retreat without coffee and without strong black tea

[nowornever]

Providence Zen Centre leads a 90-day retreat but if you are a slave to coffee or strong black tea, you must give it up first before coming to this long Kyol Che as they do not serve them for 90 days. They officially say that. This is not my idea.

What about yerba mate and green tea which also make you have plenty of energy?

[Lobster]

Meditation often provides energy or very restful sleep dependent on what we need. In that sense it is similar to adaptogens such as ginseng.

I would be surprised if green tea (traditionally created from Bodhidharmas eyelids)
is not allowed . . .

[santamonicacj]

No coffee?!? I've been addicted for almost 40 years. I'd cheat and smuggle in some caffein pills--or I'd switch traditions!

[nowornever]

 santamonicacj - u cannot attain elightenment if u have any form of escape...

[santamonicacj]

santamonicacj - u cannot attain elightenment if u have any form of escape...

I'm not interested in becoming enlightened. I just want to become a better person and a fortunate rebirth next time around. My coffee isn't obstructing either of those, to the best of my knowledge.

[Lobster]

u cannot attain elightenment if u have any form of escape...

Have you booked the retreat yet?
Or still using beverages as an ego excuse?
Get on with it. Change your life. Tell us how it went. 

What is the real issue here? As if you did not know . . . 

[Monkey Mind]

It's actually pretty common. A lot of retreat centers prefer the herbal, non-caffeinated tea.

[nowornever]

But our True Temple is Our Body. Temples are artificial if you don't mind my saying so. I haven't drunk any coffee or strong black tea today,
and you?

[GoGet]

It's actually pretty common. A lot of retreat centers prefer the herbal, non-caffeinated tea.

Not all, though.

The retreat center I use, Vajra Vidya (Crestone, CO) has coffee available for guests, staff and retreatants.  It is usually "good" coffee.  Both of the monastics drink coffee and like it strong.  Because of their somewhat remote location getting the kind of coffee everyone likes is a challenge (nearest sizeable city is 70 miles away), I find that my regular offering to the center is a pound of good beans.

[Bodhisatta2012]

Retreats without hot chocolate are no treat at all.  Therefore, if there is no treat with which to begin, how can you have a re.treat?  Seems like it just can't happen.

Solution:  Provide hot chocolate.

[nowornever]

Men prefer bitter tastes.
Women prefer sweet tastes.
Which is better?

[nowornever]

I haven't drunk any coffee or strong black tea for a week now. Natural energy. Try it.

[dhammaseeker51]

Can't you take your own tea bags?   

with Metta

[GoGet]

I haven't drunk any coffee or strong black tea for a week now. Natural energy. Try it.

So you're going to switch from being a caffine junkie to an andrenaline junkie?

 

[Blue Garuda]

Men prefer bitter tastes.
Women prefer sweet tastes.
Which is better?

I prefer the taste of a woman who has been drinking coffee.  Is that legal? LOL

The health aspect is marginal  - every week a different story about benefits or problems.

I drink strong black coffee all day long, switching to half-caffeine after lunch. I don't think it has ever affected my mind adversely, and I sleep well. 

I also like green powder tea, very strong.

It's the same with anaesthetics or alcohol (in the past) - it takes a massive dose to affect me as I'm 'non-responsive'.

It's not what you drink which is the greatest risk - it's the incense, if used.   I love it and must have inhaled loads of it.  Apparently, cancer is a problem for temple attendants due to the smoke. 

There must be a study somewhere of religious attitudes to (and use of) 'indigenous' drugs favoured by different cultures. 

I've not heard a Guru speak about tea and coffee at retreats and festivals etc. but I personally see it as a very minor issue compared with alcohol, which can really mess up a person's chances of benefit from any retreat.