April 9, 2025 – April 20, 2025
To connect with our own deepest, awakened nature in a personal and fully experiential way–this is the purpose of meditation in Tibetan tradition. Once that happens, everything changes—and we find ourselves becoming more open, confident, and tender in our experience of ourselves, other people, and the world around us. In our retreat, through somatic practices drawn primarily from Tibetan Buddhism, we’ll be exploring the natural state, our enlightened nature, and how living from that depth transforms our ordinary, mundane lives into something truly extraordinary.
This program revives the potent, simplified Dathün form introduced by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. We have long wanted to bring back the silent sitting program, which provides the opportunity to deepen our practice individually as well as to gather in shared presence as a sangha. The space will be held by senior Tantrikas, who will offer practice instruction, and be available for support if needed. The daily schedule will include periods of sitting and walking of varying lengths, as well as an afternoon reading to expand our understanding of the view. We will also have an extended afternoon break, with no ROTA chores, to provide time to be with the beauty of early Spring on the land.
We look forward to a powerful program that balances time spent in practice with space to be in contemplative silence, and – at long last – to connect with sangha.
Shuttle transportation is available from Denver International Airport to Crestone.
Registration
Please contact Retreat Coordinator Richard Malcolm to register for the retreat: richard@dharmaocean.org
By registering for this program, you acknowledge the participation terms, code of conduct, registration and cancellation policy, privacy policy, and COVID protocols.
Travel details
The retreat will start on Wednesday, April 9th with your arrival at Blazing Mountain. Please plan to arrive by 6pm. Dinner will be provided on the first day. Departure day will be Sunday, April 20th.
A Charter Bus from Denver International Airport will depart for Crestone at 1:30 PM MT on arrival day. If you’d like to take the shuttle, you must register and pay for it above. If you are taking the shuttle, please plan to arrive at DIA by 12 PM latest, giving plenty of time for potential delays. For the ride back to DIA from Crestone on April 20th, the bus will leave the retreat center at 6:30 AM MT. Please plan flight departures for after 12 PM on the departure day, April 20th.
If you are driving, please arrange carpooling where possible as there is limited parking, and plan to arrive between 2:30-5:30 pm MT April 9th, and to depart after breakfast on April 20th.
Daily practice schedule
7-8am: sitting meditation | 8-9am breakfast | 9:15am-12pm morning teaching and practice | 12-3:30pm lunch and personal time | 3:30-6:30pm afternoon practice period | 6:30-7:45pm: dinner | 7:45-8:30pm evening practice
This retreat will largely be passed in silence.
Food
Three delicious gluten-free omnivorous meals will be served per day, with vegetarian and vegan options. Tea, coffee and snacks are always available.
Covid/Illness policy
To minimize the chance of illness, we request that you avoid public gatherings in the 7 days before traveling, use a rapid covid test before traveling, and wear an N-95 mask for travel. We will test for Covid on arrival. Anyone who arrives with Covid will be asked to return home with a full refund. Attendees who become sick during the retreat will self-isolate, and we will keep you connected to the teaching space as best we can. See full policy linked above.
Location
Blazing Mountain Retreat Center
2541 West Carefree Way, Crestone, CO 81131, USA
Contact
Volunteer Retreat Co-ordinator Richard Malcolm
richard@dharmaocean.org
