“Perhaps it is a more difficult path since we tend to get caught up in our desires that end up in attachment that is the source of suffering. But it is also a richer and more integrated path as we can use our full human potential and capabilities to rediscover wonderment without the clinging that causes suffering.”
Deepen your relationship with the inner deity in this two-week tantra retreat. Whether it be a dance, an embrace, making love, or merely establishing an initial rapport, the deep archetypes of the mind beckon you to enter in communion. Led by Catherine Sensei, this retreat is an opportunity to dive deep into the tantric teachings and practices of a thousand-year-old lineage.
October 9 – 25, 2006
In-Person
Tantra
focus area
Meditation Retreat
practice
Two Weeks
Duration
Advanced
Skill Level
In-Person
format
Tantra Practice Retreat
A Practice Transmission
Join us for seventeen days of tantric meditation as we draw on classical texts and lineage wisdom.
You’ll journey through the four classes of Tantra, engaging deeply with creation stage (visualization of enlightened form) and completion stage (direct realization of ultimate reality) practices. This is training in how to enter, progress on, and complete the Vajrayana journey through all four classes of tantra, following the classical Kagyu and Gelug presentations.
You’ll establish or deepen the four preliminary practices essential to this path: contemplating impermanence and precious human birth, understanding karma, developing bodhicitta, and cultivating devotion to the lineage and guru. From this stable ground, we progress through systematic training in generation stage yoga—learning to visualize ourselves in enlightened form—and completion stage yoga, where we realize the ultimate nature of reality directly.
Throughout, we return to fundamental questions:
- What truly brings happiness?
- What is our actual motivation?
- How much can our rational minds grasp, and where must we surrender to direct experience?
This is an advanced retreat and is offered upon approved application and requires an established meditation practice and completion of a significant portion of your foundation practices. If foundational practices are not complete, the applicant must be actively progressing in their foundation work.
While we believe any undertaking can be a vehicle for awakening, there’s no substitute for the power of profound direct experience gained through meditation. This is why meditation is one of the four foundational practices of our teaching.
What’s Expected of Me if I Come to This Retreat?
- A strong foundation of parami and a willingness to see other dimensions and cultivate your mind, drug free.
- The more extensive meditation experience you’ve had the better.
- You are responsible for your own wellbeing.
- To maximize your depth of practice, we ask that you refrain from reading, using the internet, phone or listening to music during the course.
Schedule
Arrival: October 9th at 3pm, MT
Sample brief daily schedule:
9am Class with Teacher
11am Group Meditation led by a Senior Student
12:30pm Lunch
3pm Group Meditation led by a Senior Student
6pm Dinner
7:30 pm Meditation and Q&A with Sensei
Departure: October 25th
In order to give enough time to rest from travel before the retreat starts, we recommend that domestic travellers arrive one day early, and long distance international travellers arrive two days early. After the retreat we also suggest staying for at least another day for integration, however you are also welcome to stay longer for one of our hybrid stay options.
Booking a flight? Airport pickups can be booked when you register for the retreat. On the rare chance that this retreat is cancelled or if unforseen global circumstances cause travel interruptions, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance and modifiable tickets.
Meet the Teacher
Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
Catherine Pawasarat trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Qapel Doug Duncan she co-founded of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies.
About Clear Sky
Located in the BC rocky mountains, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.
Founded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world.
In adherence with our quadruple bottom line, we source our food as local and organic as possible.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here, what to bring and what to expect.
FAQs
Dana:
This retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity).
Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered. With dāna, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course, and we trust you’ll match our time, energy, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us.
You will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.
For more information on dāna click here.
Pricing:
In addition to Dana to the Teacher, Clear Sky Meditation Centre provides an incredible space for your retreat. Situated on a beautiful 310-acre property in the Rocky Mountains, the center and its karma yogis provide you nourishing daily meals and comfortable accomodation. Read more: Staying with us (Clear Sky Meditation Centre)
Please go to the retreat registration page for this retreat for details of the all inclusive fee for the retreat.
Specific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST)
6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice
7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare, eat, clean up
8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice
9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers
10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk
10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha
11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice
12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare, eat, clean up
1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice
3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha
4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice
5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare, eat, clean up
7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice
7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers
8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed
Click here for details on how to get here, what to bring and what to expect.
We aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.
As a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service), retreat fees only cover food, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online.
The teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).
For some, this is still a barrier of entry.
If you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat, please complete a Scholarship Application form.
We recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.
Please note, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.
We ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.
