Foundations of Meditation II: Deepening the Path | 2026

At Drala, we are dedicated to creating inclusive and transformative programs that encourage personal growth, nurture inner peace, and support meaningful practice. In keeping with that commitment, we offer tuition-free Foundations Programs, including Foundations of Meditation I & II and Retreat & Renewal.

About the Retreat

Foundations of Meditation 2 is designed for practitioners who already have basic meditation experience and are ready to engage more deeply with the Buddhist path.

Where Foundations 1 focuses on how to practice, Foundations 2 moves further into the study of introductory Buddhist teachings. Through longer practice sessions and dharma talks, participants explore themes such as suffering, impermanence, emptiness, and compassion—not as theory alone, but as direct insight arising within practice.

Teachings may include the four noble truths, the changing and conditioned nature of experience, and the cultivation of compassion as a living expression of wisdom. Silence becomes a more prominent part of the retreat, giving experience space to deepen beyond formal sessions and into post-meditation practice.

This retreat offers a shift from meditation as a tool for calm toward meditation as a path of transformation. As clarity grows, the heart naturally opens. Practice becomes less about self-improvement and more about understanding our shared human condition.

This retreat is suitable for those who are ready to engage Buddhist teachings more directly.

Retreat Faculty

Nashalla Nyinda

Dr. Nashalla Gwyn Nyinda, TMD Menpa, MA Acu, LMT, began studying Tibetan Medicine in 1999 while pursuing an Interdisciplinary Studies BA at Naropa University, which she completed in 2001. At the request of her root lama, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, she continued advanced Tibetan medical studies in Nepal and at the Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute Clinic in Darjeeling. Her Menpa [[...]]

Lodging

Several accommodation options are available during checkout.

All lodging choices include healthy meals and drinks. Inc. V, VG, GF.

Off Land
Participants who prefer to commute from home or arrange their own off-campus lodging, such as a nearby bed and breakfast or camping, pay tuition plus $54 per night for meals (3 meals per day) and use of the facilities.

Car Camping
Five primitive parking spots are available in the Rigden parking lot for parking and sleeping. This option includes food and access to the bathhouses in Rigden Lodge. Note: there are no water or electric hookups for RVs.

Dormitories
These rooms accommodate up to 7–8 people. They are gender-segregated, with men in one dorm and women in another. Shared bathrooms, including shower stalls, are located down the hall.

Monk Rooms
A budget-friendly indoor option for solo lodging, these rooms offer more privacy than the dormitories while still using a shared bathroom. Located in the same hall as the Rigden Dormitories, they include a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, plus a large window, desk, and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
Ideal for a retreat where you want both personal space and a private bathroom, each room offers a little more space, a dresser, a closet, and an attached 3/4 bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower, but no bathtub.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites feature a queen-size bed with a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet, private bath with bathtub, and a sitting area.