Our ethics in action:
- Our prices do not increase during school holidays or the high season and they do not increase when local festivals are taking place. There are no hidden or "ambush" costs.
- We will ALWAYS try to help if a group has members amongst them who experiences difficulties in affording a visit to the centre "For the benefit of all, and exclusive to none."
- Wherever possible the food we supply is from small, local, independent and old-fashioned suppliers - not from supermarket giants! We are honoured to make use of local growers, suppliers and shops.
- The centre will ultimately use energy supplied by solar and photo-voltaic means (but please be patient, this is an enormous - and expensive - undertaking).
- We recycle our waste, reducing radically the environmental impact caused by a large group of people in one place. We ask guests to bring environmentally friendly soaps and detergents to use for ablutions and clothes/equipment washing during their stay.
- We have gone far beyond what is legally required of us in terms of health & safety, fire safety and other regulations.
- We try to be of service to the community around us as well as to our guests. We provide access to a beautiful, purpose-built activity hall, situated in gorgeous grounds; a place conducive to learning from - and meeting with - others. Local teachers are invited to teach their activities and arts here (regularly, in weekly sessions, or in an open course format), thus making the centre a focal point for the community.
- Simplicity and communal living - the centre is clean, safe, comfortable, and beautiful. There are traditional timber beams and cotto tiles on the ceilings in every room, a "stufa" (a cast iron fireplace) in the lounge, and a wood panelled entertainment room. The Metta Centre exudes comfort, warmth, relaxation and tranquility.
- The centre is not a hotel or plush health spa - there is no maid service; you will not find your bed turned down at night (or a chocolate placed on your pillow!), instead you'll find an absence of pretension and glitz, but an abundance of facilities, goodwill, laughter and companionship.
- To reduce costs, and to increase the sense of community, we ask guests to embrace the "all hands on deck" principle, and to play their part in the smooth running of what is a truly unique facility. We ask guests to help us at meal times i.e. laying and clearing away of dishes, washing and drying of crockery, and with keeping their own bedrooms and the common areas tidy. In practice this will amount to just a few moments of guest's time per day. (Experience shows that groups very often arrange a rota system amongst themselves, and so far this principle has worked wonderfully, adding to the sense of family, community, occasion, tranquility and achievement for our many guests.
- Historically, no charge is imposed for meditation lessons, and at The Metta Centre we embrace this tradition. Guests may - if they feel they want to - make a gift of payment formeditation guidance. This is called "Dhana" - which translates as "open hearted donation". This payment - if it is made - is made in private and anonymously. Any monies raised go to help with the upkeep of the centre.
- We are committed to maintaining and perpetuating the peace and beauty of this part of Italy.
- Local customs are observed and respected.
- The Metta Centre is a place where existing skills can be honed, where new skills can be learned, and where lifelong friendships are made.
