What is Buddhafield North’s relation to Buddhafield and the Triratna Buddhist Community?

Buddhafield North has a strong relation to the Triratna Buddhist Community and the original Buddhafield network who run many retreats in South West England. There are Triratna order members in our core team and many others come on our retreats. Like all the groups, centres, businesses and organisations under the Triratna umbrella, we are close with Triratna but independent.

 

How did Buddhafield North begin?

Buddhafield North (BFN) was started more than twenty years ago by a group of friends from Northern England who had been traveling down south for Buddhafield events and wanted to have something similar going on closer to home. Fortunately, the idea took root and continues to flourish in all sorts of magical ways.

 

How is BFN organised?

A core team of about 20 people take responsibility for organising BFN throughout the year. As we get closer to dates for the retreats, we expand the team to cover key jobs like cooking, site work, spiritual leadership and kids activities.  Currently, the core team meets in November and in February and then also for a weekend on site in the field  in May when we do a lot of set-up work. People coming on retreats then help to complete set-up, do necessary work on the retreat, and take down so everything can finish and everyone can go home.

 

Can I join the core team?

Yes. Come on some retreats, we will get to know each other and invite you to our meetings. We are very happy to welcome new core team members.

 

How is BFN financed?

Everyone on retreat contributes financially through the booking process. Team members pay a discounted rate in respect of the extra work that they do. We have no other source of income.

 

Do you offer free places in return for work, workshops, special skills etc?

We offer team rates to cover essential jobs. Very  occasionally we offer free places for roles that we particularly need,  but, with time pressing, haven’t yet been able to cover. 

There is a bursary fund which we have built up  over the years from retreatants generosity and any excess funds might have collected after costs are met. We encourage retreatants to donate to this, and to request support from it if needed.  Bursaries are usually decided around April each year.

 

Is BFN like the Buddhafield Festival?

No. Our events have the character of retreats. On the Open retreat there is plenty of music, drama,  noise and fun at times but it’s not a festival.

 

How many people come to Buddhafield North events?

In recent years we have had 20 to 30 people on the Meditation Retreat and Women’s Weekend and around 100 people on the Open Retreat. The maximum number we would have onsite for any event is around 120.

 

Can people join retreats late or leave early?

We ask retreatants to avoid this as the retreats have a beginning, a middle and an end which we think everyone benefits from participating in, as a whole community.  We see all the work of the retreats as part of the retreats.

 

Can I get public transport to the retreat site?

There are reasonably good public transport links to transport railway stations at Ilkley in Wharfedale or Steeton & Silsden in Airedale, both within three or four miles of the retreat site. The team will help with lifts from those points if possible, otherwise taxis are available. There are also buses to Ilkley and Silsden.

 

Can you guarantee beautifully warm weather for the duration of the retreats?

Yes.

 

Can I bring my live-in vehicle onto the retreat site?

Yes. You will need levelling equipment as flat ground is limited.  You will need to be able to pay the friendly local farmer to drag you out if the ground gets really wet as the site is down a sloping track liable to get very muddy.

 

What are the facilities?

We have compost toilets and an outdoor shower with privacy and hot water. 

We have running water from taps around the site for drinking and washing, brushing teeth etc.

 

Do I need to bring anything to eat?

Your booking cost includes plentiful delicious vegan food at breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks, with some dairy available for those who need it.  You’ll probably be helping us prepare it from time to time. We have some really great cooks on the team. Some retreatants bring snacks for themselves.

 

What if I have special dietary or allergy  requirements?

Just let us know when you book and we can accomodate this into the menus so that there will be food for you.

 

Is there a level-access toilet for disabled retreatants?

If you let us know, we can put up a toilet tent for you and create a facility to meet your needs.

 

How does it work for kids on the Open Retreat? Especially kids with special needs?

All kids remain the responsibility of parents/carers throughout the Open retreat. There will be activities like games and bushcraft that many kids really enjoy. They may well develop their own skills, confidence and friendships while they are with us. We keep an eye on what is happening amongst all retreatants, adults and children, so problems can be addressed whenever possible. We have a conflict resolution process which we will tell you about at the start of the retreat..

 

You say there’s music on the Open Retreat. Shall I bring my own instrument?

Yes please. We have many campfire songs in sheet music and in recent years we’ve had a ceilidh during the course of the week.

 

We ask you to give kids ages for the Open Retreat. At what point?

Their age at the time of the Open Retreat.