027.

Day Visitors can join the daily schedule, such as offering food at the morning meal offering, meditating in the meditation hall, engaging in self-directed practice on the grounds, and joining the group meditation gatherings.

Learn more about visiting here.

Overnight Guests

We have some rooms available for Overnight Guests to stay Feb 1 - Mar 27 2027.

Eight week-long cohorts are available for Monday to Sunday stays.

Accommodation options include single rooms, and shared rooms for two people of the same gender.

Please apply to be an Overnight Guest here.

Please click to learn learn more about:

• The Daily Schedule.

• Following the Eight Precepts.

• Aranya Refuge’s Monastery Etiquette and Visitor Guidelines.

As well, you can view photos from our successful 2026 ‘Two-Month Monastery’ here.

Questions? Please email us at registrar@aranyarefuge.org.

Anumodana for supporting the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha to take roots in a wilderness home on Vancouver Island!

• Aranya Refuge Board of Directors: Than Ajaan Geoff, Brock Brown, Jacqui Balfour, Russ Callaghan, Irfan Pirbhai, Tiara Letourneau, Kiko Brown, June Fukushima (in loving memory)

• Monastery for Two Months Volunteer Team: Brock Brown, Kiko Brown, Suzan Denis, Irfan Pirbhai

Monastery Etiquette and Visitor Guidelines

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery has rented two houses on adjacent properties in Sooke, BC in February and March 2026. Monks from Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) will be in residence throughout the program, with two monks present in February and two different monks present in March.

The meditation hall, kitchen, and accommodation for lay guests will be in one house, called Tugwell Cottage. The monks will reside in a separate house. A wooded area is close by. The country setting will offer a wilderness refuge suitable for forest monks and for those wishing to participate in the daily schedule of a Theravada Buddhist monastery. Sooke is approx. 1 hour by car from downtown Victoria. See Travel Directions below.

Guests are welcome to visit the monastery to offer food, or join the Daily Schedule as Day Visitors and participate fully or for parts of the day.

Also, we have some rooms for Overnight Guests who are asked to stay for one-week (Monday to Sunday) and participate fully in the Daily Schedule. Eight week-long cohorts are available for Monday to Sunday stays.

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

Unfortunately, Tugwell Cottage is not set up to receive visitors who require wheelchair access.

6:00–7:00am:
Morning Meditation: Chanting, recorded Dhamma talk from Than Ajaan Geoff, and meditation

7:00am:
Work Period: Meal preparation, cleaning

9:30am
Meal Offering to the Monks: After the meal is offered to the monks, the meal is shared with the guests

Work Period: Clean-up

11:00am–5:15pm:
Quiet Time

12:00–12:45pm:
Group Meditation (optional)

4:30–5:15pm:
Group Meditation (optional)

6:00–8:30pm:
Q&A with the Monks
Tea & Allowables (in the sala)
Evening Meditation: Chanting, recorded Dhamma talk from Than Ajaan Geoff, and meditation

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Meal Offering (Dāna) to the Monastics

 You are welcome to bring a meal, groceries, or other items to support the monks and those staying at the monastery. The meal offering to the monks is at 9:30am. 

You are welcome to arrive at any time — if you arrive after the meal offering, the laypeople will keep your food and offer it to the monks the following day.

For any questions, email registrar@aranyarefuge.org. 

DAY VISITORS joining the DAILY SCHEDULE

Day visitors are welcome to join any time of the day and stay for all or part of the Daily Schedule.

While at the monastery, we ask that you follow the 5 Precepts.

OVERNIGHT GUESTS

Overnight Guests participate fully in the Daily Schedule for one-week (6 nights). Arrivals start on Mondays and departures on Sundays.

There is overnight accommodation for up to 7 overnight guests:

• 3 single rooms 

• 2 bedrooms with two beds in each room to be occupied by those of the same gender. 

• Shared washrooms and showers.

For information and to apply, click here.

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

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

If you become ill while at the monastery, you are responsible for arranging alternative accommodations such as renting a hotel or Airbnb. All guests must have appropriate medical insurance.

PREPARATIONS FOR VISITORS - WHAT TO BRING

Be prepared for rain and cold weather between 0 to 10°C.

Bring footwear that will keep your feet dry and for walking in the woods, on gravel and unpaved pathways. Bring slippers for indoor spaces. Bring heavier socks for wearing in the sala (no slippers or shoes permitted).

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 gear and blankets/shawls. There are folding chairs, some meditation cushions, and meditation benches.

Bring work gloves if you would like to help with tasks such as moving wood.

Bring a COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device in case you become ill while at the monastery. Wearing a mask is optional. Please bring a mask in case you become ill while at the monastery.

OVERNIGHT GUESTS

Bedding is available, but please bring towels.

Please also bring unscented soap and shampoo products.

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

There is one main meal per day. 

We offer food to the monks and then share what is not taken by the monks. The offering includes meat/fish/eggs and a vegetarian dish, vegetables, grain/pasta, fruit, dessert. This substantial meal is offered mid-morning at 9:30 am.

While there will be vegetarian protein options available, please know that we are unable to offer vegan options and we cannot provide gluten-free or dairy-free options or other special diet needs. If you have special dietary requirements, please speak to us about what you can bring with you to supplement your diet.

Please note there is limited storage space. Coolers will be available for items that need to be kept cold. There is no fridge space for personal items.

Bring a water bottle and/or thermos.

Tea, coffee, dairy milk, sugar will be available after the morning meditation sit, and at the main meal.

In the late afternoon, allowable items will be available. 

• Dark chocolate, no dairy, nuts, fruit

• Candied ginger

• Candies such as jelly beans, gummy bears 

• Tea - a selection of herbal, black and green teas

What Not To Bring

• Electronic devices such as kettles, hair dryers, and irons.

• Cell phone reception is limited. If you need to use your phone or computer, please be discreet and use it for emergencies only. 

• Items that require frequent laundering, as laundry facilities are limited.

EIGHT PRECEPTS AND RIGHT SPEECH

This event is not a scheduled retreat as found at some meditation retreat centres. The monastery experience is modelled after Metta Forest Monastery, which is always in “retreat” mode. While at the Monastery, all lay guests are encouraged to follow the Eight Precepts.

1. Refrain from taking life.

2. Refrain from stealing.

3. Refrain from sexual activity including comments or physical contact that could be interpreted as sexual or sensual in nature.

4. Refrain from telling lies.

5. Refrain from consuming alcohol or intoxicating drugs.

6. Refrain from eating at the wrong time (after mid-day and before dawn).

7. Refrain from dancing, singing, music, watching shows, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying oneself with cosmetics.

8. Refrain from sitting or lying on high and luxurious seats and beds.

The Monastery is not a place for total silence. However, visitors are encouraged to keep conversations to a minimum to support an atmosphere conducive to meditation. There are certain chores to be done and cooperation is necessary among the guests, so some speech is necessary. The Buddha taught the principles of Right Speech. Before speaking, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it useful? Is this the right time?

THE MONKS

Please do not walk or meditate close to the monks’ house. 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 you are 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.

Place: Tugwell Cottage | 7976 Tugwell Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0J8.

Sooke is 50 km from the city of Victoria, BC. Travel options to Sooke are available here. Tugwell Cottage is approx. 15 minutes from downtown Sooke.

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

Car Rentals are available at the airport or in Victoria.

Taxi service is available from the airport or ferry terminal.

Ride-hailing services such as Uber are also available.

WHERE TO PARK

Please park in front of the cottage. Enter the cottage from the right-side entrance.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

For those traveling to join us at Tugwell Cottage, especially from the USA or other overseas locations, it's important to obtain medical insurance before your arrival. This step is important to safeguard against any unforeseen medical expenses for those not residing in Canada.

Additionally, we recommend considering comprehensive travel insurance. This can provide peace of mind and protect against unexpected changes in travel plans. We suggest looking for policies that cover trip cancellations and interruptions—ideally with a 'Cancel for Any Reason' (CFAR) upgrade, which offers the most flexibility.

While Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery endeavors to provide stability and certainty in our retreat planning, we recognize that unforeseen circumstances can arise. Robust travel insurance can be an essential safeguard for your investment in travel and accommodation. Please ensure that your policy provides adequate coverage for cancellations initiated by either the traveler or the retreat organizers.

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 a nearby city, Langford, BC, approx. 30 minutes from Sooke.

The closest hospital is the Victoria General Hospital, approx. 30 minutes from Sooke.

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

Information about services in Sooke can be found here.  

Day Visitors

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery has rented Tugwell Cottage, near Sooke, BC, for two months in February/March 2026.

Monks from Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) will be in residence throughout the program, with two monks present in February and two different monks present in March.

Tugwell Cottage is in rural Sooke, BC. Guests are welcome to meditate in the meditation hall and join the daily schedule of a Theravada Buddhist monastery. The location offers a large open yard with a creek running through the property. The house has a large wrap-around deck available for outdoor walking or sitting meditation. A forest and trails are nearby, offering a wilderness refuge suitable for forest monks in the Thai Forest tradition. The monks will stay in a separate house on an adjacent property.

Tugwell Cottage is approximately 15 minutes by car from downtown Sooke and 50 km from downtown Victoria.

We welcome Day Visitors from Monday, February 1, through to Sunday, March 28, 2027.

No registration required — you are welcome to simply show up. If you are planning to stay for a full day, please email us beforehand at registrar@aranyarefuge.org.

If you are joining just for morning or evening meditation, please arrive at least 10 minutes before the start so you can get settled.

All visitors are asked to observe the Five Precepts during their time at the monastery. The Five Precepts are the basic training rules for practicing lay Buddhists, and are also observed by day visitors at Wat Metta, the home monastery of our visiting monks.

You can read them in full here.

Application for Overnight Guests

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery has rented Tugwell Cottage, near Sooke, BC, for two months in February/March 2027.

Monks from Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) will be in residence, with two monks present in February and two different monks present in March.

Tugwell Cottage is in rural Sooke, BC. Guests are welcome to meditate in the meditation hall and join the daily schedule of a Theravada Buddhist monastery. The location offers a large open yard with a creek running through the property. The house has a large wrap-around deck available for outdoor walking or sitting meditation. A forest and trails are nearby, offering a wilderness refuge suitable for forest monks in the Thai Forest tradition. The monks will stay in a separate house on an adjacent property.

Tugwell Cottage is approximately 15 minutes by car from downtown Sooke and 50 km from downtown Victoria.

We welcome applications for Overnight Guests from Monday, February 1, through to Sunday, March 28, 2027.

Requirements for Overnight Guests

• Abide by the 8 Precepts.

• Participate in the Daily Schedule.

Please be in touch with us by email if you have any questions.

Approved visitors will be asked to sign a Participant Agreement.

Accommodations

Tugwell Cottage is a large two-story log home offering accommodations for overnight guests. The house has 5 bedrooms — 4 upstairs and 1 downstairs — along with 3 bathrooms, a large kitchen, and a spacious living room area that will be arranged to be the meditation hall (sala). There is a large wood stove and electric baseboard heating. The wrap-around deck provides space for sitting or walking meditation.

Accommodation options include single rooms and shared rooms for two people of the same gender. Overnight guests will be accommodated during one of the eight available weeks. Guests are expected to arrive on Monday and depart the following Sunday. We ask that you clean and vacate your room by 1pm, although you are welcome to stay on the property and leave at a later time.

For emergencies, Wi-Fi is available, and there is access to a landline phone. Text messaging may work depending on your provider. For full cell phone service, the town of Sooke is just a 5–7 minute drive from Tugwell Cottage.

Meal Offering (Dāna) to the Monastics

What is pindapata? Each morning, the monks walk through the local area on alms round (pindapata — Pali for "the food morsels fall into the bowl"). This practice traces back to the earliest Buddhist records and remains central to the Theravada monastic tradition. It is a mutual relationship: the monks depend on lay supporters for their daily meal, and supporters have the opportunity to give voluntarily and make merit. If you happen to see the monks walking along Otter Point Road or the trails near Tugwell Cottage and wish to offer food, you are welcome to do so.

In-Person

Food is offered to the monks at 9:30am every day at the sala (meditation hall). You are welcome to bring food to offer to the monks. If you arrive after the offering time, you can give food to the resident laypeople, who will keep it and offer it to the monks the following day.

You are welcome to bring food on any day from February 1 through March 28, 2027. No need to let us know in advance — just come. If you have dishes that need heating or cooking, please arrive by 8:30am.

If you have questions, please email registrar@aranyarefuge.org.

After the meal offering, the food will be brought to the dining room area where you are welcome to take the food and eat in this area or outside (if it's warm enough).

Place: Tugwell Cottage | 7976 Tugwell Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0J8.

Sooke is 50 km from the city of Victoria, BC. Travel options to Sooke are available here. Tugwell Cottage is approx. 15 minutes from downtown Sooke.

Park in front of the cottage. Go to the right-side of the building where you will see an entrance to the Mud Room where you can leave your coat and shoes.

Bring your dishes to the Kitchen and Dining area.

Bring slippers to keep your feet warm.

Dietary requirements:

Please note: Monks cannot eat raw fish (e.g., sushi) or food items containing raw eggs (e.g., chocolate mousse) as per Vinaya rules (source). This also includes foods such as steak tartare, sashimi, oysters on the half-shell, and caviar.

All food must be fully cooked and ready to eat before offering, as monks are not permitted to cook or store food for later consumption. Additionally, all food is served at once and only offered one time. If you’re unsure about a particular dish, feel free to ask in advance.

It's best to bring everything with you to serve the meal although there are pots/pans for warming and some basic utensils.

CONTRIBUTE TO a meal

If you're unable to offer food in-person but are inspired to give, you can help purchase food items for a meal. Email registrar@aranyarefuge.org for more info.

We appreciate your generosity - anumodana! 🙏