Going on retreat online

Punyaruci and Ghosaka in conversation.

One of the ways that the Abhayaratna Trust can help Order members is with assistance in attending retreats. This is the area where we give most grants and these are predominantly grants for people to attend residential retreats. There are also, however, growing opportunities within Triratna to attend non-residential retreats online. These retreats provide a wonderful opportunity for those who are unable, for whatever reason, to go on in person retreats to come together with others to practice the dharma and to experience the many benefits of being on retreat.

Earlier this month I met up with Punyaruci to talk about her experience of online retreats. We had very lively and enjoyable conversation and Punyaruci, something of a veteran of online retreats, shared her enthusiasm and outlined the many benefits of attending retreats online. If you are not familiar with online retreats or have not considered going on one then I am sure Punyaruci’s experience will be interesting and helpful.

The experience of online retreats

Ghosaka - Punyaruci perhaps I could start by asking you about when you started going on online retreats and maybe you could give us some context about why you attend retreats online?

Punyaruci – Yes, It was during Covid when it wasn’t possible for retreat centres and they had to restrict members of the public, so some started to offer online retreats. Adhisthana comes to mind. But I mainly started online retreats with Kamalashila who did a virtual vihara. Like others Covid kept me indoors as I have various health conditions that made me vulnerable. So I relied on what was online. The experience was enjoyable and consistent, and I did the retreat for 3 years with Kamalshila, with many others.

Ghosaka – So it started during the Covid pandemic, but you have continued with them. It seems to me that online retreats have continued since the end of the pandemic because they are useful for people who experience limitations or restrictions for a variety of reasons which make it difficult for them to go on residential retreats. Excuse me if I am being nosey but is that a reason you still attend?

Punyaruci - Yes, it is. At my age, my health is not good and to go on a residential retreat I know that I would find it very arduous and very taxing and that would involve travel and then it becomes complicated. I’ve never been on a retreat using the train on my own. I know that I would find that quite difficult. I would find it exhausting and energy consuming. I feel that as I am getting older, opportunities to go on retreat are more and more reduced. I just feel grateful that I can go on them and they are online. Because having access to a retreat is just wonderful.

Ghosaka – It is fantastic that you can still be on retreat, isn’t it?

Punyaruci - Yes! Absolutely. I mean yeah, it’s such a resource. As I have gotten older the complications of old age and ill health really do change how I organise my life and time. And now most of my Order contact and retreat contact is online, not all of it. But yes, I mean I’ve got opportunities that I didn’t have before, online.

The benefits of online retreats

Ghosaka - What are the benefits of online retreats for you?

Punyaruci - It’s easy to set up in your home. You have your routine, you know where you are in your own home, where everything is. There are no challenges with food, and you can eat what you want. It’s just more physically comfortable for me and people I have talked to, it’s the same for them. It’s one less stress. Attending an online retreat is straightforward. You don’t even need any special equipment. Just a computer that works and a zoom connection.

Ghosaka – So there is much more flexibility if you need it?

Punyaruci - Yes absolutely. Also, there are no medical issues. I have loads of tablets I take. I sometimes have to go to two or three medical appointments, and I can easily fit them around the retreat if I am at home. But if you are way from home, it is much more difficult and asks more from the situation. On a residential retreat someone would need to take me to appointments and back. At home it’s not so difficult and I don’t have to worry about affecting anyone else.

Ghosaka - What do you get from online retreats?

Punyaruci - I mainly go on meditation retreats and doing them has helped me deepen my practice and be with other people who meditate and want to talk about meditation. The opportunity to hear people talk about meditation and to talk to others about meditation is great. A group of people like me, who have limitations always go on the online retreats and so you get to know faces and people who turn up on these retreats. You recognise each other and that is good too. There is a sense of continuity.

Making Connections

Ghosaka – So there has developed an online kula or sangha for online retreats?

Punyaruci - Yes, it’s surprising that people feel that it is not possible to get that kind of connection, but my experience is that it is, you just need to work at it.

Punyaruci went to described how these connections can be deep and enduring. She has been meeting fortnightly for the last four years with two other dharmacharinis, who she met on online retreats.

Punyaruci - We meet to talk about our practice, and it has been ongoing through thick and thin and that has come out of being online. That is one of those wonderful benefits.

Online retreats also have the advantage of bringing together people from all over the world, they have an international flavour. They provide an opportunity to meet and make connections with Order members you may otherwise never have an opportunity to meet.

The wonderful thing about being online is that it crosses borders. Online you meet and see other Order members from other countries and other Buddhist centres. One of the women in our group is based in Australia and we have never met in person and probably never will, but we have built this connection. And the benefits of online retreats go beyond making connections internationally, there is also the opportunity to be on retreat with teachers across the globe and to benefit and find inspiration from their teaching.

The last retreat I was on was with Balajit, Singhasri, and Viveka (whose is based in the USA) was there on it. That’s like gold, it’s like I’ve struck gold! It was just a wonderful opportunity to connect and be with someone you admire and value their teaching.

Ghosaka – That’s great to hear. It’s obvious talking to you that online retreats are effective and practical for you. I wonder, would you have any advice for people who may not have been on an online retreat or may be uncertain about going on one?

Punyaruci - I would say just try it out. Lots of people are so grateful that they can just go on retreat. So just go and give it a try.

Ghosaka – They might be pleasantly surprised.

Punyaruci – Yeah, they might be!

Ghosaka – Thank you for talking to me today. I have really enjoyed our chat, and I have appreciated your enthusiasm for being online on retreat. You have brought out the many benefits of online retreats very clearly and articulately and I am sure that will be of help to others who are less familiar with the benefits and who may be thinking of going on one and perhaps even some who have not yet considered it. Maybe we will meet on an online retreat one day, who knows?

Punyaruci – You’re welcome, yes maybe we will.

If you would like to go on an online retreat but are unable to because of financial hardship, then you can apply to the Trust for assistance. Do also think of friends and people you know who might benefit from an online retreat and encourage them to apply for a grant or perhaps apply on their behalf (as long as you have their permission).

If you would like financial help with going on an online retreat, then please contact kshantika@abhayaratnatrust.org

If you would like to support someone to attend an online retreat then you can make a donation on our website here https://abhayaratnatrust.org/give-support.

On being a trustee - Shraddhalocani

I asked to become an Abhayaratna trustee in 2012/13 having witnessed or heard about a number of our pioneers finding themselves in difficulties financially after years in service to the movement. These weren’t the ‘movers and shakers’ in the Order they were Order members who had helped set up Centres, taught for years, held positions of responsibility and now in their declining years were really struggling financially and with social isolation. I found this heartbreaking and wanted to support what was at the time a little known Triratna charity .

I still find it inspiring to hear from Order members being courageous enough to come forward and ask for help, I recognise it’s not easy. These days the requests come from a much wider cross section of OMs. I know I am fortunate to be able to support myself financially yet not everyone is able to do this and requests these days are often for more than help with retreats and travel ; a mattress , a car repair, a pair of new glasses are pretty typical requests where money is tight. And then there are our sisters and brothers in India, and Order members living in isolation in foreign countries. There is so much to do and I want to continue to support our wonderful Order through the Trust’s work world wide.

Contact Communications Support: jinavamsa@abhayaratnatrust.org with any questions or feedback.

www.abhayaratnatrust.org

April 2026 News