<p><span style="color: #73645d; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Thank you for considering donating to the Vajrasana appeal.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #73645d; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px;"> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><strong style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">I will be cycling approximately 110 miles from the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green to Vajrasana, over 2 days, leaving on 30/6/2012</strong>.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">There will be a small group of people, we will aim for simplicity, a low-carbon journey and so there will be no support vehicle, we will carry our own luggage and camp on the way.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">I have chosen to join a team of cyclists to raise money for Vajrassana, a Buddhist retreat centre. During my time on retreat at Vajrassana, I have grown and developed in ways I never knew possible. This has lead me to a more fulfilling way of life, a sense of happiness and momentum that has benefited my career, relationships and well being. Vajrassana is keen to maintain affordable prices for retreatants. I want to help the LBC to continue the work they're doing so that more people can experience the benefits I have been so fortunate to gain.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">A retreat offers the opportunity to experience and practice meditation and Buddhist teachings in ideal conditions.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Vajrasana has been running retreats for over ten years, and now we want to improve and expand the retreat centre. We want to make it more and more a place that encourages and expresses an experience of kindness, friendship and awareness. Creating a retreat centre that mirrors and enhances our deepest spiritual and human wishes and enabling even more people to experience this.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Retreats are open to all, not just those who would consider themselves 'Buddhists'. The LBC organises retreats for carers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as well as 'Breathing Space' retreats for Mindfulness Based Approaches to treating depression and addictions, see<a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; color: #73645d; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.lbc.org.uk/retreat.asp">http://www.lbc.org.uk/retreat.asp</a></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Here's what a few others have said about going to Vajrasana:</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><em style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"It helped to life me out of some pretty dire circumstances. The welcome I recieved from the team was extraordinary, full of kindness and humour. And the place itself is quie brilliant - a wonderful setting with nature all around you. It's a real oasis. The carers retreats are uniformly brilliant".</em>&nbsp;Roz</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"<em style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">There's a magical quality to the experience there, which is difficult to put into words. Things look more beautiful, and I relate to people better when I return. That's why I keep going back. It's very precious".&nbsp;</em>Bryan</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><strong style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Information on donating through JustGiving:</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.3em; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #73645d; line-height: 1.3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">So please dig deep and donate now.</p> </span></p>