The annual 'In-Tents' retreat

Outdoor meditation can be a very powerful experience because of the positive influence that arises from being close to nature. To provide the opportunity for this more intense experience, each summer at a site near Ipswich, the Ipswich Buddhist Centre holds a camping retreat. This retreat is called the 'In-Tents' retreat. The retreat lasts for up to a week, depending on demand and the availability of people to run it.

A striking feature of this retreat is the prefabricated meditation room that is erected on the site before the retreat. Jñanamitra, with assistance from local Sangha member Patrick Taylor, designed this structure as a geodesic dome that is built from poles and covered with tarpaulins. Click on the thumbnails below to see pictures of it being built and used for meditation during the retreat.