රිදීකන්ද ආරණ්ය සේනාසනය
A place for meditation in the stillness of the forest.
01The Monastery
A place for meditation in the stillness of the forest — preserving the true teaching of the Buddha and guiding seekers along the noble path.
Set on a quiet hillside at Udasgiriya in Matale, Rideekanda is a Theravāda forest monastery in the Sri Lankan forest tradition — a sanctuary of silence, simplicity, and sincere practice.
Monastics and lay practitioners come together here for residential retreats, daily meditation, walking meditation, chanting, and Dhamma discussion, surrounded by ancient forest, golden sunsets, and the stillness of the mountains.
02The 7-Day Residential Retreat
Concentration & Vipassanā meditation, taught in the Sri Lankan Forest Tradition. The programme unfolds in three movements, each building on the last.
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samādhi · Ānāpānasati
Begin by developing deep concentration through breath meditation — calming the restless mind and exploring the jhāna states the Buddha himself used as the foundation for his awakening.
arising · passing away
Learn to perceive the body not as a solid, permanent entity but as a dynamic interplay of fundamental energies, constantly arising and passing away — loosening the misconceptions of permanence, pleasure, and selfhood.
udayabbaya-ñāṇa
Develop the wisdom of rising and falling through walking meditation and specialised breathing — perceiving directly the impermanence (anicca), unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and non-self (anattā) of all things.
“Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise person, gathering it little by little, fills oneself with good.”The DhammapadaThe retreat programme
03A Day at the Retreat
5.30 AM
Waking up & Getting Ready
අවදි වී සූදානම් වීම
04Upcoming Retreats
A seven-day residential programme on concentration and Vipassanā meditation, held on pre-scheduled dates each month. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to book well in advance.
05Life at the Retreat
Simple yet comfortable spaces with minimalist décor — private single rooms, private double rooms, and shared dormitories with individual beds.
Wholesome vegetarian meals prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. A full breakfast and lunch, with a light evening meal of soup or porridge.
Experienced meditation masters guide and support each practitioner, with one-to-one sessions to address individual needs and questions.
06Our Teachers
Our programmes are designed and led by teachers with years of dedicated practice in the forests of Sri Pada, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa.
Meditation Teacher · Abbot
Founder of the Ehipassiko International Meditation Center and a scholar of Sinhala, Pāli, and Sanskrit, he lived in the forests of Sri Pada, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa for nearly five years — and teaches that emancipation is practically attainable.
Meditation Teacher · Administrator
With nearly a decade of meditation practice, he conducts weekly, monthly, and residential retreats for local and international practitioners — bridging ancient Buddhist wisdom with contemporary scientific perspectives.
07Explore
About the monastery, its teachers, and the forest tradition it keeps.
Residential meditation retreats — concentration and Vipassanā in the forest.
Reserve a place for an upcoming retreat.
Scenes of the hillside, shrine, and daily life.
Dhamma talks and films — watch on-site.
A recorded 7-day Vipassanā retreat — watch, listen & download.
Free Dhamma & meditation books — read online or download.
Experiences shared by visiting practitioners.
Ongoing building & design initiatives.
Reach us by phone, email, or WhatsApp.
08Voices of practitioners
09Projects & Dāna
Since 2017 the monastery has grown through the collective efforts of the village community, meditation practitioners, and generous donors. These are the works under way — and how you can take part.
Paving the 2,000 ft concrete road to the monastery — pledge the road by the linear foot.
Replanting Sri Lanka's medicinal trees and herbs across the grounds — choose a plant, bring it, and plant it yourself.
A three-storey building with a meditation hall and accommodation, presented as an interactive 3D model.
A contemplative library and café space — furniture, joinery and interior design for the monastery grounds.
Items and resources the monastery currently needs — see the list and how you can help provide them.
පරිත්යාගWhen you offer Dāna, you join an unbroken chain of generosity stretching back to the time of the Buddha himself.
Give10News & Events
Visit
Practitioners of all levels — from complete beginners to those deepening an existing practice — are warmly welcome. The forest road is steep, so please contact us before visiting.
