FOR those of us whose lives are filled with a seemingly never-ending cycle of family, work, housework and cooking the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk couldn't seem further away from the daily rat race.

Tucked away in a monastery in Crays Hill, near Billericay, are three Sri Lankan monks, or Bhikkhus, living freely from family or financial obligation.

With no TV or personal belongings to distract them the trio - Dhammadewa, Anoma and Thero - use meditation as a tool to find insight, and they offer free training to anyone who needs it.

Terrence Jayatilaka, 56, a volunteer at the Dhamma Land monastery, said: “We get people here who are really stressed.

“One of our visitors had lost his job and was in very poor shape.

“But after spending time here he found a job, felt calm, and even started a course he had always wanted to do.”

Visitors can be of any religion to undertake a meditation course, however, the monks strictly live by the Vinaya, a code of 227 rules.

Among them, TV, cooking, requesting food and the handling of money are forbidden, so how do they get by?

Mr Jayatilaka said: “There are many volunteers who cook, bring and offer the monks food - volunteers also deal with finances.

“The volunteers are Buddhists who live nearby, and they donate their time so the monks can spend their lives learning about Buddhism.

“A monk cannot eat unless he is given food.

“Handling money is forbidden for monks also.”

Meditation, worship and philosophy fills the monk’s day from 5.30am each morning, however, they teach guests how to explore hidden happiness each Saturday afternoon.

In the garden, spread across three acres, stands an impressive mix of lit lanterns, golden statues, meditation walkways and a giant pond paving the way to a peace pagoda.

Inside the five bedroom mansion is a meditation room including a giant Buddha statue which was shipped in especially from Sri Lanka.

Dressed in an orange robe, sat in front of the statue is 34-year-old ex-school-teacher Reverend Thero.

He said: “I had a normal life once, where I was a layman.

“One day, back in Sri Lanka, I went to the monastery where I met my teacher who taught me what it means to be a monk.

“After just four years of practice I feel peaceful, happy and virtuous.

“Buddhism is complex, but to summarise it in a sentence is to realise everything is in a state of flux.

“To understand that helps us to accept and not be affected by suffering.

“We pass our wisdom onto others.”

As part of the Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre, the monks offer a retreat programme on every third Saturday of the month from 8 am to 4 pm.

For more information see mahamevnawaimc.org