We’ve combined our areas of expertise to bring you a unique retreat experience.
We’ve combined our areas of expertise to bring you a unique retreat experience.
Melissa has lived and worked locally in the Blue Mountains for most of her life.
An accomplished horse trainer, rider and instructor, she has worked in many of the popular tourist destinations including the Kanimbla and Megalong Valley.
Offering comprehensive riding retreats with visiting teachers and accomodation, she has coordinated everything from complex event schedules through to catering and all activities.
She has an ability to ensure that any event runs well and every participant has an unforgettable experience – her attention to detail and ability to coordinate all logistics ensures events run perfectly to plan.
She creates ‘experiences’ and looks forward to working with you and your group to ensure your visit to Brightlands is a happy and unforgettable one.
Ally is a born and bred Blue Mountains girl, growing up just ‘down the hill’ from where Brightlands Retreat now sits.
After completing a Certificate III Commercial Arts (Graphic Design) with CATC (now part of Billy Blue) and a Diploma of Interactive Digital Media with Qantm College, Ally began work as a graphic and web designer. In 2015, after five years as a full time designer, Ally began a freelance career.
Career highlights have included designing collateral for the Public Health Palliative Care conference in Brighton, UK, the Happiness and its Causes conference in Darling Harbour (which had the honour of hosting the Dalai Lama), ongoing work for luxury timepiece designer and manufacturer Christian Paul, and work for various non-profits and community organisations including animal rescues and disability services providers.
Working with Brightlands Retreat has combined many of Ally’s loves: design, self-improvement, relaxation and, of course, the beautiful Blue Mountains.
At the age of 13 he ordained as a monk and studied Tibetan language, prayer memorisation and ritual practices.
At the age of 24 he took the Getsul (Sramanera) vow and at the age of 25 the Gelong (Bikshu) vow. He holds the status of a fully ordained monk.
He studied and completed the 3 year Dura (Elementary of logics) level, the 7 year Pharchin (Prajnaparamita) level, the 4 year Uma (Madhyamika) level, and reached the Dulwa-nyingpa (Vinaya III) level.
He was awarded the esteemed Geshe degree (Phd in Buddhist studies) after 27 years of monastic study.
He has qualified knowledge and extensive experience on many Gelug tradition Rituals/Puja ceremonies. He has studied and teaches sand Mandala designing and construction. He served as Sera Jey’s monasteries Ritual trumpeter for many years.
He has studied and traveled extensively through the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. He settled in Australia in 2018 and is now a permanent resident.
We are so fortunate to have Geshe Tsundu in the Blue Mountains – he is much respected and loved by the Tibetan and local community.
We pray that Geshela live long and make heartfelt requests that he continues to teach us.
Venerable Paldrön brings her experience of Buddhist Dharma practice which began in the mid 1970s at a Thai Forest monastery in NSW, Wat Buddha Dhamma.
Venerable Paldrön was ordained in the Mahayana tradition in 1999 and has spent time in communities in Italy, Queensland and Mexico, teaching and expanding her knowledge and practice.
We are very fortunate that she has been teaching in the Blue Mountains for some years now, integrating many years of Dharma teachings & practice with an emphasis on developing clarity & awareness.