Welcome to Santikaram Forest Temple
Santikaram Forest Temple
is a meditation and recreation centre created by Santikaram Association Slovakia.
It is located in a beautiful natural environment in Žilina region in northern Slovakia, near a thermal spa town Rajecke Teplice. (location on the map)
The forest temple was established in October 2022 and officially opened on 1st January 2023.
Primary, it serves as an open meditation retreat centre for the members of the association as well as for its guests and visitors. It also accomodates Buddhist monks and meditation teachers.
Currently, the forest temple is supervised by a Slovakian Theravada Buddhist monk Venerable Bhante Sati Santikaro Thera.
Guidelines for visitors
1. Eight precepts
All guests, including those who visit the temple for just one day, are expected to observe eight precepts. These precepts are the standard for personal training, they bring benefits in everyday life, and are the basis for living in mutual harmony:
1. Refrain from intentionally killing living creatures.
2. Refrain from taking anything that is not given.
3. Refrain from sexual intercourse.
4. Refrain from false, malicious or offensive speech.
5. Refrain from drinking alcohol and taking drugs.
6. Refrain from eating in the afternoon until the next morning.
7. Refrain from entertainment, dancing, playing musical instruments, playing games and adorning oneself.
8. Refrain from excessive indulgence in sleep and sitting/lying on a luxurious seats/beds.
2. Clothing
Guests are expected to wear clothing that reflects respect for modesty. Trouses, skirts and dresses should cover the knees and shoulders. Loose fitting clothes for meditation are also suitable. We encourage visitors and guests to make the most of this opportunity to live simply.
3. Routine of the day
Guests are expected to participate in temple activities as directed by the steward or resident monk and follow the basic routine of the day, which regularly includes work, participation in communal meditations, and involvement in the preparation and offering of the daily meal. In the case of a meditation retreat, strict adherence to the Meditation Retreat Program for beginners or advanced is required.
Basic routine of the day:
06:30 – 07:00 alarm clock, personal hygiene
07:00 – 08:00 morning chanting & meditation in the hall
08:00 – 09:00 breakfast
09:00 – 11:00 working hours
11:00 – 12:00 lunch
4. Internet
Free WiFi is available at the temple. However, it is not recommended to use mobile phones, tablets and notebooks at the temple. The use of the internet is restricted completely during a meditation retreat. Part of the experience of staying in the temple is a break from the modern, wired lifestyle, constantly connected to the internet. Exceptions can be made in certain circumstances, for example for visitors from other countries who have essential travel requirements. Otherwise, guests are advised to make the most of the quietude from the internet and social media during their visit. Silent mode of mobile phones and tablets is taken for granted during the entire visit.
5. Meditation retreat
If a visitor is interested in a meditation retreat for more than one day, it is necessary to fill in the Application form for the meditation retreat and hand it to the kappiya (monk's assistant) or directly to the resident monk on the day of your arrival. During periods of formal retreat, strict observance of the noble silence is usually expected.
6. Interview with the monk
Guests can request an interview with the resident monk. It is advisable to arrange the time of the interview in advance, as the monk may not necessarily be available.
12:00 – 17:00 individual practice
17:00 – 18:00 tea, refreshments
18:00 – 19:00 individual practice
19:00 – 20:00 evening chanting & meditation in the hall
20:00 – 06:00 individual practice, rest
7. Arriving
The best time to arrive at the temple is either in the morning before 11 a.m. or in the afternoon around 5 p.m. In general, the monastic community is not available between 12 pm and 5 pm o'clock. It is not appropriate to visit the temple after 9 pm. If a visitor cannot arrive at the recommended time, an alternative solution should be arranged in advance. Upon arrival, a visitor will immediately look for the temple steward, kappiya (monk's assistant), or resident monk.
8. Health condition
The guests themselves are responsible for their health during the visit or stay at the temple. They are adviced to bring along all the necessary medication they need to maintain their health. If a visitor develop any symptoms of an infectious disease (including covid-19, cold or flu) or has been in close contact with someone who has such symptoms, the visit of the temple should be postpone.
Visitors under the influence of drugs or during rehab are not allowed to stay at the temple for even one night.
9. Age Limitation
All visitors are welcome to the temple regardless of age. Guests who are interested in an overnight stay and are under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian or another responsible adult.
10. Rent of premises
Visitors can rent the premises of the temple individually or in groups for their own meditation or recreational purposes. All premises of the temple, including rooms, are rented with shared social facilities. The rooms are single, double, triple or quadruple. Depending on the capacity of the temple, it is possible to arrange the rent of a separate room in advance. Guests are required to take responsibility for the premises and to clean and return them in their original condition before departure.
11. Diet
The temple does not offer meals to visitors. Guests prepare their own food from their own resources or procure it by importing it from nearby shops and restaurants. We expect guests with specific food allergies to take full responsibility for their health. There is a kitchen in the temple equipped with an electric stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, kettle, immersion blender and kitchen scale. When using the kitchen, kitchen utensils and all the appliances, guests are required to always wash everything thoroughly and put it in the appropriate place.
12. Donations and Contributions for Retreat
Support for the temple is obtained exclusively by alms (voluntary contribution according to one's means), in the form of food, money or personal skills.
For the meditation retreat, a contribution of €15 is set for the members of Santikaram Association Slovakia, or €20 for other visitors and guests of the temple. The listed prices include only the room rental price per person per night. Please, hand over the contribution for the retreat to the temple steward or kappiya (who will also issue an accounting bill for you) on the day of arrival to the temple. The contribution for the retreat can also be paid by direct transfer to our bank account: Santikaram Slovakia, IBAN:
SK9611000000002948131901, the message for the recipient: retreat.
13. Electrical appliances
For safety reasons, we ask visitors not to bring their own electrical devices that produce heat, such as hair dryers, electric blankets, kettles, or other electrical devices that could cause a fire in the event of a malfunction.
14. Suitable to bring to the temple
Warm work clothes, towel and toiletries, alarm clock (watch), waterproof clothes, walking shoes, easily removable shoes or slippers (for inside premises of the temple), meditation cushion.
14. Prohibited to bring to the temple
Any weapons, drugs, alcohol, jewelry, luxury items, animals and pets.