Amoghavira first encountered Buddhism in 1979 while struggling through a mathematics degree at Glasgow University. Ordained into the Western Buddhist Order in 1982 he then started working at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre. 

He worked for 2 years at the Sydney Buddhist Centre in Australia from 1988, and on his way back to Britain in 1990, spent 3 months in Kathmandu helping run meditation and Buddhism course there. Falling in love with Nepal, he’s been a regular visitor there ever since.

In 1996, he moved to Dhanakosa to help with retreat leading here, which he’s been doing ever since. He loves being in the mountains and this has led to a passion for landscape photography and he now lives in the village of Callander, about 15 miles from Dhanakosa.

Pasadini’s (they/them) main focus in practice is working with shadow energies, and they encourage curiosity in meeting all that arises in experience through deeper connection with our heart and energetic being. They currently live in Glasgow, are a co-chair at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre, and studying to become a counsellor. They have been a student of Buddhist meditation since 2000 and lead retreats regularly at Dhanakosa.

Acharashraddha attended her first retreat at Dhanakosa in 1997 and immediately fell in love with this beautiful place.  She attended retreats here regularly and also taught Yoga here for many years.  In 2011 she was ordained and shortly after that joined the Retreat Leading Team. 

An ideal first regulars retreat. These retreats take themes from our introductory programme and introduce a stronger Buddhist context through meditation, teachings, up to 3 days of silence, ritual and chanting.

Open to anyone who has done an introductory retreat or has been attending a local Buddhist centre, is familiar with Buddhist practice and is looking to take it a bit deeper.