The Buddhist Retreat Centre Amden is run entirely on an honorary basis.

On duty

The company group as well as friends from all over Switzerland and neighbouring countries share the work in their free time, for example as «On Duties» / day or half-day managers.

Since the centre is run on a voluntary basis and we all also have a job, we have split up. So each of us is sometimes «day manager» or on duty. But this is also a support that we gladly accept from friends. Half days are also possible and a huge help for us. Everyone is trained by us and depending on their abilities and time this can contain more or less, for example: answering the phone, showing the room to arrivals and explaining the house rules, supervising the kitchen and organizing enough helpers, washing the dishes and putting the kitchen back in order after cooking/eating, refilling tea and coffee and much more. There are friends who live in the surrounding area or who come from Bern, Lucerne, Zurich and other places on a day off to support us.

Host weekends

Since we, including the cook, would also like to have a free weekend or attend a course, we have created these host weekends as self-help. Today there are a lot of centres from Switzerland, Germany and Austria that cook for us 1 – 6 times a year on weekends or even take over additional jobs such as day care, shop support etc..

Be a host in Amden on a weekend with the whole Zentrumssangha! Besides a very welcome and necessary support for Amden (a big thank you!!!), cooking together always creates good connections – you get to know each other even better and grow closer together.

In order to relieve the residents of the house, various centres also offer «host» weekends from near and far. (once a year, semi-annually and even monthly). They cook for the other guests of the house, so that the house inhabitants and our house cook are relieved from time to time. These weekends create wonderful connections and friendships in the own sangha but also with the many international guests and the local sangha. Each centre is cordially invited.

Construction Team

Since the centre is run on a voluntary basis and we all also have a job, we have split up. So each of us is sometimes «day manager» or on duty. But this is also a support that we gladly accept from friends. Half days are also possible and a huge help for us. Everyone is trained by us and depending on their abilities and time this can contain more or less, for example: answering the phone, showing the room to arrivals and explaining the house rules, supervising the kitchen and organizing enough helpers, washing the dishes and putting the kitchen back in order after cooking / eating, refilling tea and coffee and much more. There are friends who live in the surrounding area or who come from Bern, Lucerne, Zurich and other places on a day off to support us.

Garden Team

Thanks to our friends from everywhere, the garden blooms every year full of splendour, as if by a miracle. Just recently Roland from Zurich moved up here and is now taking care of our huge area, which contains not only flowers and bushes but also forest. So also talented people are in demand for the tree care. We organize regular garden weekends, to which every garden friend is welcome. Our garden team still has growth potential and so we are happy about every additional hand!

An old topic is also back in the room: to create a playground with as natural and available resources as possible. Ideas and experiences are welcome.

Next date of a garden week: Please check our program.

5 days to help: Free board and lodging plus a weekend. Any help is welcome!

«ZÄME»-Fundraising:

Extension project

We have to realize a redevelopment and extension project of the basic infrastructure (entrance area, storage, disposal & children’s room, new access road). The financing is done by donations; one-time or standing order. Each amount is a valuable and important support! Donation account: Karma Kagyü Foundation, CH-4148 Pfeffingen, Raiffeisenbank, CH-4153 Reinach, IBAN CH26 8078 0000 0021 8567 0 (Postkto. Bank: 40-6417-3) Thank you for your support!

Bellevue
CH-8873 Amden
Phone +41-55-611 21 31
Fax +41-55-611 24 36
info@amden-retreat.ch

Further welcome support possibilities

• Assistance in house, garden, individual projects etc.
• Assistance in construction/renovation
• contributions
• loan
• Gift vouchers (can be ordered at: gutscheine@amdenretreat.ch)