Meditation for Hope and Healing Retreat
2026-05-08 17:00 - 2026-05-10 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Clear Sky Meditation Center, 3567 Cockell Road, PO BOX 19, Fort Steele, British Columbia, V0B 1NO, Canada
Meditation for Hope and Healing
With Maureen Smith & Dean Nicholson
Do you find yourself stressed by all the troubling news that bombards us every day? Are you experiencing anger, anxiety or hopelessness, and not sure what you can do to make a difference?

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Then join us for a weekend retreat grounded in the time-honored compassion practices of the Himalayan Buddhist traditions. Compassion, for ourselves and for the world, is a powerful force that helps heal the hurts and wounds, and gives us the confidence that we can be agents of action for positive change. Set within the natural sanctuary of Clear Sky Retreat Center, the retreat offers space for deep meditation and inner renewal.
Through these ancient practices, we explore compassion not as an abstraction, but as a living force that transforms both ourselves and our world. Using traditional visualization techniques, we connect with the healing energy of loving-kindness, allowing it to permeate every aspect of our being.

This retreat is an invitation to discover how authentic compassion creates the world we long for—one rooted in hope and healing rather than division and despair. We will work with visualization, meditation, mantra and contemplative practices that have guided practitioners for centuries.
Whether you’re new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, this weekend offers precious time to step away from daily demands and reconnect with your innate capacity for kindness. Held by the natural beauty of this place and the support of community, you’ll discover how these time-honored practices illuminate a path toward genuine transformation—for yourself and all beings.

This retreat will be led by Maureen Smith (MSW, RCSW) and Dean Nicholson (MA, RCC), psychotherapists and Buddhist meditation practitioners.
They are devoted students of Catherine Sensei, cofounder of the Clear Sky Meditation Center, and they have made Clear Sky Meditation Center their home for 20 and 10 years respectively.
Both are experienced teachers who bring decades of clinical counselling experience together with deep personal practice.
Through their work at Alive Mindfully, they support people in living richer lives of meaning, joy and purpose, drawing on meditation, counselling, and connection to the natural world.
Their teaching is grounded in genuine practice and a commitment to awakening in relationship with community and the land.
Course Details

Location: Clear Sky Meditation Center, 3567 Cockell Road
Date: May 8 -May 10, 2026
Time: 5:00pm Friday -5:00pm Sunday MT
Cost: Premium Private Cabin – $576, Private Cabin – $546, Shared Room – $446, Tenting – $326

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Dean is a very skilled, knowledgeable and interactive presenter. He delivered a two day introductory Counselling Skills Training for the Akisqnuk First Nation Health and Administrative staff which was very well received and beneficial to all participants.
Gerard GregoireAkisqnuk First Nation Health
You are never quite sure how the unknown is going to be, but mindfulness will exceed your expectations and open your eyes to how beautiful the mind really is. Maureen’s warm personality and patience helped ease us into it, especially for those of us in unfamiliar waters. Her delivery, tone and pace were perfect for me to digest.
Gareth WebbCounsellor, Youth Substance Use
As I mentioned I have some experience (but don’t have a structured daily practice except in times of Crisis). The wording that Maureen used was very clear and could easily be understood and added to my knowledge. Also she made it very easy to incorporate into everyday life. The second best thing was the profound peace that I felt by the end of the second day. I left feeling absolutely lovely and this state lasted the rest of the weekend. Thank you.
Ann Morin MSW, Invermere BC
Dean is a professional with an amazing ability to understand what I couldn’t. Dean never did the work for me and he always seems to know what to say to help guide me towards making up my own mind and figuring out my issues. Having Dean as a counsellor is like having a caring knowledgeable friend help you through hard times.
PK
I appreciated the longer meditations in all the senses.
Although I have been engaged in guided meditations fairly consistently for 2 years plus; having your support really helped me to ‘stretch out’.
Doug P.

Coming Home: Meditating in Nature
2026-06-19 17:00 - 2026-06-21 17:00 | Clear Sky Meditation Center, 3567 Cockell Road, PO BOX 19, Fort Steele, British Columbia, V0B 1NO, Canada
Photo courtesy of Ava Maclean
Coming Home: Meditating In Nature
With Duncan Cryle and Karen McAllister
Are you longing to reconnect with the natural world and discover a deeper sense of belonging? Do you sense that healing the separation between yourself and nature could transform your experience of life?
Join us for a weekend immersed in the mountains and meadows of Clear Sky, where we’ll explore natural meditation practices that awaken us to our intimate connection with all of life.

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Reconnecting with the Web of Life
Living in our modern world, it’s easy to forget that we are part of an ecosystem that is incredibly old and spans a whole planet. This forgetting has become so deep that it shapes our culture and institutions. Yet the separation we feel – from nature, from our bodies, from each other – is not the truth of how things are.
This retreat offers a path home.
Through simple yet profound practices done outdoors in Clear Sky’s stunning mountain setting, we’ll rediscover a natural connection with our breath, the earth, and the land around us. We’ll learn to see with fresh eyes, as if we were explorers encountering life for the first time

Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat welcomes anyone who:

Feels disconnected from nature and longs to reconnect
Is new to meditation and wants an accessible entry point
Has meditation experience but wants to deepen their practice outdoors
Seeks healing from the stress and isolation of modern life
Is curious about Buddhist approaches to ecology and interconnection

No prior meditation experience is required. The practices we’ll explore are simple yet profound – suitable for beginners while offering depth for experienced practitioners.

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You can read and try all sorts of things by yourself, but doing it with a group, and with Karen and Duncan as wonderful teachers who really know what they are doing, will set you up to get closer to the direction and peace that you so deeply crave.
Erika RasmussenWriter and Film Maker

What You’ll Experience
Introduction To Breathing Meditation Foundational accessible instructions in reconnecting to our breath, and using the breath as a natural anchor to support presence.
Breathing With Nature A beautiful meditation practice that reconnects us with the ancient dance of giving and receiving between humans and the plant kingdom. This simple practice rapidly brings calm and wellbeing while revealing that we truly belong to something much larger than ourselves.
Nature Contemplation Guided explorations in Clear Sky’s forests, meadows, and along its mountain trails. We’ll practice seeing the interconnectedness that reveals itself wherever we look – discovering, as the early explorers did, how encountering the natural world transforms our sense of who and what we are.
Embodied Presence Practices that bring us home to our bodies as living expressions of nature itself. We’ll learn to savor the breath as rare nectar and discover how attention to our embodied experience reconnects us to the larger body of life.

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About Your Guides
Duncan Cryle has practiced meditation for over 20 years in the Namgyal lineage. He combines deep contemplative experience with twenty years in senior organizational roles where he pioneered workplace mindfulness programs reaching tens of thousands. As Co-Executive Director of Clear Sky, Duncan brings a unique perspective on integrating awakening practices with everyday life.
Karen McAllister has practiced meditation for over 20 years and is a senior teacher at Clear sky. She is a contemplative leader and certified money coach who integrates embodiment, relational practice, and material life as a path of awakening. As Co-Executive Director of Clear Sky, Karen brings a deep commitment to aligning spiritual practice, community life, and the ethical flow of resources in service of collective flourishing.
Both Duncan and Karen have studied extensively with Clear Sky’s founding teachers and are devoted to making the path of awakening accessible and relevant to modern practitioners.
Course Details

Location: Clear Sky Meditation Center, 3567 Cockell Road, Fort Steele, BC, V0B 1N0
Date: Jun 19-21, 2026
Time: 5:00pm Friday -5:00pm Sunday MT
Cost: Premium Private Cabin – $576, Private Cabin – $546, Shared Room – $446, Tenting – $326

REGISTER NOW

“What this course has given me is a way back to myself. In the middle of all the chaos — the divorce, the stress, the uncertainty, the endless decisions I can’t control — I’ve learned how to slow down, breathe, and actually nurture myself instead of abandoning myself. … I’m realizing that there is a life waiting for me beyond this crisis, a steadiness I can build, and a version of me who isn’t defined by over-responsibility or survival mode. I feel like I’m slowly remembering who I am, and that feels hopeful.” (from Integrating Mindfulness course with Karen and Duncan)
Angela
“This course opened a completely new way of approaching my life and my work. It taught me to pause, to be fully aware of where I am in the moment, and to create the inner and outer space needed to respond wisely rather than react from stress or habit.
I’ve begun to see how the stories I tell myself shape my emotions, and how silence itself can be a source of wisdom. For me, this is just the beginning of a new journey—one where mindfulness supports not only my own well-being, but also the care I offer as a professional.” (from Integrating Mindfulness course with Karen and Duncan)
HamidMedical Doctor
“This course was exactly what I needed. I’ve done a lot of programs over the years, but this one actually helped me put things into practice. Even simple actions—like making my bed—showed me I have far more control than I thought, even in a situation with real limitations.
What surprised me most was how powerful it felt to do this work alongside others; the sense of community, the sharings, and the space we held together made everything easier and more meaningful. I hadn’t heard of Clear Sky before, but it arrived in my life at just the right time.” (from Integrating Mindfulness course with Karen and Duncan)
Collette
FAQs
Do I need meditation experience to attend this retreat?
No prior experience is needed. This retreat is designed to be accessible to complete beginners while still offering depth for those with an existing practice. The practices are simple, grounded, and done mostly outdoors — no background in Buddhism or meditation is required.
What does meditating in nature actually involve?
The retreat includes guided breathing meditation, outdoor nature contemplation walks through Clear Sky’s forests and mountain meadows, and embodied presence practices. Everything takes place on Clear Sky’s 300-acre property in the BC Rockies — the land itself is very much part of the teaching.
When and where is this retreat held?
The retreat runs June 19–21, 2026 (Friday 5pm to Sunday 5pm MT) at Clear Sky Meditation Centre, 3567 Cockell Road, Fort Steele, BC. Clear Sky is about 40 minutes from Cranbrook International Airport and a four-hour drive from Calgary. See our Getting Here page for directions.
What does the retreat cost and what accommodation options are available?
Pricing is based on your accommodation choice: Premium Private Cabin ($576), Private Cabin ($546), Shared Room ($446), or Tenting ($326). All options include three organic, locally sourced meals per day prepared by our resident community.
Who are the retreat teachers?
The retreat is led by Duncan Cryle and Karen McAllister, both Co-Executive Directors of Clear Sky and senior meditation teachers with over 20 years of practice in the Namgyal lineage. Duncan has pioneered workplace mindfulness programs reaching tens of thousands globally; Karen is also a certified money coach and contemplative leader. Both have trained extensively with Clear Sky’s founding teachers.
Is this retreat suitable for people dealing with stress, burnout, or eco-anxiety?
Yes — this is one of the central intentions of the retreat. The practices are specifically designed to address the disconnection and overwhelm that come with modern life, including eco-anxiety. Participants regularly report feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected after spending a weekend in nature with these practices.
How is this different from a silent meditation retreat?
Unlike a private silent retreat, this is a guided group experience with a set schedule, teacher-led sessions, and community meals. It’s a warmer, more supported entry point — ideal if you want structure and connection alongside your practice rather than extended solitude.

Re-Generation Youth Program: Where Spirituality, Ecology & Community Meet
2026-06-29 - 2026-08-29 | Clear Sky Meditation Center, 3567 Cockell Road, PO BOX 19, Fort Steele, British Columbia, V0B 1NO, Canada
Re-Generation Youth Program: Where Spirituality, Ecology & Community Meet
Note: this is a special summer Youth Program – for our regular three month immersive program outside of the summer see here
Believe in Life Again
We think young people deserve better than what the world is currently offering. We’re willing to show up and see what we can do to generate wholesome impacts, together. Learn about yourself, the land and living in community together so that you are equipped to better make decisions and take action in life. This program is designed to help you develop skills to co-create a world you want to live in.
Join us from June 29 – August 29, 2026.
Questions? Please contact michelle@clearskycenter.org or (250) 429-3929. FAQ’s can be found at the bottom of the page.
Photo credit: Ava Maclean
Spend just two months in residence to remember that life can be meaningful, that you can be part of the solution, that connection is real, and that you have what it takes.

That’s what we’re really offering. Not a fix. Not a cure. A remembering that we can believe in life again.
This youth program is our way of saying: you’re not alone, the world isn’t hopeless, and there are people who care about your generation inheriting something worth having. Daily, we practice meditation together so that we can embody what we teach – what we fondly refer to as “a life worth living”. We do this by leveraging our shared vision and values to live well in community. We align around our quadruple bottom line: spiritual, environmental, social and financial well-being.
This is for you if:

You’re 21-35 and feeling lost
You’re tired of superficiality and want real connection
You want to counter your eco-anxiety with wholesome action
You want to be of service in a world that needs us, instead of feeling helpless
You want mentorship from elders who haven’t given up

Photo credit: Ava Maclean

Inquire Here

You don’t need to:

Be Buddhist (though we work in that tradition)
Have meditation experience (we’ll teach you)
Have your life figured out (literally no one does)

Photo credit: Ava Maclean
Ready To Get Real?
This is for you if you struggle to make commitments, be in community and want to try. You’ll be away from your usual distractions, working with your hands and real people. Living in a small community you’ll face yourself and it can be uncomfortable.
If you want to believe in life again, and you want to be part of the solution– instead of drowning in problems, this might be exactly what you need. Space to remember who you are.

This program is psychedelic and drug free, but we know this world. If you’ve had experiences with psychedelics and are trying to integrate them, we can support that work in a grounded, contemplative context.

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What You’ll Learn

How to meditate and practices that work including, relief from struggle (not bypassing it, actually working with it)
How to lead, follow, and work as a team in community (leading with a heart for service, not ego)
How to be a bodhisattva in the world (someone who acts, not just talks about it)
How to live sustainably with people, pressures and the planet

Our team includes Buddhist teachers and practitioners– our head teacher Catherine Sensei and long term students offer authentic spiritual teachings and practices in a modern day context, plus:

Entrepreneurs, coaches and career mentors who’ve built meaningful lives
Therapists who work with depression, addiction and trauma
Land lovers who know and care for the land intimately
Creative professionals (writers, filmmakers) who’ll help you tell your story

Photo credit: Ava Maclean

“As a Gen Z, I felt like I was giving up on life, and I wanted to find the peace and purpose that I felt was beyond my capacities. I found Clear Sky, and the teachers, teachings, and community showed me what I had been looking for: a way to wake up, and become the person I want to be—to learn how to listen to what life and the earth are speaking to me, and to march forward in our communal pursuit of the common good. I am ready now from this community’s support to love and serve on this planet as I was meant to, and I know that I am not alone. Full steam ahead!”
ERIKA R.

Inquire Here

The Nitty Gritty
Dates: June 29 – August 29, 2026
How much does it cost? We’re committed to making this accessible and decided to offer sliding scale pricing so that you can choose what is right for your situation. Additionally, we do offer payment plans.

$2000 CAD covers our costs for organic meals and accommodation.
$2500-$3500 CAD covers our costs for organic meals and accommodation plus some tuition
$3500 CAD and above allows us to cover our costs and pay some forward in scholarships

Are Scholarships available? Yes. We welcome all scholarship applications and prioritize those holding marginalized identities, including Black, Indigenous and other people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ people. We also recognize that those working in social justice, climate, public service, and education are historically underpaid — if that’s you, please apply here.
Apply early, as funds are limited and cannot cover every application.
How many participants? This will be a small group of 3-4 participants. This means real connection, individual attention and genuine community.
What about screens/phones? For this summer program we’ll be outside a lot. We use WhatsApp groups for communication and occasional wholesome social media posting, for the most part we encourage you to step back from your usual online life. We know this might seem difficult, but you’ll probably thank us. You’ll still be accessible for emergencies and necessary communication.
Is this program physically demanding?
We believe in taking action, not just talking about what we can do for the planet. This program is intentionally designed to enhance our practice of embodiment, eco-restoration and connection with the land. Expect to be active and engaged on the land daily. We balance activity with meditation, learning in community and one day of rest per week to integrate our learnings.
What if I don’t have outdoor skills? Perfect. You’ll learn them. That’s the whole point. Most of us grew up in cities or spent too much time inside. You’ll learn by doing, with patient teachers who remember what it’s like to be new at this stuff.
We’re still finalizing details and if you want to talk about whether this is right for you, reach out to michelle@clearskycenter.org
In the meantime:

Explore teachings on Planet Dharma
Check out our Clear Sky Website to get a feel for who we are
If you like more intensity, learn more about our three month intensive
Follow your gut. If something in you lit up reading this, pay attention and listen to that : )

Photo credit: Ava Maclean
Photo credit: Ava Maclean

Inquire Here

Meet Our Head Teacher

Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
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.
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.

“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.”
Maya L.

FAQs
About Dāna
Dana:
For attendance of retreats and events that are in addition to the program we do charge registration fees to cover the materials needed to offer the retreat/event. 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.
Scholarship Application
We aim to make our retreats and programs as accessible as possible.
As a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service), program fees cover food, accommodation and the equipment required to offer this program. We have intentionally chosen a sliding scale option to allow you to choose what is possible for you.
Official retreats, teachings and workshops that happen during the time you are onsite will be offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart) if price will impact your ability to join.
We reconize that 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.
Daily Schedule
Specific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST)

7:00- 7:45 AM: Group Meditation Practice and Contemplation led by Sangha
7:45- 9:00 AM: Breakfast: Prepare, eat, clean up
9:00 – 11:30 AM: Eco Activities led by Sangha
12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare, eat, clean up
1:30 – 3:00 PM: Rest
3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Contemplation led by Sangha
4:00 – 5:30 PM: Elective Projects
5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare, eat, clean up
7:15 – 8:30 PM: Community Learning and Practices
8:30 – Beyond: Personal Care & bed

Food, Weather, Accommodation and How to Get Here
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.
Cannabis, Psychedelics and Microdosing
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.
Registration Deadlines
Please apply as early as possible. Applications will close June 15th, 2026.

Inquire Here

As the Spirit Moves (In-Person & Online)
2026-07-10 17:00 - 2026-07-12 17:00
As the Spirit Moves
“When the training is for the rest of your life — and all future lifetimes — that’s when it gets really fruitful.”
-Catherine Sensei
Expect the unexpected! How will the Spirit move? This weekend is an offering of raw Dharma from the Teacher. You get to show up and experience epic Dharmic teachings, without a particular predetermined subject. Be ready for anything and everything Dharma. Unforeseen, undetermined, unregulated. No seatbelts allowed.
Retreat Dates: July 10 – 12, 2026
Registration Closes: July 3rd

Attend In-Person

Attend Online

Buddhism
focus area
Guru Yoga
practice
Weekend
Duration
Advanced
Skill Level
In-Person & Online
format
As the Spirit Moves
In the past, people “showed up” for Dharma teachings, regardless of topic. The teachings given were inspired by the energy of the people there. Qapel, one of our founding teachers, used to say that he would go to a class of his Teacher, Namgyal Rinpoche, even if he were just reading a phone book! The Spirit of Dharma… it moves!
So, are you ready to join Catherine Pawasarat Sensei for an eclectic weekend of “old school” style Dharma teachings? Wisdom invites you to learn on the path of riding the dragon, come what may.
As you are well aware, life is a great big journey into the unknown, a Dharmic odyssey. This weekend is the same! Come to soak in Dharmic teachings from Catherine Sensei, have fun, and learn more about how to be the kind of being you want to be. As Bodhisattvas, we keep on diving into learning how to be of service and help alleviate the suffering of beings. It’s an amazing ride, and every opportunity to dive into the depth of Dharma is a precious one. How do we know what we need to hear—and when we hear it, will we listen? There’s only one way to find out.
Take a leap of faith. Join the Teacher. Join the spirit of integral evolution. We dare you!

Attend In-Person

Attend Online

“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!”
Jenai L.
Course Details
Time and Location
As the Spirit Moves will be led by Catherine Sensei at Clear Sky Meditation Center in Eastern BC.
An online option is also available to make participation possible from anywhere in the world.
What Does the Course Cost?
In-Person Participants:

Dāna to the Teachers and
Accomodation and meal costs for your stay Clear Sky Meditation Centre.

Online Participants:

Dāna to the Teacher
Online administration fee of $150.

Meet the Teachers

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.
More About Sensei | About the Lineage
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.

Attend In-Person

Attend Online

“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.”
Maya L.

FAQs
About Dāna
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.
Sample Daily Schedule
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
Food, Weather, Accommodation and How to Get Here
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.
Scholarship Application
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.
Cannabis, Psychedelics and Microdosing
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.

Emotional Intelligence (Online)
2026-07-26 09:30 - 2026-08-16 11:00 | Online
Emotional Intelligence: Four-Week Online Course
“The proof of our emotional intelligence is how much time we spend in the Brahma Viharas”
—Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Sensei Pawasarat
The spiritual path is the hardest—yet most worthwhile—path one can undertake. To walk the path and meet our challenges, we need serious sustenance. Joy is a vital treasure that can feed us and put the air under our wings.
In what can be seen as a dark time for our whole planet, joy is vital to cultivate for ourselves and for each other, in our aspiration to benefit all beings. This online course with teacher Catherine Pawasarat Sensei throws open the door to joy, and revitalizes it as a resource for the journey of awakening.
Have you ever said something and watched the other person’s face change—realizing they heard something completely different from what you meant? Or felt a wave of conflicting emotions arise, not knowing whether to suppress them, express them, or somehow transform them?
From one perspective, we could say that conflicting emotions are the source of all of our suffering. Difficult situations can arise, but if we don’t have conflicting emotions about them, we don’t suffer so much—or at all.
This course offers something rare: the chance to learn how – from the meditator and Dharma practitioner perspective – to work skillfully with emotional risings. It aims to help you show up in kinder, more compassionate, and wiser ways in the world. And one of the side benefits? You’re generally a happier person.
July 26 – August 16, 2026
Sunday morning online classes 9:30-11:00am MT, july 26, Aug 2 and Aug 9
Saturday & Sunday August 15-16 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min)

Registration (Coming Soon)

focus area
Buddhism
Psychology
practice
Course & Optional
Home Retreat
Duration
Four
Weeks
Day/Time
Sundays from 9:30-11am MT
format
In-Person or
Online
Beyond Spiritual Bypassing

Here’s the truth many of us meditators need to hear: a lot of us use our meditation practices to bypass conflicting emotions, which is different than transcending them.
In this course, we’ll look at the difference between bypassing and transcending these emotions, and discover how to use conflicting emotions skillfully to propel us further on the path. What if those difficult emotions weren’t obstacles, but fuel?
The Year of Transformation

2026 is the year of transformation here at Planet Dharma. That means growth, skill development, transcendence.
Think about it: how many of your challenges right now trace back to a miscommunication? A text message that landed wrong? A conversation where you felt completely misunderstood?
We could likely say that 90% of our problems are related to misunderstandings in communication. Does that resonate?
Communication isn’t just a valuable skill—it’s vital. To be able to communicate something in a way where the other person hears what you mean, in a wholesome way, that’s a real, very high skill. Because they can hear something completely different.
When more of us are able to communicate that way, it will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for all beings on the planet. The more effectively and wholesomely we learn to communicate, the better off the Earth is.
So when we talk about emotional intelligence, we’re talking about the Bodhisattva vow—and an important aspect of ecological restoration for all.

Register (Coming Soon)

“In 10 years I have NOT missed a course with master teachers Qapel and Sensei! Every class reflects the light of oneness in prisms of direction and understanding and thus a lighter load to carry in the relative world and a lightness of being. If one aspires to be a bodhisattva and to benefit all beings, this one recommends the next one.”
Brendan R.
What is Emotional Intelligence, Really?
Emotional intelligence has a lot to do with being true to ourselves, having integrity, and being able to communicate in that integrity with others in skillful ways—and the ability to receive the same.
With the development of emotional intelligence of this kind, if someone behaves or speaks in a way that’s not so skillful, we’re able to receive it in a way that’s skillful. That is a form of wholesome transformation.
Think of it as sending skillfully and receiving skillfully, regardless of what the other person is doing. And of course, in our own development, we endeavor to support others to be or become skillful too.
Body, Speech, and Mind
In this course, we’ll look at working with emotions to help us with the Speech aspect of Body, Speech, and Mind. Using the Himalayan Buddhist perspective, the Body is located in the forehead, Speech in the throat, and Mind in the heart.
Emotions are located in the throat too, so they relate to wholesome speech and self-expression—which relates to creativity!
When we talk about the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha, the deity Vajrapani represents the Body, Chenrezi—the realm of compassion—represents Speech, and Manjushri represents Mind. Thus, the skillfulness of our compassion pertains very closely to our Speech.
Your Unique Line of Development
Here’s something liberating to consider: we can think of Emotional Intelligence as its own Line of Development in the Integral model.
You might be brilliant cognitively, advanced spiritually, or gifted artistically or somatically—but not so high in the Emotional Intelligence line. This course is meant to offer us all resources to grow in the Emotional Line of Development.
Conversely, someone might be high in the Emotional Line but not so high in the others. This course might give them a chance to shine and become more aware of growth edges!
What to Expect
Catherine Sensei will offer exercises for students to undertake with their Sanghas in the weeks between classes.
As you engage with the course materials, notice: What arisings are coming up for you? Is there emotional content? What kind of emotional content do you feel prepared to transform, to allow the arising to pass away? Do you have the skills to transform it into something generative?
The final weekend of the course will be a flash retreat that will include exercises for students. The flash retreat registration is a separate registration.
Deepening Your Learning
The course links beautifully to Catherine’s Sensei weekend retreat in September 2026 on the north and south nodes in AstroDharma. The nodes work reveals the deeper patterns at play, while emotional intelligence gives you the skills to navigate them skillfully. We strongly recommend taking them together for a complete approach to working with yourself and others.
Course Texts
We’ll draw on these texts and other sources:
Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them? A scientific dialogue with the Dalai Lama Narrated by Daniel Goleman
Emotional Intelligence By Daniel Goleman

Course Schedule
July 26 – August 16, 2026
Class Times (Mountain Time)

Sunday July 26 – 9:30-11am
Sunday August 2 – 9:30-11am
Sunday August 9 – 9:30-11am
Saturday & Sunday August 15-16 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min)

The formal and participatory teachings for this course will occur on Sundays, with a separate registration for the Saturday-Sunday flash retreat on the fourth weekend. Class times are estimates and may change slightly.
We encourage you to connect with Sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material.
Flash Retreat Weekend: August 15-16
To deepen and integrate your experience, the final (fourth) weekend during the course will also be a Flash Retreat (August 15-16), offered by a separate registration, which will include exercises to engage in. This can be done at home, or with us at Clear Sky Meditation Centre in Eastern British Columbia.
Formal group sessions will be held at these approximate times:

Flash Retreat morning session: 9:30am MT
Flash Retreat afternoon session: 2:30pm MT
Sessions will be 60-90 mins in length.

Meet the Teachers

Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
Catherine Pawasarat Sensei is a contemporary Dharma teacher, attendant, consort, co-teacher via Planet Dharma and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life, Catherine also draws on generative living and universal spiritual tools including transpersonal astrology and Japanese arts.
She trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan from 1998 until his passing in 2024, in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003.
More About Sensei | About the Lineage

Register Now (Coming Soon)

“The teachers have brought together ancient teachings with scientific findings that prove how and why Dharma teachings radically improve life, reduce pain and increase global peace. It doesn’t matter what you believe, you will embody a healthy new way of being. Because of their vast collective wisdom, you leave their presence radically altered for the betterment of humanity.”
Evangelos D.

FAQs
What is Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and why is it important?
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage your emotions while skillfully navigating others’. It is the “Speech” component of Clear Sky’s Body, Speech, and Mind framework. High EQ is essential for reducing stress, improving communication, and turning daily struggles into vitality.
How does this Emotional Intelligence course help my career?
This course builds high-performance leadership skills like self-regulation, empathy, and conflict resolution. By mastering these, you can handle high-pressure workplace scenarios with composure, lead teams more effectively, and align your professional actions with your personal values.
Who is this Emotional Intelligence course for?
It is designed for professionals, leaders, and spiritual seekers who want to bridge the gap between their inner growth and their external relationships. Whether you’re an executive or a student, this course is for anyone ready to transform how they interact with the world.
What makes the Clear Sky approach to EQ unique?
Our approach integrates Integral Buddhism with modern EQ frameworks. Led by Catherine Pawasarat Sensei, we focus on “waking up” and “growing up” simultaneously, using mindfulness to address the root causes of emotional triggers rather than just managing symptoms.
How is this course different from standard corporate Emotional Intelligence training?
While corporate training often focuses on productivity “scripts,” Clear Sky emphasizes authentic, generative change. We treat EQ as a holistic practice for your spiritual, social, and professional life, helping you maintain inner peace even in high-stress environments.
Dana and Pricing
Dana:
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. However, 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.
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.
About the Online Admin Fee
In a traditional model of in-person teachings, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers, and of the supporting center.
We’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood.
The admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know, the costs of setting up good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online can be surprising.
Our admin fee changes based on the date of registration.
Register four + weeks prior: $80Register two to four weeks prior: $100Register less than two weeks prior: $120
*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend.
—
Below are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting:

High speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)
Online class systems (Zoom)
Registration / admin systems (Eventbrite, Basecamp)
Communication systems to keep everyone informed, share connection details, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)
Online storage (for example, Dropbox, to allow us to let students watch recordings, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later, and Amazon cloud)
Quality sound, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.
Online calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews
Website hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses, teachings, blogs and other resources.

We welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable, abundant and for the benefit of all beings!

Register (Coming Soon)

AstroDharma: The Nodes & Your Planetary Purpose (In-Person & Online)
2026-09-18 17:00 - 2026-09-20 15:00
AstroDharma 2026: The Nodes & Your Planetary Purpose
Online or In-Person | September 18-20, 2026
“Astrology allows us to identify our unique challenges and strengths as individuals in order to more fully embody and live our spiritual awakening… Dharma empowers us to transcend our challenges, leverage our strengths and reduce the suffering within ourselves and those around us.”
-Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
What does the planet need from you? Who are you here to be? And how do you get there from here? These aren’t small questions. You sense there’s a unique contribution only you can make. A purpose that’s yours alone. But how do you find it? More importantly—how do you live it?
Join Catherine Sensei for a transformative weekend that helps you discover how to use your natural resources—your talents, your experiences, your unique energy—to be more generous in the world. This isn’t abstract spiritual philosophy. This is about finding your planetary purpose and learning how to actually embody it.
In-Person Registration Closes: September 4th
Online Registration Closes: September 11th

In-Person Registration

Online Registration

The nodes in your astrological chart hold the map. They show your path of spiritual progress in this lifetime. Your South Node reveals your karma—the familiar patterns you default to, the conditioning that keeps you stuck. Your North Node points to your Dharma—the direction your soul is being called to grow, the gifts you’re here to share with the world.
You Know That Feeling When…

You keep hitting the same walls, running the same patterns, and you know there’s a way through but you can’t quite see it
You sense you have gifts to offer the world, but you’re not sure what they are or how to share them
Your relationships keep triggering the same dynamics, and you wonder if there’s a deeper pattern at play
You’re ready to get unstuck from old conditioning and step into who you’re truly meant to be
You’re part of a spiritual community and you want to understand the energy dynamics that create harmony (or friction) between people
You feel called to something bigger but you’re not sure how to bridge the gap between where you are and where you need to beIf any of these resonate, this course is for you.

This course for you if:

You want to study an astrological Dharmic framework with a wisdom teacher in the Namgyal lineage.
You’re ready to learn how to get unstuck from your conditioning and discover where you want to acquire experience, knowledge, and skills to develop your unique Dharmic path
You’re seeking greater clues into finding your planetary purpose—who you’re here to be in this lifetime
You’re part of a Sangha and want to better understand one another’s patterns so you can transform interpersonal conflict into mutual support (this course is really good for Sanghas)
You want practical tools for recognizing energy dynamics in your relationships and shifting them in more wholesome ways
You’re ready to discover how to share your gifts with the world in a way that actually serves

Why the Nodes Matter
The nodes describe how we can use our natural resources, our talents, to be more generous in the world. They show us where we get stuck and how to get unstuck. They reveal where we have gifts and where there’s potential for further growth.
The nodes were one of the parts of AstroDharma that our late teacher Qapel had the most interest in, and a key area Catherine Sensei focuses on in her AstroDharma teachings.
This course is especially powerful for developing community. Understanding one another’s AstroDharmic patterns—your natal horoscopes—can really help us take interpersonal conflict and look at the energy dynamics that are involved. Instead of the usual patterns of either engaging in interpersonal conflict or avoiding it altogether, you’ll learn how to understand these dynamics and shift them in more wholesome ways so you can really support one another.
The course links beautifully to the Emotional Intelligence course—the nodes work reveals the deeper patterns at play, while emotional intelligence gives you the skills to navigate them skillfully. We strongly recommend taking them together for a complete approach to working with yourself and others.

“I greatly appreciate the depth of knowledge and level of expertise that is shared by Sensei. Her teachings are always well prepared and transformative in my spiritual growth.”
Michele C.Astrologer
What You’ll Learn:

In this course, we’ll explore the nodes from multiple angles—what they portray astronomically and astrologically, how they show up in our lives, and specifically how they show up for you.
You’ll learn:

How the nodes reveal your path of spiritual progress in this lifetime
Where your conditioning keeps you stuck—and how to get unstuck
Where you want to acquire experience, knowledge, and skills to develop your unique Dharmic path
How to use your natural resources (talents) to be more generous in the world
Tools for understanding interpersonal dynamics and energy patterns within communities
How to bridge the gap from where you are to who you’re meant to beFor in-person participants: You’ll experience somatic AstroDharma mandalas (somatic constellations) to explore the nodes through your body. These are visceral, compelling experiences that bring the teachings alive in a whole new way. Lucky us!

Why AstroDharma

For spiritual seekers looking to grow, Catherine Sensei’s unique combination of Buddhism and Transpersonal Astrology speeds us up on our spiritual path.
Many of us in the West are raised to celebrate the individual self—to find our unique path and explore why we’re here on this planet. Yet Buddhist Dharma leaps over personalization by teaching that there is no inherent self, and that we must realize this to find spiritual awakening.
For many of us, that’s a big leap.
On the way, we may miss valuable lessons about how to compassionately show up in the world as unique individuals. AstroDharma bridges these two systems. Transpersonal Western astrology reveals individual patterns and influences—we get a window into the energies, the pushes and pulls of the psyche. Dharma expands the view beyond self, into a path of service to community, for the benefit of all beings.
Over time, with growing confidence and awareness, we can transcend our natal charts and awaken. But first, we work with what we’ve got.
We initially pursued AstroDharma because Namgyal Rinpoche also taught astrology. We’ve found it to be an effective tool for helping us explore our patterns. It’s unique for each person, and AstroDharma helps us unpack that uniqueness so you can use it better for yourself and for others.

Meet the Teacher – Catherine Sensei

Catherine Pawasarat
Catherine Pawasarat Sensei is a contemporary Dharma teacher and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center. She has developed AstroDharma as a tool for transformation, synthesizing Buddhist teachings on spiritual awakening with transpersonal Western astrology based on the teachings of Carl Jung.
She trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan from 1998 until his passing in 2024 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West, and received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003.
Since the early 2000s, Catherine has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life, she draws on generative living, transpersonal astrology, and Japanese arts. Catherine comes from a lineage of spiritual awakening that values the best of Eastern and Western philosophy—an ideal training for Westerners and an evolution of traditional teachings for the modern seeker.

Course Details
Time and Location
Led by Catherine Pawasarat Sensei at Clear Sky Meditation Center in Eastern BC. Available in-person or online.
Retreating at Clear Sky means you can participate in the in-person somatic AstroDharma constellation work—always a more grounded, supportive, communal experience.
Schedule / Class Times:
All listed in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), and will be 60-90 minutes in duration. Please clear your schedule for the entire weekend to focus on this work. The following class times are approximate:
Friday, September 18 — 7pm (arrive on-site at 3pm)
Saturday, September 19 — 9am, 2pm, plus in-person somatic work at 7pm
Sunday, September 20 — 9am, 2pm, plus in-person somatic work at 4pm
Online participants are expected to attend classes live. We have arranged class times to be comfortable for most time zones. However we understand that some class times might occur after midnight in some regions; if this is the case for you, please let us know when you register. We can provide a recording so you can catch up on that particular class if it occurs in the middle of the night for you.
What you’ll need: Your astrology chart with the Nodes, Chiron, and Eris, using Placidus house system. Detailed instructions provided upon registration.
What Does the Course Cost?
In-Person Participants:

Dāna to the Teacher
Accomodation and meal costs for your stay Clear Sky Meditation Centre.

Online Participants:

Dāna to the Teacher
Online administration fee of $170 CAD.

Keen practitioner pricing: 5% savings on program fees available until February 14, 2025.
Important: The last day to register is one week prior to the retreat start date. Please register early.
Questions?
If you have questions about the retreat, please contact the Clear Sky Retreat Manager at 250-429-3929 (phone) or at bookings@clearskycenter.org (email).

In-Person Registration

Online Registration

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.

Locally-grown organic food

Supportive meditation guidance

Stunning bedroom views

In-Person Registration

Online Registration

“This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers, interact with these fellow seekers, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”
Linda H.

FAQs
About Dana
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.
About the Admin Fee
In a traditional model of in-person teachings, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers, and of the supporting center.
We’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood.
The admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. The admin fee changes based on date of registration.
*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend.
—
Below are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting:

high speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)
online class systems (Zoom)
registration / admin systems (Eventbrite, Basecamp)
communication systems to keep everyone informed, share connection details, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)
online storage (for example, Dropbox, to allow us to let students watch recordings, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later, and Amazon cloud)
quality sound, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.
online calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews
website hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses, teachings, blogs and other resources.

We welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable, abundant and for the benefit of all beings!
Daily Schedule
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
Food, Weather, Accommodation and How to Get Here
Click here for details on how to get here, what to bring and what to expect.
PSYCHEDELICS/MICRODOSING
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.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
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. We do not have paid staff.
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.

In-Person Registration

Online Registration

Tantra Practice Retreat
2026-10-09 15:00 - 2026-10-25 17:00
“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.”

Qapel (Acharya Doug Duncan)
Life as Tantra: Weaving Desire into Liberation – Blog
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

Apply Here

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.

Apply Here

“Qapel and Sensei teach in a light, but profound way – taking us on a brilliant journey of understanding with guile and humour.
Their male and female perspectives help balance with differing approaches to explaining a complex but genius system that holds all life understanding from religion, science, psychotherapy and wisdom traditions.”
Jonathan C. Shiatsu, Qigong & Meditation Teacher

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
*Daily schedule is subject to changes closer to the course date. Questions about the retreat? Phone 250-429-3929, or contact michelle@clearskycenter.org
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.

Apply Here

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.

“This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers, interact with these fellow seekers, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”
Linda H.Dharma Teacher & Author

FAQs

Dana and Pricing

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.

Detailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats)

Specific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST)
6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare, eat, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare, eat, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare, eat, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed

Food, Weather, Accommodation and How to Get Here

Click here for details on how to get here, what to bring and what to expect.

Scholarship Application

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.

Microdosing/Psychedelics

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.

Apply Here
