For men training for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order and Order Members.

This retreat takes Dhanakosa’s well established hillwalking retreat format and adds an extra element: an exploration of animism.  We will not be doing this through a set of beliefs or views, but by encouraging what we will be calling an “animistic sensitivity” as a dimension of our awareness.  A rich sense of the aliveness of everything that surrounds us.  And, through this we will be exploring the positive qualities that this sensitivity can draw forth in our lives.

The retreat will include three days of guided walks, spread throughout the week. We will normally offer three walks on each of these days to suit a range of levels of fitness and experience. All walks are in the local area, some require a short drive to get to the starting point. For more information on the walks and the appropriate clothing and footwear to bring, please read the retreat information sheet. 

Going Deeper retreats are an ideal first regulars’ retreat. They are suitable for anyone who has already done an introductory retreat or who has been regularly attending their local Triratna centre and wants to take things deeper. We will continue to explore the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana, as well as a further introduction to Buddhist ritual.  Longer periods of silence together with quiet walks will all support a deep and rich experience both of ourselves and the world around us. 

This retreat will take a playful approach to reconnecting with the body through the elemental experience of water and through movement. Each day we will have the opportunity for several swims in the local lochs and rivers as well as other explorations of water and wet places. 

We will have daily guided movement sessions to support embodiment and connection. There will also be introductory meditation teaching, daily collective meditation practice, and a practical contemporary look at some traditional Buddhist teachings. 

Swim activities will include lifeguard supported bank-based activities, swim trips (for more experienced swimmers) and the opportunity for un-supported personal swimming. There may also be the opportunity to walk by water and explore local burns and waterfalls.

For more information, including swimming ability and wetsuit requirement, please read the retreat information sheet before booking. For more detail about wetsuits, read our guide.

Can we practice the Dharma in a way that deepens our sense of aliveness and connection with the living earth? 

On this retreat we will be exploring what it is to be human, and what it is to be animist. We will go back to practices taught by the Buddha, whose teaching reflects the animistic culture of ancient India, such as meditating on the six elements and the six sense spheres, to overcome the modern separation of the ego from nature, and to rediscover the background hum of life in every moment of experience in our bodies and out in the world. 

Dhanakosa is an excellent venue for this kind of retreat, with its combination of elemental grandeur and good conditions for meditation indoors and outside. 

This retreat is for people who already practice with the Triratna Buddhist Community and have a basic grasp of the mindfulness of breathing and the metta bhavana, and basic Buddhist principles, as taught in Triratna.

For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

Building a life based on compassion, connection and openness takes courage - and this is the life that the Buddha’s teaching can invite us into. It is through living this life that we find real freedom, ultimately, the freedom of awakening.

This can be a difficult road to walk alone, so traditionally Buddhism calls upon the support of the Sangha:  the spiritual community - our friends along the way. On this retreat we will explore together how connection and community can support us stepping onto this road to a more heartful life and how the traditional teachings and practices of Buddhism can guide us.

The Triratna Buddhist Community offers a unique and contemporary approach to making the ancient teachings of Buddhism meaningful and effective as a means of transformation in the modern world. Let’s be the change we want to see. 

An introductory retreat - no previous experience of meditation is assumed - the retreat is suitable for complete beginners, and can also be a good refresher for those who already have some meditation experience. For more information, read the retreat information sheet.

Modern life is complex, often demanding and can be highly technical too. And as human beings gifted with the magical mystery of awareness, we have all we need to align with and relax into awakening, just as the Buddha did.

On this retreat we will explore the possibility of easing into natural simplicity and effortless enjoyment of life's journey. Drawing on the ancient wisdom of Mahamudra we will invite in resources, release obstacles, and relax into the flow of life more fully without the stress of trying to control our experience. The retreat will invite a revitalisation and a fresh approach to practice, wherever you are on your journey and whatever meditation you practice. 

As a retreat community we will meditate together, becoming a stronger force for good in the world. We will do this within the timeless flow of awakening in the company of all our fellow meditators past, present, near and far inspired by all enlightened beings, mythical, magical, and just like us.

This retreat is for people who already have a regular meditation practice and established connection with the Triratna Buddhist Community and who are already familiar with the mindfulness of breathing and the metta bhavana, and the practice of puja. For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

For men training for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order and Order Members.

Going Deeper retreats are an ideal first regulars’ retreat. They are suitable for anyone who has already done an introductory retreat or who has been attending their local Triratna centre and wants to take things deeper.

Going Deeper with Hillwalking takes the established, successful Hillwalking retreat format and by intensifying the practice enables us to connect more deeply with our experience both in the shrine room and in nature. We will continue exploring the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana and also introduce a stronger Just Sitting element to the practice, and more reflection, both on and off the cushion. These retreats will also include an introduction to Buddhist ritual and the Seven Fold Puja. Longer periods of silence together and quiet walks will all support a deep and rich experience both of ourselves and the world around us.

The retreat will include three days of guided walks. There will be walk options available to suit different levels of fitness. All walks are in the local area, but some require a short drive to get to the starting point. For more information on the walks, recommended fitness levels and the appropriate clothing and footwear to bring, please read the retreat information sheet.