2012 ARCHIVE ~ 2nd Annual Men's Camping Retreat

For the second year running the redoubtable men of Windhorse got together for a weekend of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha under canvas. Looks like they had fun too!

2012 ARCHIVE - Windhorse Men's Camping Weekend

These sturdy Dharma practitioners braved the uncertain weather for a June weekend under canvas in South Norfolk, for the second annual Windhorse Men's Camping Weekend Retreat.

2011 ARCHIVE - Women's Weekend Retreat

Here are a selection of photographs from this years Weekend Retreat for Women who work at Windhorse. Held in September at The Red Lion Retreat Centre, Castle Acre, Norfolk.

2000 ARCHIVE - Shop Team Retreat - Evolution Ipswich

Here's a photo of  Ipswich Shop Team Retreat,
 led by Saddharaja at Shingle Street in Suffolk in 2000.

2011 ARCHIVE - Windhorse Men's Weekend Camping Retreat

Here's a personal report from Vidyavajra about the inaugural Windhorse Men's Weekend Camping Retreat, held from the 8-10th July 2011.

'I’ve not been camping in many a year, and I must admit I’d assumed my days of loafing on ground sheets and under wet canvas were long past.  So, when Arthapriya asked whether I’d come on the first Windhorse Men’s Weekend Camping Retreat, my ‘Yes’ felt slightly hesitant. How would my older body cope with being in too close a proximity to cold, damp and unyielding ground? Would I be pining for central heating, a mattress and a relaxed coffee in Café Nero, before the sun rose on the first day?

By the time the weekend arrived, Jnanasalin and I, were equipped with a tent, two inflatable mattresses. a pump, an LED light, and rucksacks filled with a variety of clothes to match anything a slightly dodgy weather forecast might throw at us. We also found our supposedly four-person tent, must have been made for emaciated midgets, as it only accommodated us two comfortably. The inflatable mattress instructions warned against over inflation lest it burst, but neglected to say under-inflation would make deep sleep impossible, as every move you made, made you feel like you were slumbering aboard a bouncy castle. After overcoming such initial teething problems, everything was fine, if not fun.

The retreat was held on land adjacent to Sacakka’s house in Thorncett St Peter in Norfolk. Aryapala and the Buddhafield East Team, had set us up very well, with a newly constructed compost loo, a basic piped water system, a shrine tent, a kitchen, and a hot shower. There was even a sauna inside an old caravan, that a few intrepid souls ventured into during the fading light of sunset. The weekend’s weather in fact turned out to be warm and humid. What rain there was, was overnight, or light and short in duration. The only torrential downpour being just minutes before we were about to depart on Sunday

The broad theme for the weekend was ‘communication.’ So, apart from meditating and performing Puja together, we told each other our life-stories in smaller groups, condensed into half-hour slots, over the two days. The rest of the time the communication was more informal, spent hanging out around the campfire, eating, singing, walking, and playing games together. It was enjoyable to spend a weekend outdoors. It was also quite unusual, and a rare pleasure, to have so much relaxed informal time together with over thirty chaps you work with, drawn from both Warehouse, Offices and the Evolution shops. Hopefully an experience that will be repeated in the future.' 

2006 ARCHIVE - EST Team Weekend Retreat at Vajrasana

THE EVOLUTION SUPPLY TEAM
(b) Shakyakumara - Sanghadaka - Matheiu - Stephan Black - David Welch
(f) Yashodaka - Suvarnagarbha - Ramesh - Jayarava

2006 ARCHIVE - Van Sales Team Weekend Retreat - June

A second Van Sales Weekend Retreat in June, this time at the Vajrasana Retreat centre in Suffolk.

Manjurava - Prajnapriya - Rijumati - Jinapalita

2006 ARCHIVE - Van Sales Team Retreat - January

A life in Van Sales doesn't often leave much opportunity to go on retreat together as a team. But here are some photos from one in January 2006 during a post Christmas lull, held at Burnham Overy Stathe in Norfolk.

Viryakumara & Padmadipa

Vasubandhu with Jayaraja

Vasubandhu & Vajrasadhu

2006 ARCHIVE - Management Team Retreat

Yes, even our Management Team get to spend time together in a retreat context. Here's photos from one in 2006. Which at an educated guess I'd say was at The Old Red Lion in Castle Acre, Norfolk.

(b) Keturaja - Katanutta - Saddharaja - Vajraketu
Rijumati
(f) Vilasvajra - Padmasuri - Maitridevi

2007 ARCHIVE - Retail Team Weekend Retreat

The Retail Team on retreat together in North Norfolk.

THE 2007 RETAIL TEAM
Abhayakirt (up top)
Matthew Widdowson - Yogaratna - Jenny Leutner - Ratnaprabha
Amitratna (at front)

2007 ARCHIVE - Women's Weekend Team Retreat - June

Here in June 2007 women who worked for Windhorse across various teams, went on a weekend retreat together in the Peak District. Though the weather, judging by these photographs, looks overcast and wet, it looks like they're getting about and enjoying themselves regardless.