This Vesak week on Take 3, we’re looking at peace, quiet and a chance to meditate. Have always wanted to learn how to meditate or haven’t meditated in a while? Here are places that allow you to retreat, regroup and come back recharged.

In the heart of the city, the Lanka Vipassana Centre is particularly active with many programmes on their schedule. Every fourth Sunday is one on maternity care, every third Sunday is one dedicated exclusively to the elderly. (Previously they’ve even had programmes focused on children.) To register, you have to visit them during office hours and fill up the necessary paperwork. You’ll be enrolled after a brief conversation with their President. (For more details log on to www. lankavipassana. org).

Set up nearly 50 years ago under the auspices of the governments of Burma and Sri Lanka, the Centre welcomes all irrespective of race and religion. They specialise in Vipassana meditation, the technique that helps its practitioners understand the nature of reality and to see life for what it is. According to them, the three steps to enhance the quality of life are liberality ( morality ( and meditation ( of which three meditation is the most important.

40 rooms make this a residential facility. It is presided over by Chief Incumbent, Ven. Meethalawe Vineetha. Lectures are also delivered by another senior practitioner, the Ven. Harispatathuwe Ariyawansa Lankara. There are no fees but like others of its kind, the Centre relies on donations to keep running.

Approximately 20km east of Colombo, no programmes are run at Sumathipala, instead here is a retreat for people who already know the basics of meditating. Currently, around 15 monks live and practise on the premises. Guidance is provided by the Chief Monk, Ven. Gampaha Pemasiri who gives advice if requested and also conducts lectures on the dhamma as often as his schedule will allow. A popular and experienced teacher in the Mah si tradition, he also teaches other methods of meditation.

For those seeking to meditate, approximately 40 huts provide housing. The people who built these have access to them for life, but when they are not in residence, the kutis are lent out to those who apply. Guests come and go, some staying for many months, others only for a few days.

Each kuti is simply appointed and comes with a small pantry space and an attached toilet. While there is no charge to stay at Sumathipala, those who wish to give dana do pay. An alms giving ceremony is held every day, and costs its sponsor Rs.15,000. While breakfast and lunch is provided on the premises, as is traditional to the practice, dinner is skipped.

Nilambe has a lovely history of being founded by laypeople for other laypeople. It grew out of an informal gathering of friends in the 1970s. When it was first built it consisted of a single hall with an attached kitchen and for at least the first 18 months meditators both meditated and slept in the hall. Now Nilambe offers its meditators both single and shared rooms (which ones you get depends on your preference and how early you made your request) and very beautiful surrounds. Since there are no formal programmes, there are no ‘start’ days but you must take care to arrive between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., when the centre’s gates are open. Though the teaching is free of charge, the Centre asks for a small daily amount (Rs.800) to cover board and lodging. Vegetarian meals are provided for breakfast and lunch.

Upul Gamage is the resident meditation teacher. He began meditating at 13 years of age and has since taught meditation to people in diverse circumstances including school children and prisoners. He is also frequently invited to lecture abroad. According to his teaching, the practice of meditation allows us to gain insight into ourselves and to then change our behaviours for the better as we become ever more mindful over the course of our day to day activities. Both Sinhala and English languages are used at the Centre. Resident meditators have a good deal of freedom and are able to structure their day around sessions of meditation, yoga and chanting.