Sadhana as Celebration

About the Retreat

Sadhana can be approached as a celebration — even a joyful gathering — and this retreat invites participants to remember what leads us there: our own good karma, the brilliance of the teachings, and the pleasure of sharing these treasures with one another.

Rather than focusing only on the familiar idea of letting go, this retreat offers another entry point into the Vajrayana path. Here, practice is approached from a place of strength, good fortune, intelligence, and determination, meeting the sublime with all that we already are. In this way, what may seem paradoxical becomes clear: we discover that our own nature is already sublime.

Participants are encouraged to bring forward their full capacity for practice and to engage together in a spirit of openness and vitality. As the saying goes, this is a chance to get enlightened while having a good time.

The text at the center of the retreat, The Concise Daily Practice of Padmasambhava, is a hidden treasure, or terma, containing every essential part of deity practice in just a few vivid pages of ritual.

What to Expect

Marcia will introduce some of the theory behind the practices, helping participants enter more fully into the experience these rituals are designed to evoke, as well as the state of mind they help cultivate.

There will be time for questions, answers, and discussion with Marcia, whose long experience with the meaning and energy of sadhana practice can support participants in making it a lived experience rather than only a study.

Within this setting of building a personal relationship with sadhana practice, Marcia will offer the reading transmission for The Concise Daily Practice of Padmasambhava. The group will then practice together, creating a meaningful connection with the wisdom embodied in the practice — one that participants can carry home after the retreat.

Who It’s For

• Beginners who want a fresh perspective on sadhana as celebration rather than recitation
• Intermediate practitioners who wish to enter more fully into sadhana practice and experience its wisdom energy
• Experienced practitioners seeking another way to approach and practice sadhana, informed by the deep lifelong experience of one of Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche’s early Western students

Lodging

Several accommodation options are available during checkout, and all include healthy meals and drinks. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are included.

• Monk Rooms: A cost-effective indoor option for solo lodging, with a shared bathroom. These rooms offer more privacy than the dorms and include a bed, bedding, a private room, closet, large window, desk, and desk chair.
• Single and Double Rooms: A good choice for guests who want their own space and their own bathroom. These rooms offer a little more room, plus a dresser, closet, and a 3/4 bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower.
• Junior Suite: Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed with a cozy comforter, desk, dresser, closet, private bath with bathtub, and a sitting area.

Event Details

• Arrival: Thursday, September 17th, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Departure: Sunday, September 20th, 12:30 PM
• Tuition: $250 + 3 nights lodging, combined at checkout
• Meals & drinks: Included
• Extra nights: Available at 50% off

Retreat Faculty

Marcia will guide the retreat through teaching, discussion, and transmission, supporting participants in connecting with the practice in a direct and meaningful way.