Seeking property for a Retreat Center

DNBF is looking for property around Oslo, which is suitable for a future retreat center. We are looking for those who want to sell a property, and people who can give us a lead, advice or help.

We are looking for a property west, north or east of Oslo. The property may have some buildings, possibly a guesthouse that can be renovated and renewed.

The property must be large enough for a larger center, as well as a buffer zone around the retreat center, as protection against noise. Depending on the location of the property, it should be a minimum of 50 acres, but preferably larger.

A rural setting in nature, preferably bordering an outdoor area, provides an important supportive framework for a retreat center.

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What is a retreat center?

A retreat center is a place where you focus inwards towards the mind and develop wisdom about our own human nature, quality of life and freedom.

A retreat – a weekend or a week – provides a break from a busy life, resting the body and creating a good framework for self-training and development of the mind: enough time to and for oneself, teaching and guiding several times a day, literature available for study, a group dynamic that motivates in the right direction, healthy and good food, and a center close to nature that provides necessary comfort to the body and peace to the mind.

On a retreat, participants spend many hours in meditation, which when done wisely, creates a light, bright and peaceful mind – and a powerful mindful presence. The external form of meditation is often quiet sitting, lying down or walking. Internally, the mind evolves towards peace, kindness, compassion, mindfulness and uplifting feelings of joy/energy and wisdom.

The location of a retreat center is most often rural and in nature, because nature provides a natural peaceful setting, which creates peace and harmony in the mind – much in the same way that a hike in the mountains gives us peace of mind. See examples of locating centers abroad at the bottom of this page.

Who goes on retreat

Our experience in Norway and other Western countries is that it is people with a Western cultural background who come on retreat and want to learn and practice – and that is also our experience. Most of the participants are adults between the ages of 30 and 60, and often 60-70% of the participants are women.

Who is DNBF

The Buddhist Society of Norway (org.num. 926 722 522) is a voluntary society with roots in Western Australia and The Buddhist Society of Western Australia, where the Norwegian teacher Ajahn Nitho has his training. In the soceity’s statutes, the goal is to promote ethical behavior, meditation and the development of wisdom – as well as to establish a city center and a retreat center.

The tradition

DNBF belongs to a Buddhist tradition, which many compare more to a philosophy than a religion, because the idea of a divine creator is absent. It is a tradition that warns against blind faith, and encourages personal training and experience. In Buddhism, there is a teaching to be contemplated and explored with a clear mind generated from deep meditation, and the goal is deep wisdom about our own nature, which brings freedom.