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.

Vidyadipa (Lesley Burr) discovered meditation whilst a student at Glasgow School of Art in 1982.

Her focus for many years was developing her artwork, searching for meaning and truth through image making.  Moving to the remote Shetland Isles in 1994 was to be an important step in becoming a Buddhist. Away from all things familiar it was an inspiring time setting up a new studio by the sea, making paintings touched by an elemental windswept landscape. 

 “Nature always has a way of helping me see more clearly, finding new themes or ideas and understanding more. I love sharing experiences with people, such as with teaching and to see how this can develop through creativity and awareness.”

Her paintings have an emotional sensitivity, even intensity, they are symbolic landscapes layered with colour, meaning and imagery that represent nature and world.

Vidyadipa lives in Argyll with her family where the West Coast seeps into the iconography of her work.

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.