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.

Jutika was ordained in 1998 and has been weaving her passions with her practice of Buddhism over the last twenty years. She has a strong love of ritual, art, dance and bodywork.

She is a focusing teacher and practitioner and has been co-leading retreats at Dhanakosa since 2008. She loves the landscape and the open friendly atmosphere of Dhanakosa.

After living in Manchester most of her adult life she has moved back to Ireland and lives on the wild Beara Peninsula.

Open to all, these retreats are suitable for both beginners and those with more experience, but no previous experience is assumed. All these retreats include introductory meditation teaching and periods of silence.