Profound Treasury Retreat

This year’s retreat centers on the theme “How to Be a Bodhisattva: Practicing the Paramitas.”

As Chögyam Trungpa wrote, paramita practice is grounded in human decency and in learning how to show up in the world for those who are suffering. It is at the heart of bodhisattva training. A bodhisattva is someone who is brave and fully committed to the discipline taught by the Buddha, someone who is deeply immersed in helping others in every possible way.

The bodhisattva is the clearest expression of compassion in action. Bodhisattvas move through the world as warriors of compassion and catalysts for awakening, embodying wisdom, compassion, and courage as they engage wholeheartedly with suffering and difficulty.

In the Mahayana tradition, we look to this example and aspire to cultivate those same qualities within ourselves.

How do we begin? Through the practice of the paramitas. Paramita means “going beyond” or “arriving at the other shore.” It points to moving beyond self-concern and pettiness into greater openness, freedom, and love.

To deepen compassion, paramita practice must be brought into all areas of life: our work, our relationships, and the choices we make each day. It is simple, direct, and alive in action. It is meditation in motion, and its true measure is kindness—love itself.

During this retreat, we will explore paramita practice and the larger question of how to live with greater compassion. We will focus on the six primary paramitas—generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom—and consider how to bring them into both daily life and meditation practice.

The Profound Treasury retreats are open to everyone, whether you are new to meditation or have years of experience. Your presence and insight are warmly welcomed.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” — The Dalai Lama