(In-person Retreat at Tara Mandala Retreat Center in Colorado)
Friday, July 21, 2023 – Wednesday, July 26, 2023
With Charlotte Rotterdam and Pieter Oosthuizen
Come to the beautiful land of Tara Mandala to immerse yourself in nature of mind teachings and practices inspired by the great 11th Century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön. Resting our bodies on the earth, we learn to “rest the mind in the way of the sky.” Drawn from original texts, Machig’s luminous verses on the ground of being and the nature of awareness come alive as we meditate in wild, sacred spots and integrate our perceptions with the raw elements of nature. Recognizing our inseparability from the ground of being, we realize that we cannot discard anyone or anything. As we cultivate radical acceptance, we move beyond the constrictions of the isolated self and open to our inescapable and empowered relationship with others. We claim our path of awakened compassion, lived in the ordinary moments of everyday life.
Machig’s verses range from pointing out our true nature:
It is unborn; it is unceasing; it is transparent; it is all-pervasive; it is oneself.
To offering helpful guidelines for living with compassion:
Buddha enacts the welfare of sentient beings…
Through altruism that arises without concept.
And offering clear meditation instructions:
Let [mind] rest in its natural expanse without fabrication.
Ultimately, she suggests:
When you rest within great effortlessness…
Blessing occurs without exertion.
The retreat includes:
- Teachings, contemplation, and discussion of Machig’s source texts. You’ll be encouraged to memorize your favorite Machig verses to inspire and guide your daily life after our retreat.
- Open awareness meditation, ancient and new exercises to train attention, and integration with elements practices.
- An optional outdoor Chöd overnight for those familiar with a Chöd practice (others are also welcome to join the all-night practice gathering).
Who Can Attend?
- All are welcome. No previous experience is necessary.
- For seasoned practitioners, this retreat offers an opportunity to deepen your inquiry into and engagement with nature of mind teachings and practice, as a way to support your existing practice path.
- For those who’ve joined us for our online Skymind courses – we’d love to see you in person! This is a unique retreat that will deepen your Skymind journey. We’ll introduce verses not covered in previous courses and dive deeper into some of our favorite gems.
Registration for this retreat closes on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 10:00am (MDT).
PRICING
The Total Price for this retreat consists of a Room & Board Fee and a Program Fee.
Room & Board Fee:
$287 to $900 depending on the accommodation
Program Fee:
Sliding scale: $264 to $528 based on your choice
LOCATION:
Tara Mandala Retreat Center
4000 Burns Canyon Rd (USFS Rd 649), Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
MORE INFO:
https://www.taramandala.org/programs-2/15002/skymind-sacred-land-sacred-view-retreat-in-colorado/
Teachers
Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam
Magyu Lopön Charlotte Z. Rotterdam has studied Tibetan Buddhism for the last 20 years, was authorized to teach by Lama Tsultrim Allione in 2006, and received the title of Magyu Lopön, lead teacher of Magyu: The Mother Lineage at Tara Mandala from Lama Tsultrim in 2016. Lopön Charlotte teaches in…
Learn more about Magyu Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam
Pieter Oosthuizen
Pieter Oosthuizen is a teacher and a long-time student of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been teaching various practices and retreats in Lama Tsultrim’s lineage in the US and abroad since 2006, offering a blend of incisive insight and genuine compassion. He co-leads the Boulder Tara Mandala Sangha with Lopön Charlotte…
Learn more about Pieter Oosthuizen
SKYMIND 