BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Clear Sky Meditation Centre - ECPv6.17.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Clear Sky Meditation Centre X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Clear Sky Meditation Centre REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20220313T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20221106T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20230312T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20231105T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Edmonton BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20260308T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20261101T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20270314T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20271107T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20280312T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20281105T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230928T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261231T170000 DTSTAMP:20250825T062119Z CREATED:20220205T181428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T062119Z UID:14666-1695888000-1798736400@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Personal Coaching DESCRIPTION:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions \n \n \n \n “The power of one person reducing the influence of the kilesas in their life is far greater than one in eight billion — because the effect is so pervasive.”  – Catherine Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n We spend a lot of energy learning to manage our emotions — naming them\, regulating them\, communicating them skilfully. That work matters. But Buddhism has always pointed to something underneath it: the kilesas\, the obscuring states of mind that colour how emotion arises in the first place. This retreat continues to build on Sensei’s 2026 teachings on emotional intelligence\, bringing that work to a natural close by looking at the formal Buddhist teachings on emotion. Where this year’s work has helped us recognise and work skilfully with what we feel\, the kilesa teachings show us what’s underneath the feeling. These classic Buddhist teachings offer a direct\, practical remedy for dissolving it at the root. with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei | December 25-29\, 2026 Registration Deadline: for both in-person and online please register December 18\, 2026 Keen Practitioner/Early Bird Rate: available until November 20\, 2026 We recommend in-person retreats as the best way to get the most out of your experience. That said\, we recognise that travel is inhibitive for some people and are offering an online option for those outside the region unable to travel here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n focus area \n \n \n \n Buddhist Foundations \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n practice \n \n \n \n Kilesas \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Duration \n \n \n \n Four Days \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Skill Level \n \n \n \n All \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n format \n \n \n \n In-Person & Online \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What Are the Kilesas and Upakkilesas? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kilesa (Pali; kleśa in Sanskrit) is the traditional term for what are sometimes called the afflictive or destructive emotions — the mental states that cloud the mind and drive unskilful action. Buddhism has long focused on identifying what gets in the way of our well-being\, and working to remove it. The main kilesas are greed\, hatred and delusion — also described as clinging\, aggression and confusion — along with pride and jealousy. Alongside these\, we’ll explore the upakkilesas: subtler defilements that can slip by unnoticed\, or are even celebrated by our culture. Yet even (or especially) unnamed\, they weigh heavily on us\,  quietly disrupting our equanimity and dampening our energy.  The kilesas aren’t personal flaws to feel bad about — they’re universal patterns every human contends with on the path. They shape not just our own lives\, but the society\, systems and world around us. Learning to recognise them clearly\, rather than being run by them\, is central to Buddhist practice. And by working to transform them in ourselves\, we are also bringing healing to the world around us. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!" (Vipassana retreat) \n Jenai L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What We'll Explore \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Over four days of teaching\, guided meditation and group inquiry\, we’ll: Learn the main kilesas — greed\, hatred and delusion\, along with pride and jealousy — and the subtler upakkilesas or higher defilements.Explore how this traditional Buddhist map connects with modern emotional intelligence work\, bringing a fresh\, integrated view to classical teachingsDraw on the book “Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?” by Daniel Goleman and the Dalai Lama (Mind & Life Institute)\, and the Upakkilesa SuttaPractice recognising these patterns as they arise\, both in meditation and in daily lifeConsider how reducing these defilements in ourselves ripples outward\, offering a living example of non-duality — healing in ourselves as healing in society and on the planetNew to this year’s series? Working with the kilesas is always relevant\, so you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t taken part in the earlier emotional intelligence sessions this year. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For in-person\, please arrive December 25 no later than 5 pm. Formal teaching runs December 26–29\, with classes at 9:30am and 2:30pm each day\, alongside group meditation\, meals and personal practice time. Departure and New Year’s Celebration The last formal retreat class will be 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 29th.  Departures can  begin after this.  However we warmly invite you to stay on after the retreat closes and welcome the new year with our community. We’ll gather on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration. When booking\, you can select an option to remain at Clear Sky through January 1 to rest\, integrate the teachings and start the year in good company. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Teacher \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. For 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. With Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. Since the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Clear Sky \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat. I am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm. I always enjoy going there for more." \n Maya L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n FAQs \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Costs\n \n\n The teaching itself is offered in the traditional Buddhist way on the basis of Dāna\,  Please see the section About Dāna below. The costs below cover the accommodation\, food and program/admin fees for Clear Sky to operate the retreat. In person cost including meals and accommodation range from CAD $384.30 to CAD $834.30 according to type of accommodation and whether you will stay on for New Year. OnlineCAD $225.00 – Online Course FeeKeen practitioner/Early bird discount available until November 20th.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dāna\n \n\n Dana: Registration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. You may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. 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. The dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able Typically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  As we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  Conversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Scholarship Application\n \n\n 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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here\n \n\n Click here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  Note: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing\n \n\n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keen Practitioner/Early Bird & Registration Deadlines\n \n\n IN-PERSON: Please register as early as possible so we can plan for the retreat. Save 10% on fees until November 20th. Registration deadline for in-person retreatants is December 18th\, 2026. ONLINE: We encourage early registration – keen practitioner/early bird discount available until November 20th. December 18th is the final online registration deadline. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/personal-coaching-online/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Coaching ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screen-Shot-2020-06-13-at-10.49.12-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20261009T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20261025T170000 DTSTAMP:20260801T173755Z CREATED:20260220T020424Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260801T173755Z UID:27028-1791558000-1792947600@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Tantra Practice Retreat DESCRIPTION:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions \n \n \n \n “The power of one person reducing the influence of the kilesas in their life is far greater than one in eight billion — because the effect is so pervasive.”  – Catherine Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n We spend a lot of energy learning to manage our emotions — naming them\, regulating them\, communicating them skilfully. That work matters. But Buddhism has always pointed to something underneath it: the kilesas\, the obscuring states of mind that colour how emotion arises in the first place. This retreat continues to build on Sensei’s 2026 teachings on emotional intelligence\, bringing that work to a natural close by looking at the formal Buddhist teachings on emotion. Where this year’s work has helped us recognise and work skilfully with what we feel\, the kilesa teachings show us what’s underneath the feeling. These classic Buddhist teachings offer a direct\, practical remedy for dissolving it at the root. with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei | December 25-29\, 2026 Registration Deadline: for both in-person and online please register December 18\, 2026 Keen Practitioner/Early Bird Rate: available until November 20\, 2026 We recommend in-person retreats as the best way to get the most out of your experience. That said\, we recognise that travel is inhibitive for some people and are offering an online option for those outside the region unable to travel here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n focus area \n \n \n \n Buddhist Foundations \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n practice \n \n \n \n Kilesas \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Duration \n \n \n \n Four Days \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Skill Level \n \n \n \n All \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n format \n \n \n \n In-Person & Online \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What Are the Kilesas and Upakkilesas? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kilesa (Pali; kleśa in Sanskrit) is the traditional term for what are sometimes called the afflictive or destructive emotions — the mental states that cloud the mind and drive unskilful action. Buddhism has long focused on identifying what gets in the way of our well-being\, and working to remove it. The main kilesas are greed\, hatred and delusion — also described as clinging\, aggression and confusion — along with pride and jealousy. Alongside these\, we’ll explore the upakkilesas: subtler defilements that can slip by unnoticed\, or are even celebrated by our culture. Yet even (or especially) unnamed\, they weigh heavily on us\,  quietly disrupting our equanimity and dampening our energy.  The kilesas aren’t personal flaws to feel bad about — they’re universal patterns every human contends with on the path. They shape not just our own lives\, but the society\, systems and world around us. Learning to recognise them clearly\, rather than being run by them\, is central to Buddhist practice. And by working to transform them in ourselves\, we are also bringing healing to the world around us. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!" (Vipassana retreat) \n Jenai L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What We'll Explore \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Over four days of teaching\, guided meditation and group inquiry\, we’ll: Learn the main kilesas — greed\, hatred and delusion\, along with pride and jealousy — and the subtler upakkilesas or higher defilements.Explore how this traditional Buddhist map connects with modern emotional intelligence work\, bringing a fresh\, integrated view to classical teachingsDraw on the book “Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?” by Daniel Goleman and the Dalai Lama (Mind & Life Institute)\, and the Upakkilesa SuttaPractice recognising these patterns as they arise\, both in meditation and in daily lifeConsider how reducing these defilements in ourselves ripples outward\, offering a living example of non-duality — healing in ourselves as healing in society and on the planetNew to this year’s series? Working with the kilesas is always relevant\, so you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t taken part in the earlier emotional intelligence sessions this year. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For in-person\, please arrive December 25 no later than 5 pm. Formal teaching runs December 26–29\, with classes at 9:30am and 2:30pm each day\, alongside group meditation\, meals and personal practice time. Departure and New Year’s Celebration The last formal retreat class will be 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 29th.  Departures can  begin after this.  However we warmly invite you to stay on after the retreat closes and welcome the new year with our community. We’ll gather on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration. When booking\, you can select an option to remain at Clear Sky through January 1 to rest\, integrate the teachings and start the year in good company. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Teacher \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. For 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. With Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. Since the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Clear Sky \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat. I am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm. I always enjoy going there for more." \n Maya L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n FAQs \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Costs\n \n\n The teaching itself is offered in the traditional Buddhist way on the basis of Dāna\,  Please see the section About Dāna below. The costs below cover the accommodation\, food and program/admin fees for Clear Sky to operate the retreat. In person cost including meals and accommodation range from CAD $384.30 to CAD $834.30 according to type of accommodation and whether you will stay on for New Year. OnlineCAD $225.00 – Online Course FeeKeen practitioner/Early bird discount available until November 20th.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dāna\n \n\n Dana: Registration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. You may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. 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. The dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able Typically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  As we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  Conversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Scholarship Application\n \n\n 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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here\n \n\n Click here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  Note: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing\n \n\n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keen Practitioner/Early Bird & Registration Deadlines\n \n\n IN-PERSON: Please register as early as possible so we can plan for the retreat. Save 10% on fees until November 20th. Registration deadline for in-person retreatants is December 18th\, 2026. ONLINE: We encourage early registration – keen practitioner/early bird discount available until November 20th. December 18th is the final online registration deadline. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/tantra-practice-retreat/ LOCATION:Clear Sky Meditation Center\, 3567 Cockell Road\, PO BOX 19\, Fort Steele\, British Columbia\, V0B 1NO\, Canada CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/advanced.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261027T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261117T150000 DTSTAMP:20260923T174506Z CREATED:20260407T165111Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T174506Z UID:28760-1793106000-1794927600@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Healing Love\, Healing Money (Online) DESCRIPTION:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions \n \n \n \n “The power of one person reducing the influence of the kilesas in their life is far greater than one in eight billion — because the effect is so pervasive.”  – Catherine Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n We spend a lot of energy learning to manage our emotions — naming them\, regulating them\, communicating them skilfully. That work matters. But Buddhism has always pointed to something underneath it: the kilesas\, the obscuring states of mind that colour how emotion arises in the first place. This retreat continues to build on Sensei’s 2026 teachings on emotional intelligence\, bringing that work to a natural close by looking at the formal Buddhist teachings on emotion. Where this year’s work has helped us recognise and work skilfully with what we feel\, the kilesa teachings show us what’s underneath the feeling. These classic Buddhist teachings offer a direct\, practical remedy for dissolving it at the root. with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei | December 25-29\, 2026 Registration Deadline: for both in-person and online please register December 18\, 2026 Keen Practitioner/Early Bird Rate: available until November 20\, 2026 We recommend in-person retreats as the best way to get the most out of your experience. That said\, we recognise that travel is inhibitive for some people and are offering an online option for those outside the region unable to travel here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n focus area \n \n \n \n Buddhist Foundations \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n practice \n \n \n \n Kilesas \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Duration \n \n \n \n Four Days \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Skill Level \n \n \n \n All \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n format \n \n \n \n In-Person & Online \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What Are the Kilesas and Upakkilesas? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kilesa (Pali; kleśa in Sanskrit) is the traditional term for what are sometimes called the afflictive or destructive emotions — the mental states that cloud the mind and drive unskilful action. Buddhism has long focused on identifying what gets in the way of our well-being\, and working to remove it. The main kilesas are greed\, hatred and delusion — also described as clinging\, aggression and confusion — along with pride and jealousy. Alongside these\, we’ll explore the upakkilesas: subtler defilements that can slip by unnoticed\, or are even celebrated by our culture. Yet even (or especially) unnamed\, they weigh heavily on us\,  quietly disrupting our equanimity and dampening our energy.  The kilesas aren’t personal flaws to feel bad about — they’re universal patterns every human contends with on the path. They shape not just our own lives\, but the society\, systems and world around us. Learning to recognise them clearly\, rather than being run by them\, is central to Buddhist practice. And by working to transform them in ourselves\, we are also bringing healing to the world around us. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!" (Vipassana retreat) \n Jenai L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What We'll Explore \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Over four days of teaching\, guided meditation and group inquiry\, we’ll: Learn the main kilesas — greed\, hatred and delusion\, along with pride and jealousy — and the subtler upakkilesas or higher defilements.Explore how this traditional Buddhist map connects with modern emotional intelligence work\, bringing a fresh\, integrated view to classical teachingsDraw on the book “Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?” by Daniel Goleman and the Dalai Lama (Mind & Life Institute)\, and the Upakkilesa SuttaPractice recognising these patterns as they arise\, both in meditation and in daily lifeConsider how reducing these defilements in ourselves ripples outward\, offering a living example of non-duality — healing in ourselves as healing in society and on the planetNew to this year’s series? Working with the kilesas is always relevant\, so you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t taken part in the earlier emotional intelligence sessions this year. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For in-person\, please arrive December 25 no later than 5 pm. Formal teaching runs December 26–29\, with classes at 9:30am and 2:30pm each day\, alongside group meditation\, meals and personal practice time. Departure and New Year’s Celebration The last formal retreat class will be 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 29th.  Departures can  begin after this.  However we warmly invite you to stay on after the retreat closes and welcome the new year with our community. We’ll gather on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration. When booking\, you can select an option to remain at Clear Sky through January 1 to rest\, integrate the teachings and start the year in good company. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Teacher \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. For 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. With Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. Since the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Clear Sky \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat. I am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm. I always enjoy going there for more." \n Maya L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n FAQs \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Costs\n \n\n The teaching itself is offered in the traditional Buddhist way on the basis of Dāna\,  Please see the section About Dāna below. The costs below cover the accommodation\, food and program/admin fees for Clear Sky to operate the retreat. In person cost including meals and accommodation range from CAD $384.30 to CAD $834.30 according to type of accommodation and whether you will stay on for New Year. OnlineCAD $225.00 – Online Course FeeKeen practitioner/Early bird discount available until November 20th.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dāna\n \n\n Dana: Registration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. You may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. 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. The dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able Typically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  As we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  Conversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Scholarship Application\n \n\n 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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here\n \n\n Click here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  Note: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing\n \n\n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keen Practitioner/Early Bird & Registration Deadlines\n \n\n IN-PERSON: Please register as early as possible so we can plan for the retreat. Save 10% on fees until November 20th. Registration deadline for in-person retreatants is December 18th\, 2026. ONLINE: We encourage early registration – keen practitioner/early bird discount available until November 20th. December 18th is the final online registration deadline. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/healing-love-healing-money-online/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Healing-Love-Healing-Money_SQUARE.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20261108T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20261129T170000 DTSTAMP:20260422T024719Z CREATED:20260422T022709Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T024719Z UID:29193-1794130200-1795971600@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Power in Tantric Traditions (Online) DESCRIPTION:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions \n \n \n \n “The power of one person reducing the influence of the kilesas in their life is far greater than one in eight billion — because the effect is so pervasive.”  – Catherine Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n We spend a lot of energy learning to manage our emotions — naming them\, regulating them\, communicating them skilfully. That work matters. But Buddhism has always pointed to something underneath it: the kilesas\, the obscuring states of mind that colour how emotion arises in the first place. This retreat continues to build on Sensei’s 2026 teachings on emotional intelligence\, bringing that work to a natural close by looking at the formal Buddhist teachings on emotion. Where this year’s work has helped us recognise and work skilfully with what we feel\, the kilesa teachings show us what’s underneath the feeling. These classic Buddhist teachings offer a direct\, practical remedy for dissolving it at the root. with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei | December 25-29\, 2026 Registration Deadline: for both in-person and online please register December 18\, 2026 Keen Practitioner/Early Bird Rate: available until November 20\, 2026 We recommend in-person retreats as the best way to get the most out of your experience. That said\, we recognise that travel is inhibitive for some people and are offering an online option for those outside the region unable to travel here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n focus area \n \n \n \n Buddhist Foundations \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n practice \n \n \n \n Kilesas \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Duration \n \n \n \n Four Days \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Skill Level \n \n \n \n All \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n format \n \n \n \n In-Person & Online \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What Are the Kilesas and Upakkilesas? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kilesa (Pali; kleśa in Sanskrit) is the traditional term for what are sometimes called the afflictive or destructive emotions — the mental states that cloud the mind and drive unskilful action. Buddhism has long focused on identifying what gets in the way of our well-being\, and working to remove it. The main kilesas are greed\, hatred and delusion — also described as clinging\, aggression and confusion — along with pride and jealousy. Alongside these\, we’ll explore the upakkilesas: subtler defilements that can slip by unnoticed\, or are even celebrated by our culture. Yet even (or especially) unnamed\, they weigh heavily on us\,  quietly disrupting our equanimity and dampening our energy.  The kilesas aren’t personal flaws to feel bad about — they’re universal patterns every human contends with on the path. They shape not just our own lives\, but the society\, systems and world around us. Learning to recognise them clearly\, rather than being run by them\, is central to Buddhist practice. And by working to transform them in ourselves\, we are also bringing healing to the world around us. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!" (Vipassana retreat) \n Jenai L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What We'll Explore \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Over four days of teaching\, guided meditation and group inquiry\, we’ll: Learn the main kilesas — greed\, hatred and delusion\, along with pride and jealousy — and the subtler upakkilesas or higher defilements.Explore how this traditional Buddhist map connects with modern emotional intelligence work\, bringing a fresh\, integrated view to classical teachingsDraw on the book “Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?” by Daniel Goleman and the Dalai Lama (Mind & Life Institute)\, and the Upakkilesa SuttaPractice recognising these patterns as they arise\, both in meditation and in daily lifeConsider how reducing these defilements in ourselves ripples outward\, offering a living example of non-duality — healing in ourselves as healing in society and on the planetNew to this year’s series? Working with the kilesas is always relevant\, so you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t taken part in the earlier emotional intelligence sessions this year. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For in-person\, please arrive December 25 no later than 5 pm. Formal teaching runs December 26–29\, with classes at 9:30am and 2:30pm each day\, alongside group meditation\, meals and personal practice time. Departure and New Year’s Celebration The last formal retreat class will be 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 29th.  Departures can  begin after this.  However we warmly invite you to stay on after the retreat closes and welcome the new year with our community. We’ll gather on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration. When booking\, you can select an option to remain at Clear Sky through January 1 to rest\, integrate the teachings and start the year in good company. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Teacher \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. For 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. With Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. Since the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Clear Sky \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat. I am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm. I always enjoy going there for more." \n Maya L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n FAQs \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Costs\n \n\n The teaching itself is offered in the traditional Buddhist way on the basis of Dāna\,  Please see the section About Dāna below. The costs below cover the accommodation\, food and program/admin fees for Clear Sky to operate the retreat. In person cost including meals and accommodation range from CAD $384.30 to CAD $834.30 according to type of accommodation and whether you will stay on for New Year. OnlineCAD $225.00 – Online Course FeeKeen practitioner/Early bird discount available until November 20th.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dāna\n \n\n Dana: Registration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. You may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. 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. The dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able Typically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  As we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  Conversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Scholarship Application\n \n\n 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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here\n \n\n Click here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  Note: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing\n \n\n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keen Practitioner/Early Bird & Registration Deadlines\n \n\n IN-PERSON: Please register as early as possible so we can plan for the retreat. Save 10% on fees until November 20th. Registration deadline for in-person retreatants is December 18th\, 2026. ONLINE: We encourage early registration – keen practitioner/early bird discount available until November 20th. December 18th is the final online registration deadline. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/power-in-tantric-traditions/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Power-in-Tantric-traditions-2026-square.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261225 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261230 DTSTAMP:20260921T161334Z CREATED:20260921T031656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T161334Z UID:30560-1798156800-1798588799@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions (In-Person & Online Retreat) DESCRIPTION:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions \n \n \n \n “The power of one person reducing the influence of the kilesas in their life is far greater than one in eight billion — because the effect is so pervasive.”  – Catherine Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n We spend a lot of energy learning to manage our emotions — naming them\, regulating them\, communicating them skilfully. That work matters. But Buddhism has always pointed to something underneath it: the kilesas\, the obscuring states of mind that colour how emotion arises in the first place. This retreat continues to build on Sensei’s 2026 teachings on emotional intelligence\, bringing that work to a natural close by looking at the formal Buddhist teachings on emotion. Where this year’s work has helped us recognise and work skilfully with what we feel\, the kilesa teachings show us what’s underneath the feeling. These classic Buddhist teachings offer a direct\, practical remedy for dissolving it at the root. with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei | December 25-29\, 2026 Registration Deadline: for both in-person and online please register December 18\, 2026 Keen Practitioner/Early Bird Rate: available until November 20\, 2026 We recommend in-person retreats as the best way to get the most out of your experience. That said\, we recognise that travel is inhibitive for some people and are offering an online option for those outside the region unable to travel here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n focus area \n \n \n \n Buddhist Foundations \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n practice \n \n \n \n Kilesas \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Duration \n \n \n \n Four Days \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Skill Level \n \n \n \n All \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n format \n \n \n \n In-Person & Online \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What Are the Kilesas and Upakkilesas? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kilesa (Pali; kleśa in Sanskrit) is the traditional term for what are sometimes called the afflictive or destructive emotions — the mental states that cloud the mind and drive unskilful action. Buddhism has long focused on identifying what gets in the way of our well-being\, and working to remove it. The main kilesas are greed\, hatred and delusion — also described as clinging\, aggression and confusion — along with pride and jealousy. Alongside these\, we’ll explore the upakkilesas: subtler defilements that can slip by unnoticed\, or are even celebrated by our culture. Yet even (or especially) unnamed\, they weigh heavily on us\,  quietly disrupting our equanimity and dampening our energy.  The kilesas aren’t personal flaws to feel bad about — they’re universal patterns every human contends with on the path. They shape not just our own lives\, but the society\, systems and world around us. Learning to recognise them clearly\, rather than being run by them\, is central to Buddhist practice. And by working to transform them in ourselves\, we are also bringing healing to the world around us. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!" (Vipassana retreat) \n Jenai L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What We'll Explore \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Over four days of teaching\, guided meditation and group inquiry\, we’ll: Learn the main kilesas — greed\, hatred and delusion\, along with pride and jealousy — and the subtler upakkilesas or higher defilements.Explore how this traditional Buddhist map connects with modern emotional intelligence work\, bringing a fresh\, integrated view to classical teachingsDraw on the book “Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?” by Daniel Goleman and the Dalai Lama (Mind & Life Institute)\, and the Upakkilesa SuttaPractice recognising these patterns as they arise\, both in meditation and in daily lifeConsider how reducing these defilements in ourselves ripples outward\, offering a living example of non-duality — healing in ourselves as healing in society and on the planetNew to this year’s series? Working with the kilesas is always relevant\, so you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t taken part in the earlier emotional intelligence sessions this year. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For in-person\, please arrive December 25 no later than 5 pm. Formal teaching runs December 26–29\, with classes at 9:30am and 2:30pm each day\, alongside group meditation\, meals and personal practice time. Departure and New Year’s Celebration The last formal retreat class will be 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 29th.  Departures can  begin after this.  However we warmly invite you to stay on after the retreat closes and welcome the new year with our community. We’ll gather on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration. When booking\, you can select an option to remain at Clear Sky through January 1 to rest\, integrate the teachings and start the year in good company. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Teacher \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. For 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. With Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. Since the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Clear Sky \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat. I am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm. I always enjoy going there for more." \n Maya L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n FAQs \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Costs\n \n\n The teaching itself is offered in the traditional Buddhist way on the basis of Dāna\,  Please see the section About Dāna below. The costs below cover the accommodation\, food and program/admin fees for Clear Sky to operate the retreat. In person cost including meals and accommodation range from CAD $384.30 to CAD $834.30 according to type of accommodation and whether you will stay on for New Year. OnlineCAD $225.00 – Online Course FeeKeen practitioner/Early bird discount available until November 20th.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dāna\n \n\n Dana: Registration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. You may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. 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. The dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able Typically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  As we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  Conversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Scholarship Application\n \n\n 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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here\n \n\n Click here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  Note: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing\n \n\n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keen Practitioner/Early Bird & Registration Deadlines\n \n\n IN-PERSON: Please register as early as possible so we can plan for the retreat. Save 10% on fees until November 20th. Registration deadline for in-person retreatants is December 18th\, 2026. ONLINE: We encourage early registration – keen practitioner/early bird discount available until November 20th. December 18th is the final online registration deadline. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/the-kilesas-freeing-the-heart-from-obscuring-emotions-in-person-online-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kilesas-retreat-square-small.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270319 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270329 DTSTAMP:20260815T230627Z CREATED:20260705T222735Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260815T230627Z UID:29536-1805414400-1806278399@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Vipassanā Meditation Retreat (In-Person & Online Retreat) DESCRIPTION:The Kilesas: Freeing the Heart from Obscuring Emotions \n \n \n \n “The power of one person reducing the influence of the kilesas in their life is far greater than one in eight billion — because the effect is so pervasive.”  – Catherine Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n We spend a lot of energy learning to manage our emotions — naming them\, regulating them\, communicating them skilfully. That work matters. But Buddhism has always pointed to something underneath it: the kilesas\, the obscuring states of mind that colour how emotion arises in the first place. This retreat continues to build on Sensei’s 2026 teachings on emotional intelligence\, bringing that work to a natural close by looking at the formal Buddhist teachings on emotion. Where this year’s work has helped us recognise and work skilfully with what we feel\, the kilesa teachings show us what’s underneath the feeling. These classic Buddhist teachings offer a direct\, practical remedy for dissolving it at the root. with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei | December 25-29\, 2026 Registration Deadline: for both in-person and online please register December 18\, 2026 Keen Practitioner/Early Bird Rate: available until November 20\, 2026 We recommend in-person retreats as the best way to get the most out of your experience. That said\, we recognise that travel is inhibitive for some people and are offering an online option for those outside the region unable to travel here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n focus area \n \n \n \n Buddhist Foundations \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n practice \n \n \n \n Kilesas \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Duration \n \n \n \n Four Days \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Skill Level \n \n \n \n All \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n format \n \n \n \n In-Person & Online \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What Are the Kilesas and Upakkilesas? \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kilesa (Pali; kleśa in Sanskrit) is the traditional term for what are sometimes called the afflictive or destructive emotions — the mental states that cloud the mind and drive unskilful action. Buddhism has long focused on identifying what gets in the way of our well-being\, and working to remove it. The main kilesas are greed\, hatred and delusion — also described as clinging\, aggression and confusion — along with pride and jealousy. Alongside these\, we’ll explore the upakkilesas: subtler defilements that can slip by unnoticed\, or are even celebrated by our culture. Yet even (or especially) unnamed\, they weigh heavily on us\,  quietly disrupting our equanimity and dampening our energy.  The kilesas aren’t personal flaws to feel bad about — they’re universal patterns every human contends with on the path. They shape not just our own lives\, but the society\, systems and world around us. Learning to recognise them clearly\, rather than being run by them\, is central to Buddhist practice. And by working to transform them in ourselves\, we are also bringing healing to the world around us. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!" (Vipassana retreat) \n Jenai L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n What We'll Explore \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Over four days of teaching\, guided meditation and group inquiry\, we’ll: Learn the main kilesas — greed\, hatred and delusion\, along with pride and jealousy — and the subtler upakkilesas or higher defilements.Explore how this traditional Buddhist map connects with modern emotional intelligence work\, bringing a fresh\, integrated view to classical teachingsDraw on the book “Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?” by Daniel Goleman and the Dalai Lama (Mind & Life Institute)\, and the Upakkilesa SuttaPractice recognising these patterns as they arise\, both in meditation and in daily lifeConsider how reducing these defilements in ourselves ripples outward\, offering a living example of non-duality — healing in ourselves as healing in society and on the planetNew to this year’s series? Working with the kilesas is always relevant\, so you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t taken part in the earlier emotional intelligence sessions this year. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Schedule \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n For in-person\, please arrive December 25 no later than 5 pm. Formal teaching runs December 26–29\, with classes at 9:30am and 2:30pm each day\, alongside group meditation\, meals and personal practice time. Departure and New Year’s Celebration The last formal retreat class will be 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 29th.  Departures can  begin after this.  However we warmly invite you to stay on after the retreat closes and welcome the new year with our community. We’ll gather on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration. When booking\, you can select an option to remain at Clear Sky through January 1 to rest\, integrate the teachings and start the year in good company. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (In-Person)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register (Online)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Teacher \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Catherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. For 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. With Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. Since the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Clear Sky \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n "Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat. I am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm. I always enjoy going there for more." \n Maya L. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n FAQs \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Costs\n \n\n The teaching itself is offered in the traditional Buddhist way on the basis of Dāna\,  Please see the section About Dāna below. The costs below cover the accommodation\, food and program/admin fees for Clear Sky to operate the retreat. In person cost including meals and accommodation range from CAD $384.30 to CAD $834.30 according to type of accommodation and whether you will stay on for New Year. OnlineCAD $225.00 – Online Course FeeKeen practitioner/Early bird discount available until November 20th.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Dāna\n \n\n Dana: Registration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. You may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. 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. The dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able Typically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  As we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  Conversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Scholarship Application\n \n\n 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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here\n \n\n Click here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  Note: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing\n \n\n 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.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keen Practitioner/Early Bird & Registration Deadlines\n \n\n IN-PERSON: Please register as early as possible so we can plan for the retreat. Save 10% on fees until November 20th. Registration deadline for in-person retreatants is December 18th\, 2026. ONLINE: We encourage early registration – keen practitioner/early bird discount available until November 20th. December 18th is the final online registration deadline. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for In-Person\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register for Online URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/vipassana-meditation-retreat-in-person-online-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2025-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post-1.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR