Profound Simplicity Meditation Retreat

“Simplify your life as much as you can.”
—Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

This one-week retreat will have two tracks: Open and Vajrayana. It is for all practitioners who are committed to the path of meditation.

The power of non-distracted shamatha and open-hearted vipashyana is essential, from the very beginning of the path to the subtlest levels of Mahamudra and Dzogchen.

Much of the retreat will be in silence, with daily talks and meditation instruction, time for questions, discussion groups, and optional interviews. There will be some separate practice and teaching sessions for tantrikas–those who have received vajrayana transmission–focused on directly experiencing the pointing-out transmission and the nature of authentic devotion.

Early registration is encouraged!

Sample Daily Schedule

6:30 a.m. Lujong (Optional exercise)
7:00 a.m. Thun 1: AM Chants / Meditation with pith instructions
8:00 a.m. Breakfast (in public dining room)
9:15 a.m. Thun 2: Commentary / Practice Sessions
1:00 p.m. Lunch (One-bowl in Shrine Room)
3:00 p.m. Thun 3: Practice Sessions
4:30 p.m. Tea
5:00 p.m. Dharma Talk, Q&A
6:00 p.m. Protector chants with drum / Closing chants
6:30 p.m. Dinner (in public dining room)
7:30 p.m. Thun 4: Practice Session / or Silent Study
8:30 p.m. Conclude
10:00 p.m. Lights Out

Comments from Previous Participants:

“I have studied with Richard John for more than 15 years. I have attended his retreats at Casa Werma in Mexico and many other places where he has taught, including the DC Shambhala Center. Richard is a highly experienced, knowledgeable teacher who gives us profound, high level teachings that you don’t get from just any teacher.”  —Mercedes L.

“Richard John is a master teacher, has led retreats all over North America and Mexico. Having raised our curiosity with that question about where we place our attention, he went on to introduce a fifty-year old technique given by his own  teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Trungpa taught that with precision, we put twenty-five percent of our attention on the outbreath, another on relaxing, twenty-five percent on friendliness to one’s self, and the last on the openness to the possibilities of what might arise. Like what? Like a firmer sense of your own basic goodness, your own open heart.” —Barbara H.

“I’m grateful for the specific meditation techniques, and for the enormous experience Richard brings. I am refreshed.”  —Liz F.

Additional Faculty

Meditation Instructors:

• Susan Skjei
• Joanne Martin-Braun
• Lyle Larson
• Marybeth Keigher

Coordinator:

• Lynele Jones