Mindfulness can transform our lives. The magic of the present moment experienced through our senses can deepen the colours of a beautiful sunset sky or heighten the quality of a magnificent concert. It can enrich and enliven our experience bringing a second-by-second joyfulness. But if that is all it does, we have missed out on the vast potential inherent in awareness; that is, as a key to wisdom. 

Using the framework of the Satipatthana Sutta - the Buddha's primary teaching on Mindfulness - to cultivate awareness and right view – we will learn to watch our mind, through knowing whatever is happening through all six senses.

We will look at the role of receptivity in mindfulness and the 'wise' or 'unwise' attention we bring to every aspect of our experience. We will be looking at how continuity of mindfulness can touch and transform our experience through simple presence and intelligent awareness, developing both steadiness of mind and heart and insight into the nature of all things.

The retreat will mainly be in silence with teaching input each day, and meditation reviews every other day. For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

A new 3 night version of our popular weekend introduction to meditation and Buddhism. Give yourself the gift of stepping back from everyday life for a few days and finding fresh perspective, in the wild and beautiful landscape of Balquhidder Glen.

We will introduce two traditional Buddhist meditations: the mindfulness of breathing and the development of loving kindness (metta bhavana). We will also share some key elements of the Buddhist tradition. As well as giving a grounding in the basic principles of Buddhism and meditation, these retreats are an ideal reflective situation in which to take a fresh look at your life. 

These retreats are suitable for complete beginners to meditation as well as being an ideal refresher for those who already have some experience. For more information, read the retreat information sheet.

Are you new to Dhanakosa? Watch our short film to get a sense of the centre, landscape and what it's like being on retreat here. 

Come to Dhanakosa as the glen turns to autumn and experience how connection with nature, landscape and the elements can support a more embodied and easeful approach to life. Watch our short film to hear about the transformative effect of walking retreats at Dhanakosa. 

The retreat offers nature awareness practices and reflections to encourage a deepening relationship with the natural world, combined with guided walking in the landscapes around Dhanakosa. You'll also learn two traditional Buddhist meditations, giving you tools and practices that you can continue at home. We will also explore some Buddhist teachings to get a sense of how these might be relevant in modern life. 

The retreat will include three days of guided walks, spread throughout the week. We will normally offer different walks on each of these days to suit a range of levels of fitness and experience. 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. 

You can also watch our short video talking about the different types of walking retreat, guided walk options and what to bring with you. 

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.

There are no single rooms available on this retreat.

Time spent in nature can be deeply restorative - re-connecting us to ourselves and to a sense of wonder and peace in this often busy world. This retreat combines guided walking in the landscapes around Dhanakosa with introductory meditation teaching and plenty of time to rest and just be, away from the pressures of everyday life. 

Watch our short film to hear about the transformative effect of walking retreats at Dhanakosa. 

We will introduce two traditional Buddhist meditations and offer a solid introduction to the principles of meditation, giving you tools and practices that you can continue at home. We will also explore some traditional Buddhist teachings to get a sense of how these might be relevant in modern life. 

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 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.

You can also watch our short video talking about the different types of walking retreat, guided walk options and what to bring with you.  

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.

Qi Gong is a practice which can help generate more energy and vitality - supporting well-being, balance and ease. Meditation is an integral part of Qi Gong and the two practices complement each other beautifully and can offer an experience of deeper connection with ourselves, others and the natural world. 

We will spend time practicing Qi Gong on the loch-shore and in the grounds and woodlands surrounding Dhanakosa, learning a sequence of movements which you can continue to practice at home after the retreat. 

The meditation teaching will introduce an embodied approach to practices of breath awareness and the cultivation of loving-kindness. We will also explore some traditional Buddhist teachings to get a sense of how these might be relevant in modern life. 

This retreat is suitable for complete beginners to meditation and Qi Gong as well as those who already have some experience. For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

Are you new to Dhanakosa? Watch our short film to get a sense of the centre, landscape and what it's like being on retreat here. 

On this retreat we will be exploring our relationship to the landscape and the world around us, through the lens of meditation and photography - taking a contemplative approach to image-making with the camera. 

We will focus on the importance of going beyond just looking - to really seeing with our whole heart, mind, and body. Using all our senses we will explore the world around us before we try to create images, in big views or in more intimate details. Using inspiration from Buddhist tradition and meditation techniques, we will create an atmosphere within the retreat where awareness can naturally feed into the creative process.

There will be minimal technical photography teaching on this retreat with the emphasis being on photography coming out of meditative experience and our connection to nature. You are welcome to use a digital camera or phone camera. For more information, read the retreat information sheet.

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. 

Are you new to Dhanakosa? Watch our short film here to find out more about Dhanakosa and see the beautiful landscape surrounding the centre. 

A new 3 night version of our popular weekend introductions to meditation and Buddhism. Give yourself the gift of stepping back from everyday life for a few days and finding fresh perspective, in the wild and beautiful landscape of Balquhidder Glen.

We will introduce two traditional Buddhist meditations: the mindfulness of breathing and the development of loving kindness (metta bhavana). We will also share some key elements of the Buddhist tradition. As well as giving a grounding in the basic principles of Buddhism and meditation, these retreats are an ideal reflective situation in which to take a fresh look at your life. 

These retreats are suitable for complete beginners to meditation as well as being an ideal refresher for those who already have some experience. 

For more information, read the retreat information sheet.

Are you new to Dhanakosa? Watch our short film to get a sense of the centre, landscape and what it's like being on retreat here. 

This weekend retreat combines introductory meditation teaching with yoga. This playful synthesis of body-based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and yoga) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives. 

We will cover an introduction to two traditional Buddhist meditations as well as give a solid introduction to the principles of meditation. We will also be exploring some traditional Buddhist teachings to get a flavour of how these might be relevant to our modern lives. 

No previous experience of meditation and yoga is assumed so these retreats are suitable for complete beginners, and they are also a good refresher for those who already have some experience.

For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

Qi Gong is rapidly growing in popularity as a practice which helps to generate more energy and vitality; promotes self-healing and inner harmony; and can improve levels of health considerably. Many people benefit from having a movement practice to accompany and support their sitting meditation practice. Meditation is an integral component of Qi Gong, and they complement each other beautifully.

This retreat offers us the chance to deepen into our experience of both practices using the breath and focused awareness to more fully experience our connection with ourselves and others in the natural beauty and healing environment that is Dhanakosa.

This retreat is suitable for complete beginners to meditation and Qi Gong as well as those who already have some experience.

For more information read the retreat information sheet. 

Central to our dharma life is a simple yet profound distinction; between our direct experience mediated through the senses, and the thoughts and ideas we have about those experiences. We are usually unaware that the concepts we base our sense of self on and navigate our world by, are frequently flawed in a deep and on-going way. We look through the distorted lens of our own views and assumptions, making us an unreliable witness to our own inner experience. 

On the retreat we'll cultivate Awareness and Right View, to become mindful of, and curious about, what is actually happening in our minds. Using the framework of the 5 skandhas to go to the heart of what we take to be 'true' we can come to see the process of construction and fabrication that is happening moment by moment. Relying on the dharma and our own direct experience wisdom perfumes deep knowing and the unreliable witness is seen for what it is. Each moment brings the possibility of release from clinging and therefore from suffering. 

The retreat will mainly be in silence with input each day and the opportunity for meditation reviews with the retreat team.

For more information, read the retreat information sheet.