Coming Home
Buddhism and Animism
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21st- 25th May 2026
Read the earliest Buddhist scriptures and you enter a world full of tree spirits, earth goddesses, treasure-guarding serpents, mischievous flying demons, and radiant heavenly beings. Is this just superstitious stuff that modern Buddhists need to clear away, in order to get at the real message of the Buddha? Or is this view of the world as animated, teeming with life and consciousness, an essential part of the Buddha's vision?
Sangharakshita, founder of Triratna, argued the latter, and described himself as an animist. On this long weekend we will explore the relationship between Buddhism and animism. How does coming home to the world, and our place in it, connect with coming home to our true awakened nature?
Quite possibly, these days we don't personally experience tree spirits or earth goddesses. So what does animism mean for us? How can we develop a more animist sensitivity, and become attuned to the sheer aliveness, wonder, and magic of the world?
The weekend will involve poetry, meditation, ritual, discussion. Come prepared with warm and waterproof clothes so we can spend time outside too. The event is mainly aimed at people practising within the Triratna Buddhist Community, though it is open to others who have a daily meditation practice.
Facilitation Team
Facilitation Team
Vajragupta
Vajragupta, author of Wild Awake, is a Buddhist teacher with over thirty years experience, these days working at Croydon Buddhist Centre.
Timings & Travel
Timings & Travel
Timings
Please arrive between 3pm and 5pm on the first day. Dinner is served at 6pm. The retreat will finish by midday on the last day.
Travel
The nearest railway stations are Bridgwater and Taunton. We are about 1h 15min from Bristol by car.
The 15 bus leaves Bridgwater at 16:50 during college term dates and stops at the Plough Inn in Holford. We are a 15min walk from there.
Please get in touch for further advice with public transport, or for help arranging lifts / carpools.
Make sure to put "Coach House 2, Alfoxton Park" into Google Maps. Other variations will take you to Alfoxton House nearby which is not us. Otherwise use grid reference 51.165187, -3.220080.
The What3Words for our car park are ///soup.candy.huddling
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation
This is a camping retreat - bring a tent or live-in vehicle. Toilets, showers and a sauna are available. Warm and waterproof clothing are advisable, along with gloves and boots or wellies. You may also wish to bring a torch and hot water bottle.
We have limited accommodation indoors for those with specific needs. Please let us know when you book if this is the case for you.
Food
Delicious vegan meals will be provided throughout the retreat.
Accessibility & Diets
Accessibility & Diets
We are committed to Alfoxton being a fully accessible venue and are working hard to achieve this. However, while the renovation work continues, visitors with specific mobility or accommodation needs may experience barriers to accessing all areas of the building and land.
If you have any questions or concerns, just get in touch, and please inform us of any significant dietary or accessibility requirements before submitting your booking request.
Costs
Costs
Alfoxton Park is a charity and works on the principle of Dana or a 'gift economy'. Read more about Dana here.
A £78 deposit will secure your place on this event. You will be invited to make a donation to Alfoxton when you attend.
If you are an Triratna Order member and need financial support to pay a retreat deposit, you can apply for a grant from the Abhayaratna Trust.
Technology, Alcohol & Drugs
Technology, Alcohol & Drugs
All of our events are alcohol and drug free.
During the meditation retreats we ask you to turn off your mobile phones and other devices and not contact people outside of the retreat.
For all other events and workshops we ask you to be mindful of the use of devices and stay present, in order to make the most of your time here.
Any Questions?
Any Questions?
Check our FAQ page or send us an e-mail at events@alfoxtonpark.org.uk
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