From a Tibetan Buddhist perspective, our buddha nature is the basic space of our being that is undivided from vast capacities of awareness, warmth, love, compassion and wisdom. These capacities are always available below our surface consciousness, but often hidden by our conditioned habits of thought and reaction. In this retreat, we will learn three modes of practice derived from Tibetan Buddhism that empower each other as they harmonize us with those innate capacities. The receptive mode generates a field of care that helps us find immediate access to unconditional qualities of love and wisdom from the depth of our awareness (our buddha nature). In the deepening mode, we let those qualities help the mind settle into their source—the non-conceptual openness, simplicity, clarity, and compassionate warmth of our buddha nature. In the inclusive mode we come from that depth of being to recognize others in their depth, and to include them in those unconditional qualities of openness and compassion. This contemplative process also empowers our ability to discern the empty, constructed nature of all reactions to others that impede our compassion, freeing the mind for further access to its innate awakening capacities.

In this weekend retreat, we will adapt this pattern of practice from Tibetan Buddhism, with some assistance from modern psychology, to make it accessible both for Buddhist practitioners and for people of all faiths who have previous contemplative experience and seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional love and wisdom. Guided meditations, Q&A and discussion

Prerequisite: at least two years regular practice of contemplation (meditation or prayer).  And please read John’s book, Awakening through Love (Wisdom, 2007), or as much of it as possible, before the retreat. You can purchase the book here

Session times: 

Friday, May 2nd: Registration between 3pm-5pm. 

Sat May 3rd:  9am-12 PT, 1:30-5:30 PT

Accommodation

Please note that Gomde California in the winter is essentially a rainforest. If you opt to bring your own camping gear, please be fully prepared for a winter camping experience.

To learn more about each lodging option for the Program, click “Register Now.”

Additionally, we have a few rooms reserved at a local Airbnb located very close to Gomde. Here are the links to the available rooms:

• Redwood Castle Single Room
• Redwood Castle Master Bedroom
• Redwood Castle’s Dorgi’s Suite
• Redwood Castle’s Tiny House in Leggett
• Redwood Castle Luxury 2 Bed Vacation Home

For more information please contact us at coordinator@gomdeca.org