Memorial Space: a place to remember and contemplate
The Memorial Space is a place where you can come and remember people close to you, or as a place to request for your ashes to be scattered, somewhere your friends and family can come to remember you.
The area is by the loch shore, on the south side of a stand of birch trees below the meadow, making use of an area of Dhanakosa’s land that can be accessed without disturbing retreat groups.
There is a sloping path from the road to a simple stone Buddha figure and oak bench in a dry stone wall area. You can come to simply sit and contemplate and also you can scatter ashes, on the land or into the loch. There will be no names or markers, we are offering a simple space, held by the landscape and elemental beauty of the glen. See a short video here from the opening of the Memorial Space.
Donations
We welcome donations to Dhanakosa to support us taking care of this space and our wider work of offering Buddhist retreats. You can make a donation by card or Paypal here. If you wish to make a donation over £1,000 please contact the office to arrange a bank transfer. Thank you.
Visiting the Memorial Space - FAQs
Is there a charge or a fee?
There is no charge to visit the memorial space or scatter ashes. We welcome donations to Dhanakosa to support us taking care of this space and our wider work of offering Buddhist retreats. You can make a donation here.
Do I need to book?
No, you are free to visit the site anytime you wish. If you wish to come with a group or scatter ashes we ask that you contact the office before planning your visit.
Can I visit anytime?
Yes and please respect the on-going retreat. We ask that visitors do not enter the retreat centre building and keep quiet around the shrine room and retreat centre area.
Is there parking?
There are several parking places along the glen road within a short walking distance. Parking at the retreat centre is very limited and we cannot guarantee space within the car park whilst a retreat is running. Please do not park in the area opposite the gates to the Memorial Space, as this obstructs our neighbour’s access.
If you plan to come with 2 cars or more, and wish to park at Dhanakosa, we ask that you contact the office before you visit. Friday between 11.30am and 4pm is usually a good time to come with more than 2 cars, as this is the time in between retreat groups, so there will be more space in the car park.
If you are coming with a group, you may wish to consider parking at Kingshouse at the entrance to the glen and chartering a minibus from Kingshouse Travel.
I wish to scatter ashes at the memorial space. Where on the site can I scatter them?
The average adult cremation creates around 3kg of ashes. We ask that any ash scattered on the water of the loch is kept to a minimum, e.g. a symbolic handful. This is to protect the water environment, in line with SEPA recommendations.
We ask that the majority of ashes are scattered on the ground, above the high water line and over a large area. You might like to take a mindful walk around the memorial space to spread the ashes. Spreading ashes over a large area reduces the effect on the soil PH, plants and beneficial organisms within the soil.
Can I place a memorial plaque?
No, we wish to offer a simple space, held by the landscape and elemental beauty of the glen.
Can I leave flowers?
You are welcome to leave flowers, we ask that you do not leave any plastic wrappings or non-compostable items. We may respectfully compost flowers to keep the space tidy.
Can I leave objects?
We ask that you do not leave any objects. We will respectfully dispose of any objects left at the site.
Can I hold a service or come with a group?
Yes, and please be aware that parking at the retreat centre is limited and we are not able to offer toilet facilities. We suggest getting in touch with the office to check out your plans before planning your visit.
What facilities are there at Dhanakosa for my visit? E.g. toilet/hot drinks.
We are not able to offer facilities for visitors. We suggest visiting Mhor84 at Kingshouse or the Monachyle Mhor hotel beyond Dhanakosa, where you can access catering and other facilities.
We ask that visitors don’t enter the retreat centre building to avoid disturbing the on-going retreat. If you have questions while you are visiting, please come to the office which is open Mon-Fri 10.00am-5.00pm.
How accessible is the area if visitors have limited mobility?
The site is accessed via a gate from the single track road and a sloping path to the space. The ground is relatively even at the gate, with soil and stone underfoot. The path is created using a plastic geogrid which is then grassed over, offering some stability. For people with limited mobility we recommend bringing a walking pole or stick. For people using a scooter or wheelchair - the gate and path are wide enough for access and the path is sloping. If you have specific questions relating to access, get in touch before your visit.
Any questions, please contact the office - info@dhanakosa.com