Nilambe Buddhist Meditation Centre

Nilambe Buddhist Meditation Centre is a lay-run centre in the tea country near Kandy, in Sri Lanka's Central Province. It grew from a group of friends from Kandy who met twice a week to meditate at the engineer's bungalow at Peradeniya University in the late 1970s. When they had to leave the bungalow in 1977, a Kandy businessman, owner of the neighbouring Nawa Nilambe tea estate, gave land and paid for the buildings. Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein, visiting Sri Lanka, led the first course for about 60 people. Godwin Samararatne came as manager in 1979, became its teacher, and over the next 20 years Nilambe became known internationally. The centre runs guided insight-meditation retreats, open to beginners and experienced meditators, and individually guided retreats. Instruction is in Sinhala and English. Days combine sitting, walking and working meditation, talks and chanting; meditators keep the five precepts and silence. Rooms and vegetarian meals are provided; men and women stay in separate sections. There is no electricity, so phones cannot be charged, and nights are usually cold. Take the Delthota bus from Kandy to Office Junction, 17 km away, then walk about 45 minutes uphill through tea plantations or take a three-wheeler. Arrival is between 1 pm and 3 pm, and the centre asks for bookings at least two weeks ahead.