BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Clear Sky Meditation Centre - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH 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/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 END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago 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:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260604T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260604T200000 DTSTAMP:20260530T111925 CREATED:20260422T195048Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T172656Z UID:29242-1780599600-1780603200@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Compassion Without Overwhelm: Feeling Without Collapsing DESCRIPTION:Compassion Without Overwhelm: Feeling Without Collapsing\nWith Karen McAllister and Duncan Cryle \nThursday June 4 2026 \n7-8 pm Mountain Time (6 pm PST\, 8 pm Central\, 9 pm EST) \nPay-From-The-Heart \nSession 2 of 6 of our 2026 online drop-in series – see here for other sessions in the series: Staying Whole: Meditation Tools for Fragmented Times \nYou care deeply. And it’s exhausting. Grief about the state of the world. The people around you that you see suffering. The troubles on the news.  \nIf you’re someone who feels things deeply\, you’ve probably learned to manage by numbing\, distancing\, or staying busy.  \nCompassion is an essential part of life and being human\, a quality that is central to our spiritual growth. But without the resilience and perspective to go with it\, it can tip into overwhelm\, collapse\, or burnout. This session offers practices for staying open without being swept away. \nIn this hour together\, we’ll explore: \n\nThe difference between empathy (feeling with) and compassion (feeling for)—and why it matters\nWhy highly sensitive and caring people are especially vulnerable to overwhelm\nPractices for containment: allowing grief and care without drowning in them\nHow to stay connected to the world’s suffering without abandoning yourself\n\nYou’ll leave with tools you can use when the weight of the world feels like too much—and a clearer sense of how to care sustainably. \nThis is session 2 of our 2026 online drop-in series – see here for future sessions Staying Whole: Meditation Tools For Fragmented Times series. \nSession Details\n\nDate: Thursday June 4\, 2026\nTime: 7-8 pm Mountain Time (6 pm PST\, 8 pm Central\, 9 pm EST)\nFormat: Live online via Zoom (recording available)\nCost: By donation (Dāna)—everyone welcome regardless of financial circumstances\n\n\n Photo courtesy of Ava Maclean\n “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.”\n Erika RasmussenWriter and Film Maker\n \n Register Here\n \nWhat We’ll Explore\nWhen we care deeply\, we often absorb more than we realize. Over time\, the weight of others’ pain — and the state of the world — can leave us feeling depleted\, numb\, or caught in cycles of guilt and withdrawal. We lose access to the very compassion we value most. \nIn this hour together\, we’ll explore: \n\nThe difference between empathy and compassion — and why understanding this distinction can protect you from burnout\nWhy highly sensitive and caring people are especially vulnerable to overwhelm\nPractices for staying open to suffering without being swept away by it\nHow to grieve\, care\, and stay connected — without abandoning yourself in the process\n\nYou’ll leave with tools you can use when the weight of the world feels like too much\, and a clearer sense of how to care sustainably. \nWhat to Expect\nEach session in the series weaves together: \n\nTeaching grounded in Buddhist wisdom and 35+ years of practice\, adapted for real-world application\nGuided practice you can use immediately and return to between sessions\nReflection & dialogue with others navigating similar terrain\nIntegration tools designed for daily life\, not just the cushion\n\n\n Photo courtesy of Ava Maclean\n \n Register Here\n \nPart of the 2026 Staying Whole Series\nThis session is the second of Staying Whole: Meditation Tools for Fragmented Times\, a six-session online drop-in series running through 2026\, offering practical tools for inner steadiness\, relational resilience\, and community belonging. Each session stands alone\, so you’re welcome to join just this one. And if this resonates\, the series continues on June 25 with Boundaries As Stability: Protecting Energy Without Disconnecting \nLearn more about the full series here\n \n \nYour Guides For The Series\nDuncan Cryle has practiced meditation and Buddhist Dharma for over 35 years in the Namgyal lineage with Qapel and Catherine Sensei. He was a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004 and a resident since 2018. Duncan has been teaching for over 20 years—with Awaken in Toronto\, Despertando no Brasil (“Awakening in Brazil”)\, and through Clear Sky’s Integrating Mindfulness program. Through the intense work of living in intentional community—navigating conflict\, collaboration\, and collective decision-making—he’s learned firsthand what it takes to stay whole in fragmented times. He also spent many years in senior business roles pioneering workplace mindfulness\, and now consults with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations on building mindfulness\, resilience\, and trust. \nKaren McAllister has practiced meditation since the 1990s and studied Buddhist Dharma for over 25 years in the Namgyal lineage with Qapel and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. She was a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004 and has been a resident since 2018. Karen has been teaching meditation and mindfulness for over 13 years through Awaken in Toronto\, Despertando no Brasil (“Awakening in Brazil”)\, and Clear Sky’s Integrating Mindfulness and Money & Spirituality programs. Through the ongoing practice of living in intentional community\, navigating relationship\, conflict\, and shared responsibility\, she has learned firsthand what it takes to stay grounded and whole in uncertain and changing times. Alongside her teaching\, Karen serves as Co-Executive Director of Clear Sky and leads the funding of the Temple project\, supporting a long-term vision of refuge and deep practice for generations to come. She is also the founder of Mindful Money Coaching\, where she supports people in the helping professions and mission-driven fields to transform their relationship with money\, bringing awareness to how they give\, receive\, and steward resources in alignment with their values and purpose. \n… And special guest teachers from the Clear Sky onsite Sangha\nClear Sky’s onsite team have a rich diversity of experience and many years of deep spiritual practice.  During this series we’ll benefit from bringing in other voices to add depth and range to the exploration. \n \n “Duncan and Karen are wonderful instructors who help everyone\, from beginners to people with more experience\, practice meditation and self-care. As I joined remotely\, I appreciated how the online participants were engaged through conversation and breakout rooms.”\n Kristi\n \n Register Here URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/compassion-without-overwhelm/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Online Courses,Staying Whole Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/StayingWhole_CompassionWithoutOverwhelm.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260619T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260621T170000 DTSTAMP:20260530T111925 CREATED:20260211T010736Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T184742Z UID:27870-1781888400-1782061200@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Coming Home: Meditating in Nature DESCRIPTION:Photo courtesy of Ava Maclean\nComing Home: Meditating In Nature\nWith Duncan Cryle and Karen McAllister \nAre 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? \nJoin 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. \n \n REGISTER NOW\n \nReconnecting with the Web of Life\nLiving 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. \nThis retreat offers a path home. \nThrough 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. \n \nWho This Retreat Is For\nThis retreat welcomes anyone who: \n\nFeels disconnected from nature and longs to reconnect\nIs new to meditation and wants an accessible entry point\nHas meditation experience but wants to deepen their practice outdoors\nSeeks healing from the stress and isolation of modern life\nIs curious about Buddhist approaches to ecology and interconnection\n\nNo prior meditation experience is required. The practices we’ll explore are simple yet profound – suitable for beginners while offering depth for experienced practitioners. \n \n \n REGISTER NOW\n \n 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.\n Erika RasmussenWriter and Film Maker\n \nWhat You’ll Experience\nIntroduction To Breathing Meditation: Foundational accessible instructions in reconnecting to our breath\, and using the breath as a natural anchor to support presence.  \nBreathing With Nature: A beautiful meditation practice that reconnects us with the ancient dance of giving and receiving between humans and nature. This simple practice rapidly brings calm and wellbeing while revealing that we truly belong to something much larger than ourselves. \nNature 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. \nEmbodied 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. \n \n REGISTER NOW\n \n \n \nAbout Your Guides\nDuncan Cryle has practiced meditation and Buddhist Dharma for over 35 years in the Namgyal lineage with Qapel and Catherine Sensei. He was a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004 and a resident since 2018. Duncan has been teaching for over 20 years—with Awaken in Toronto\, Despertando no Brasil (“Awakening in Brazil”)\, and through Clear Sky’s Integrating Mindfulness program. Through the intense work of living in intentional community—navigating conflict\, collaboration\, and collective decision-making—he’s learned firsthand what it takes to stay whole in fragmented times. He also spent many years in senior business roles pioneering workplace mindfulness\, and now consults with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations on building mindfulness\, resilience\, and trust. \nKaren 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. \nCourse Details\n\nLocation: Clear Sky Meditation Center\, 3567 Cockell Road\, Fort Steele\, BC\, V0B 1N0\nDate: Jun 19-21\, 2026\nTime: Arrive between 3-5 pm Friday\, retreat finishes 4 pm Sunday MT\nCost: Premium Private Cabin – $576\, Private Cabin – $546\,    Shared Room – $446\, Tenting – $326\n\n \n “Duncan and Karen are wonderful instructors who help everyone\, from beginners to people with more experience\, practice meditation and self-care. As I joined remotely\, I appreciated how the online participants were engaged through conversation and breakout rooms.”\n Kristi\n \n REGISTER NOW\n \nFAQs\n Do I need meditation experience to attend this retreat? \nNo 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. \n What does meditating in nature actually involve? \nThe 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. \n When and where is this retreat held? \nThe retreat runs June 19–21\, 2026 (arriving Friday between 3-5pm to Sunday 4 pm 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. \n What does the retreat cost and what accommodation options are available? \nPricing 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. \n Is this retreat suitable for people dealing with stress\, burnout\, or eco-anxiety? \nYes — 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. \n How is this different from a silent meditation retreat? \nUnlike 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. URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/coming-home-meditating-in-nature/ LOCATION:Clear Sky Meditation Center\, 3567 Cockell Road\, PO BOX 19\, Fort Steele\, British Columbia\, V0B 1NO\, Canada CATEGORIES:Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ComingHome_MeditatingInNature.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260629 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260830 DTSTAMP:20260530T111925 CREATED:20251218T164759Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T201139Z UID:26796-1782691200-1788047999@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Re-Generation Youth Program: Where Spirituality\, Ecology & Community Meet DESCRIPTION:Re-Generation Youth Program: Where Spirituality\, Ecology & Community Meet\nNote: this is a special summer Youth Program – for our regular three month immersive program outside of the summer see here \nBelieve in Life Again\nWe 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. \nJoin us from June 29 – August 29\, 2026. \nQuestions? Please contact  michelle@clearskycenter.org or (250) 429-3929. FAQ’s can be found at the bottom of the page. \n\n Photo credit: Ava Maclean\nSpend 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. \n \nThat’s what we’re really offering. Not a fix. Not a cure. A remembering that we can believe in life again. \nThis 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. \nThis is for you if:\n\nYou’re 21-35 and feeling lost\nYou’re tired of superficiality and want real connection\nYou want to counter your eco-anxiety with wholesome action\nYou want to be of service in a world that needs us\, instead of feeling helpless\nYou want mentorship from elders who haven’t given up\n\n\n Photo credit: Ava Maclean\n \n Inquire Here\n \nYou don’t need to:\n\nBe Buddhist (though we work in that tradition)\nHave meditation experience (we’ll teach you)\nHave your life figured out (literally no one does)\n\n\n Photo credit: Ava Maclean\nReady To Get Real?\nThis 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. \nIf 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. \n\n \nThis 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. \n \n Inquire Here\n \nWhat You’ll Learn\n\nHow to meditate and practices that work including\, relief from struggle (not bypassing it\, actually working with it) \nHow to lead\, follow\, and work as a team in community (leading with a heart for service\, not ego)\nHow to be a bodhisattva in the world (someone who acts\, not just talks about it)\nHow to live sustainably with people\, pressures and the planet\n\n \nOur 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: \n\nEntrepreneurs\, coaches and career mentors who’ve built meaningful lives \nTherapists who work with depression\, addiction and trauma\nLand lovers who know and care for the land intimately\nCreative professionals (writers\, filmmakers) who’ll help you tell your story\n\n\n Photo credit: Ava Maclean\n \n\n“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!” \nERIKA R. \n\n \n Inquire Here\n \n \n \nThe Nitty Gritty\nDates: June 29 – August 29\, 2026 \nHow 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. \n\n$2000 CAD covers our costs for organic meals and accommodation.\n$2500-$3500 CAD covers our costs for organic meals and accommodation plus some tuition\n$3500 CAD and above allows us to cover our costs and pay some forward in scholarships\n\nAre 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. \nApply early\, as funds are limited and cannot cover every application. \nHow many participants? This will be a small group of  3-4 participants. This means real connection\, individual attention and genuine community. \nWhat 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. \nIs this program physically demanding? \nWe 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. \nWhat 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.  \nWe’re still finalizing details and if you want to talk about whether this is right for you\, reach out to michelle@clearskycenter.org \nIn the meantime: \n\nExplore teachings on Planet Dharma\nCheck out our Clear Sky Website to get a feel for who we are\nIf you like more intensity\, learn more about our three month intensive\nFollow your gut. If something in you lit up reading this\, pay attention and listen to that : )\n\n \n \n\n Photo credit: Ava Maclean\n\n Photo credit: Ava Maclean\n \n Inquire Here\n \nMeet Our Head Teacher\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine 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. \nFor 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. \nWith 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. \nSince 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. \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded 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. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \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 \nFAQs\n What is the Re-Generation Youth Program? \nIt’s a two-month in-person immersion at Clear Sky Meditation Centre in BC\, designed for young adults aged 21–35. You’ll live in community\, practise daily meditation\, work on the land through eco-restoration\, and develop real-world life skills — all within a structured spiritual framework. It’s not a wellness retreat or a camp. It’s a meaningful alternative for those who want to believe in life again. \n Do I need meditation or outdoor experience to apply? \nNeither. You’ll be taught meditation from the ground up\, and all land-based activities are guided by patient teachers who expect you to be new to this. What matters is an open heart and genuine willingness to engage — not what you already know. \n How is this different from a regular summer program or gap year? \nMost gap year programs focus on travel or skill-building. This one focuses on inner transformation alongside outer action — combining Buddhist meditation\, ecological restoration\, community living\, and mentorship from experienced teachers. If you want something that actually changes how you see yourself and the world\, this goes much further than a typical summer program. \n Who is this program for? \nYoung adults aged 21–35 who are feeling lost\, burnt out\, or disconnected — whether from nature\, community\, or themselves. You don’t need to be Buddhist\, spiritual\, or have your life figured out. If you’re tired of superficiality and want real connection and purpose\, this program was built for you. \n How much does the program cost and is financial assistance available? \nPricing is on a sliding scale: $2\,000 CAD covers accommodation and all organic meals; $2\,500–$3\,500 CAD covers costs plus some tuition; $3\,500 CAD and above allows us to cover costs and contribute toward scholarships for others. If cost is still a barrier\, scholarship support is available — complete a Scholarship Application and we’ll do our best to make it work. \n What is dāna and how much should I budget for it? \nDana: \nFor 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. \nYou 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. \nThe 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 \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  \nAs 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.  \nConversely\, 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. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \n What does a typical day look like? \nDays are full and intentional. Morning group meditation is followed by eco-restoration activities on the land\, community meals\, afternoon contemplation\, and evening learning sessions. You’ll have one rest and integration day per week. Screens and social media are largely set aside — this is time to remember who you are without the usual noise. \n What does the daily schedule look like? \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n\n7:00- 7:45 AM: Group Meditation Practice and Contemplation led by Sangha\n7:45- 9:00 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up\n9:00 – 11:30 AM: Eco Activities led by Sangha\n12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up\n1:30 – 3:00 PM: Rest\n3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Contemplation led by Sangha\n4:00 – 5:30 PM: Elective Projects\n5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up\n7:15 – 8:30 PM: Community Learning and Practices \n8:30 – Beyond: Personal Care & bed\n\n Where is the program held and how do I get there? \nClear Sky sits on 300 acres near Bull River in southeastern BC\, 40–60 minutes from Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC). It’s a four-hour drive from Calgary and one hour from the US border (accessible from Spokane\, Sandpoint\, and Whitefish). Airport pickup is available — just notify us when registering. For full directions\, visit our Getting Here page. \n How many participants are accepted and when should I apply? \nThis is intentionally a small group of 3–4 participants to ensure real connection and individual attention. Applications close June 15th\, 2026 for the summer intake (June 29–August 29). Apply as early as possible. If you’re drawn to a longer or year-round commitment\, explore our Three-Month Karma Yoga Intensive which runs multiple intakes throughout the year. \n \n \n \n Inquire Here URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/re-generation-youth-program-where-spirituality-ecology-community-meet/ LOCATION:Clear Sky Meditation Center\, 3567 Cockell Road\, PO BOX 19\, Fort Steele\, British Columbia\, V0B 1NO\, Canada CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Re-Generation-Youth-Program.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260726T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260816T110000 DTSTAMP:20260530T111925 CREATED:20251217T031307Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260503T224436Z UID:26795-1785058200-1786878000@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Emotional Intelligence (Online) DESCRIPTION:Emotional Intelligence: Four-Week Online Course\n“The proof of our emotional intelligence is how much time we spend in the Brahma Viharas” \n—Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Sensei Pawasarat  \nHave 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? \nFrom 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. \nThis course offers something rare: the chance to learn how – from the meditator and Dharma practitioner perspective – to work skillfully with emotional arisings.  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. \nJuly 26 – August 16\, 2026 \nSunday morning online classes 9:30-11:00am MT\, july 26\, Aug 2 and Aug 9 \nSaturday & Sunday August 15-16 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min) \n \n Register Now\n \nfocus area\nBuddhism \nPsychology \npractice\nCourse & Optional \nHome Retreat \nDuration\nFour \nWeeks \nDay/Time\nSundays from 9:30-11am MT \nformat\nIn-Person or \nOnline \nBeyond Spiritual Bypassing\n\nHere’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. \nIn 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? \nThe Year of Transformation \n  \n2026 is the year of transformation here at Planet Dharma. That means growth\, skill development\, transcendence. \nThink 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? \nWe could likely say that 90% of our problems are related to misunderstandings in communication. Does that resonate? \nCommunication 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. \nWhen 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. \nSo when we talk about emotional intelligence\, we’re talking about the Bodhisattva vow—and an important aspect of ecological restoration for all. \n \n Register Now\n \n \n \n \n “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.”\n Brendan R. \nWhat is Emotional Intelligence\, Really?\nEmotional 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. \nWith 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. \nThink 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. \nBody\, Speech\, and Mind\nIn 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. \nEmotions are located in the throat too\, so they relate to wholesome speech and self-expression—which relates to creativity! \nWhen 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. \nYour Unique Line of Development\nHere’s something liberating to consider: we can think of Emotional Intelligence as its own Line of Development in the Integral model. \nYou 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. \nConversely\, 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! \nWhat to Expect\nCatherine Sensei will offer exercises for students to undertake with their Sanghas in the weeks between classes. \nAs 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? \nThe final weekend of the course will be a flash retreat that will include exercises for students. The flash retreat registration is a separate registration. \nDeepening Your Learning\nThe 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. \nCourse Texts\nWe’ll draw on these texts and other sources: \nDestructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them? A scientific dialogue with the Dalai Lama Narrated by Daniel Goleman \nEmotional Intelligence By Daniel Goleman \n \n \nCourse Schedule\nJuly 26 – August 16\, 2026 \nClass Times (Mountain Time)\n\nSunday July 26 – 9:30-11am\nSunday August 2 – 9:30-11am\nSunday August 9 – 9:30-11am\nSaturday & Sunday August 15-16 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min)\n\nThe 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. \nWe encourage you to connect with Sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \nFlash Retreat Weekend: August 15-16\nTo 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. \nFormal group sessions will be held at these approximate times: \n\nFlash Retreat morning session: 9:30am MT\nFlash Retreat afternoon session: 2:30pm MT\nSessions will be 60-90 mins in length.\n\n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei\nCatherine 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. \nShe 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. \nMore About Sensei | About the Lineage \n \n Register Now\n \n “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.”\n Evangelos D.\n \nFAQs\n What is Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and why is it important? \nEmotional 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. \n How does this Emotional Intelligence course help my career? \nThis 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. \n Who is this Emotional Intelligence course for? \nIt 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. \n What makes the Clear Sky approach to EQ unique? \nOur 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. \n How is this course different from standard corporate Emotional Intelligence training? \nWhile 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. \n Dana and Pricing \nDana: \nYou 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. \nThe 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. \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course. \nAs 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. \nIf 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. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \n About the Online Admin Fee \nIn 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. \nWe’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. \nThe 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. \nOur admin fee changes based on the date of registration. \nRegister four + weeks prior: $80Register two to four weeks prior: $100Register less than two weeks prior: $120 \n*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. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nHigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nOnline class systems (Zoom)\nRegistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\nCommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nOnline 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)\nQuality 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.\nOnline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nWebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n \n \n \n Register Now URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/emotional-intelligence-online-course/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Emotional-Intelligence-Square.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260821T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260828T140000 DTSTAMP:20260530T111925 CREATED:20260519T000734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T224324Z UID:29449-1787310000-1787925600@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:The Fierce Heart of Now DESCRIPTION:The Fierce Heart of Now\nDharma\, Interconnection & Spiritual Abundance\nA weeklong in-person retreat in partnership between Clear Sky Center and Awaken in Toronto. \nA weeklong retreat weaving The Work That Reconnects\, Vajrayana practice\, and spiritual abundance\, inviting you to live awakening through every aspect of your life. \nThis retreat is designed for a time when many feel overwhelmed\, disconnected\, or unsure how to respond and are ready to meet life with greater clarity and courage. \n \n \n \n \n \n Register Now\n \nAgenda\nDates: August 21–28\, 2026 \nLocation: Dharma Centre of Canada\, Kinmount\, Ontario \nFormat: Weeklong residential retreat \nTuition:\n\nAccommodation and meals: $996 (non-members) / $905 (members) \nTeacher offerings are by dāna (generosity) \nIn a time of global uncertainty\, choosing to remain present\, connected\, and responsive is a radical act of practice. This is what we mean by the fierce heart of now: the willingness to stay open\, grounded\, and engaged with life as it is\, meeting this moment with clarity\, compassion\, and courage. \nAs we deepen into interconnection\, we begin to sense that awakening is not separate from how we live\, but expressed through our relationships\, our actions\, and our engagement with money and resources. This retreat invites you into that lived experience of dharma: where inner transformation naturally unfolds into wise\, compassionate participation in the world. \nThis weeklong retreat brings together The Work That Reconnects\, Vajrayana Buddhist practice\, and the lived path of spiritual abundance\, inviting you into a direct experience of interconnection\, resilience\, and courageous participation in the world. \nA Shared Lineage\, A Living Collaboration\nCo-led by dharma teacher Karen McAllister and Lama Linda Hochstetler\, this retreat arises from a shared ground of practice and decades of lived dharma. \nBoth teachers stand in the living lineage of Namgyal Rinpoche.  \nKaren undertook over two decades of close\, one-to-one and sustained training with Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, working in-depth with the path of surrender and the integration of awakening into lived life. She continues her dharma path under the guidance of Catherine Sensei. \nLama Linda engaged deeply with his teachings\, attending retreats and courses with both Rinpoche and later with Qapel Doug Duncan. \nIn the early years of Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, Karen and Lama Linda served together on its first board. \nKaren continued in a long-term leadership role for over a decade\, helping to steward and stabilize the organization and community through its formative years. Their connection reflects a shared lineage\, respect for one another’s path\, and moments of collaboration over time. \nThey come together in this retreat as two established dharma teachers\, each grounded in their own depth of practice and lived experience\, meeting in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration. \nTogether\, their shared lineage\, long-standing connection\, and complementary ways of teaching create a uniquely integrated field where deep inner transformation and its expression in everyday life are held as a single path. \n \n Register Now\n \n \n \n \n \n \nWhat We Will Explore\nLama Linda will guide participants through The Work That Reconnects by Joanna Macy\, leading the group through its four phases as a powerful collective process of transformation\, supported by Vajrayana teachings\, daily meditation\, and the Vajrasattva Wongkur empowerment. \nThrough this arc\, grief and overwhelm are gently transformed into clarity\, resilience\, and compassionate action. \nAs a dharma teacher\, Karen supports how this unfolding process naturally expresses itself in the relational and material dimensions of life. Her work brings dharma directly into our relationship with money\, energy\, and resources\, not as an abstract idea\, but as a lived and often emotionally charged experience. \nRather than bypassing the emotional reality of money\, Karen creates a grounded and compassionate space where people can move from a transactional mindset into a relational one. This includes gently facing the often complex and emotionally charged experiences people carry\, patterns of scarcity\, fear\, self-worth\, as well as feelings of betrayal\, disconnection\, or distrust in relation to money\, others\, and the systems we live within. \nWorking in a group field allows these patterns to be seen more clearly\, not just as individual struggles\, but as part of a shared human experience. Together\, participants begin to uncover how money has come to hold collective projections that can separate and isolate us\, and how\, through awareness and connection\, these patterns can be unraveled. What has felt stuck\, confusing\, or painful can begin to soften\, opening the possibility for a more honest\, connected\, and life-affirming relationship with money and with one another. \nIn this way\, money becomes a powerful vehicle for dharma\, a place where awakening is practiced\, where the heart is invited to open\, and where our relationship to giving\, receiving\, and value can come into alignment with who we truly are. \nThe Spiral of the Retreat\nGuided by the spiral of The Work That Reconnects\, we will move through four phases: \nGratitude\nGrounding in what sustains us and opening to connection. \nHonoring Our Pain for the World\nAllowing grief and overwhelm to move and transform. \nSeeing with New Eyes\nRecognizing interdependence and reorienting toward wise relationship with self\, others\, and resources. \nGoing Forth\nBringing this awareness into how we live\, serve\, and participate in the world. \nWhat to Expect\nEach day will include: \n\nmeditation practice and teachings\nguided group process through The Work That Reconnects\ntime for reflection\, integration\, and rest\nopportunities to explore how practice expresses in daily life\n\nWho This Retreat Is For\nThis retreat is for spiritual practitioners\, Buddhists\, change-makers\, caregivers\, therapists\, healers\, leaders\, and anyone longing to meet this moment with greater clarity\, courage\, and compassion.\nIt may be especially supportive if you are: \n\nfeeling the weight of the world and longing for a grounded\, compassionate response\nseeking to deepen and live your dharma practice more fully\nwanting to align your inner life with how you relate\, work\, serve\, and engage with resources\nexploring your relationship with money\, energy\, purpose\, and contribution\nready to participate in the world with more steadiness\, generosity\, and wise action\nYou Will Leave With\n\na steadier capacity to remain present and connected in uncertain times\ntools to meet and gently unravel emotional patterns around money\, fear\, and self-worth\na more easeful and embodied relationship with money\, energy\, and resources\ngreater alignment between your values\, your actions\, and how you direct your life energy\na felt sense of connection and support that allows new ways of relating to emerge\nrenewed confidence to participate in the world with courage\, care\, and a sense of purpose\n\nA Whole Path of Awakening\nThis retreat is an invitation to live awakening as a whole path\, one that moves from presence into participation\, from interconnection into action. \nAs insight deepens\, it begins to shape how we relate\, how we serve\, and how we engage with the world\, including our relationship with money and resources. \nYou are invited to return to your life with a fierce heart\, a clear mind\, and a grounded capacity to meet this moment with wisdom\, compassion\, and courage. \n \n Register Now\n \n \nYour Teaching Team\n \nKaren Mcallister\nKaren McAllister is a dharma teacher\, co-executive director of Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, and long-time student of Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei in the lineage of Namgyal Rinpoche. \nFor over 25 years\, Karen has followed a path of deep practice\, including close\, one-to-one and sustained training\, extensive retreat experience\, and over 100 Vajrayana empowerments. Her training has not been abstract\, but lived\, integrating meditation\, community life\, leadership\, and service as a continuous field of awakening. \n Keep Reading \nKaren’s teaching is rooted in a simple and powerful understanding: nothing is outside the path of dharma. The places that feel most charged: money\, relationship\, power\, and purpose are not obstacles to awakening\, but gateways into it. \nHer work brings dharma directly into our relationship with money\, energy\, and resources\, inviting a shift from a transactional way of relating into a deeply relational one. She supports people to gently face and unravel the emotional complexity that often lives beneath money: patterns of fear\, scarcity\, self-worth\, and disconnection so that what has been hidden or avoided can become part of the path. \nWorking both individually and in groups\, Karen is known for creating spaces of honesty\, warmth\, and depth\, where people can reconnect with themselves and one another. In this shared field\, money becomes more than a practical concern. It becomes a powerful vehicle for awareness\, generosity\, and transformation. \nAlongside her teaching\, Karen has played a central role in building Clear Sky Meditation Centre from its early days\, helping to find its land\, stewarding its growth\, and serving for over a decade in leadership\, including as Board Chair and Director of Fund Development. Her work bridges inner practice with the realities of building\, sustaining\, and funding a living community dedicated to awakening. \nAt heart\, Karen is a spiritual seeker who spent years living and practicing across Japan\, Europe\, Brazil\, and North America. Having searched deeply\, she found a path that brought clarity\, groundedness\, and genuine joy and she is devoted to helping others discover how that same awakening can be lived fully in the midst of everyday life.\n \nLama Linda\nLama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has explored consciousness and awakening for more than 30 years. She trained with Namgyal Rinpoche—the first Canadian-born Rinpoche—from 1995 until his passing in 2003\, grounding herself in Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhist practices. She later continued her studies with Qapel (Doug Duncan)\, a successor in the Namgyal lineage\, and received permission to teach under his guidance. She is the co-founder and leader of the Awaken in Toronto Sangha\, where she teaches weekly online classes on consciousness and awakening principles\, and leads retreats 4 times a year.\n Keep Reading\n A registered social worker specializing in illness\, dying\, and death\, Lama Linda also maintains a thriving private psychotherapy practice\, has presented widely at conferences\, and has been interviewed extensively on end-of-life topics. In 2021 she published her first book\, 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. A mother\, wife\, and friend to many\, she encourages her students to use their relationships as gateways to love more deeply and explore dharma more fully. She is devoted to weaving Buddhist teachings with Western psychotherapeutic approaches to support transformative change. www.lindahochstetler.com URL:https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/the-fierce-heart-of-now/ LOCATION:Dharma Centre of Canada\, 1267 Galway Road\, Kinmount\, Ontario\, K0M 2A0\, Canada CATEGORIES:Coaching,Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Website-Banner-1920x900-1-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261001T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261004T140000 DTSTAMP:20260530T111925 CREATED:20260407T165111Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T035148Z UID:28760-1790852400-1791122400@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Healing Love\, Healing Money (Online) DESCRIPTION:Healing Love\, Healing Money: Trust as the Foundation for a New Culture\nA Four-Day Live Online Course in partnership between Clear Sky Center and Tamera. \nHosted by Karen McAllister and Duncan Cryle from Clear Sky and  Monika Alleweldt and Benjamin von Mendelssohn from Tamera \nOctober 1-4\, 2026Time: 11am–2pm MST; 1–4 pm EST; 6–9 pm WEST/BST; 7–10 pm CET \nThis course explores a simple but rarely examined question: \nWhat if our struggles with money are not primarily financial…but relational? \nAnd what if the way we’ve learned to love is shaping the way we earn\, spend\, give and receive? \nOver four days\, we explore how fear around belonging\, intimacy\, security\, and survival shapes both our relationships and our economic behaviour and how healing trust at the community level may be essential for real change. \n \n \n \n \n \n Register Now\n \nAgenda\nOct 1st — The Roots of FearWhy Money Anxiety Is Not Just About Money \nWe begin by exploring how: \n\nfear of exclusion shows up as financial stress\nscarcity responses live in the nervous system\ncollective trauma influences earning\, saving and giving\nmoney becomes a proxy for safety and belonging\n\nParticipants will: \n\nstart to map their early survival adaptations around both love and money\nlearn introductory groundwork to notice grasping\, avoidance or control patterns\nbegin tracking somatic responses to financial and relational stress\n\nOct 2nd — Love\, Possession & PowerThe Hidden Economic Training Ground of Relationship \nThis session looks at: \n\nownership in love and ownership in the economy\njealousy\, control and financial secrecy\nhow partnership becomes an economic unit\nthe influence of patriarchal conditioning on intimacy and livelihood\n\nParticipants will: \n\nstep into exploring communication patterns around money and intimacy\nembark on identifying inherited relational and financial agreements\nundertake the practice of truth-telling in a carefully held small-group setting\n\nOct 3rd — Trust as InfrastructureCommunity as a Container for Healing \nWe examine why: \n\nhealing often fails when kept private\nboth love and money tend to isolate us\ntrust requires social structures\, not just personal insight\nnew relational agreements create economic safety\n\nParticipants will: \n\nwork in small pods to explore feedback and witnessing\nexperiment with shared inquiry around resource and care\nreflect on what supports transparency in both love and livelihood\n\nOct 4th — Ethical LivelihoodFrom Private Survival to Collective Sufficiency \nWe close by exploring: \n\nwhat “enough” really means\npurpose-aligned earning\ngenerosity and reciprocity\nlivelihood as participation in cultural healing\n\nParticipants will: \n\nset out on clarifying values around work and contribution\ncontemplate giving\, receiving and sustainability\nsow the seeds for creating a personal practice that aligns love\, money and service\n\n \n Register Now\n \n \n \n \n \n \nThroughout the Course\n\nshort meditation practices\nrelational inquiry exercises\nsomatic awareness practices\nbuddy conversations\noptional journaling prompts\nThe emphasis is on: \n\nslow integration\nshared learning\nrelational repair\nand honest dialogue\nIntended Outcomes\nBy the end of the four weeks\, participants may notice: \n\nless isolation around money or relationship struggles\nincreased capacity for truthful communication\nclearer alignment between values and livelihood\ngreater ease in giving and receiving\na shift from private survival toward shared sufficiency\n\nThis pilot can naturally lead into: \n\na longer 8–12 week program\nyour 6-month integration container\nor Tamera’s deeper community processes\n\nPricing\n\nCAD $450 to CAD $550 – Pay-It-Forward Helps make supported spaces possible for others and strengthens the collective container.\nCAD $350 to CAD $450 – Full Contribution (Sustaining Rate) Reflects the true value of the course and supports the continuity of this work.\nCAD $200 to CAD $350 – Supported Access For those with limited income\, in transition\, or experiencing financial constraint at this time.\n \n Register Now\n \n \nYour Teaching Team\n \nKaren Mcallister\nKaren is a contemplative leader\, senior meditation teacher\, and certified money coach who has spent years working at the intersection of money\, relationship\, and spiritual practice.\n Keep Reading \nShe works with individuals\, communities\, and spiritual organizations to uncover how early relational conditioning around safety\, belonging\, and worth shapes patterns of earning\, spending\, giving\, and receiving. Her approach integrates somatic awareness\, relational inquiry\, and practical financial coaching\, supporting people to move from private survival strategies into more conscious\, connected\, and sustainable ways of relating to money. \nAs Co-Executive Director of Clear Sky\, Karen has been deeply engaged in exploring the ethical flow of resources within intentional community\, supporting both individuals and groups to build trust\, transparency\, and alignment between values and livelihood. \nHer work invites a shift from scarcity and isolation toward shared sufficiency\, relational repair\, and money as a path of awakening. \n \nDuncan Cryle\nDuncan brings together over 20 years of meditation practice in the Namgyal lineage with a strong background in systems thinking\, organizational leadership\, and financial stewardship.\n Keep Reading \nAs the financial controller and Co-Executive Director of Clear Sky\, Duncan works at the heart of how a living spiritual community organizes its resources\, balancing vision\, sustainability\, and collective wellbeing. His perspective bridges inner development and outer systems\, exploring how trust\, structure\, and financial clarity support resilient and thriving communities. \nWith two decades of experience in senior organizational roles—including pioneering large-scale workplace mindfulness programs—Duncan brings a grounded\, practical lens to how economic systems\, relational dynamics\, and cultural patterns intersect. \nHe is especially interested in how transparent structures and shared agreements can transform money from a source of tension into a foundation for trust and collaboration. \n \n Monika Alleweldt\nBorn 1954 in Giessen\, Germany\, M.Sc. (Agriculture)\, works for many years for and with the “Plan of Healing Biotopes”. Since 2001 she mainly lives in Tamera\, Portugal.  \n Keep Reading \nUntil 2024 she was one of the owners of the publishing house Meiga.Since her early youth she aspired a carrier in helping people in need all over the world. As a young student\, she travels to Guatemala as part of her studies. The trip becomes a turning point in her life. \nShe realizes that help alone does not change anything. Symptoms can be alleviated\, but the cause of the suffering are not eliminated. So what is the right approach? A serious illness forces her to return home early and leads her to an existential decision. She completes her studies but then leaves her professional career and sets out to find an answer that gives hope. She examines many paths\, contacts different people and initiatives. \nFinally she finds convincing answers in the work of Dieter Duhm. A cooperation begins that continues to this day. In 2021 she finishes her first book titled „Global Liberation from Fear and Violence“ (in German). \nToday\, she is joining with other women to bring forth a second book\, provisionally titled Women’s Solidarity: The End of Collective Repression. The End of Patriarchy — a work that envisions a new feminine consciousness\, and a deep reverence for\, and love of\, the masculine. \n \nBenjamin von Mendelssohn\nBorn into a once-wealthy\, culturally significant Jewish banking family in Germany\, the issues of reconciliation\, politics and money accompanied Benjamin from his early years. \n Keep Reading \nAfter a radical but frustrating period of political engagement in his youth\, Benjamin started to explore holistic approaches to bringing about change. To this end he co-founded the Peace University at Potsdam and later researched into many social experiments and intentional communities. \nAlthough he trained as a healer\, dancer and choreographer Benjamin retained a focus on new models for living and a passion for complex synergies and systems theory. Creating syntheses of seemingly opposing forces is important to him – politics and spirituality; vision work and concrete manifestation; Eros and religion; free sexuality and deep\, committed partnership; nature and technology and most critically inner and outer peace work. \nBenjamin has been living and researching in Tamera since 1998 where he now serves as a next-generation leader. He has been co-leading The Global Love School since its inauguration in 2012 and was director the Grace Foundation for Humanising Money for 15 years. 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/Programming-Horizontal-1-scaled.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:20260530T111925 CREATED:20260422T022709Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T024719Z UID:29193-1794130200-1795971600@www.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Power in Tantric Traditions (Online) DESCRIPTION:Power in Tantric Traditions: Four-Week Online Course\nDo you feel empowered in your practice? In Buddha nature? Showing up authentically with both courage and vulnerability can support our sense of empowerment. \nIn these confusing contemporary times\, such genuine empowerment is essential for tantric practitioners. \nIn this online series\, Catherine Sensei and Right Use of Power and Authentic Leadership teacher Susan Skjei teach together about what power and empowerment mean in the context of tantric spiritual practices. This course aims to empower you to weave every moment with exactly the energy that is needed. \nIn this age of confusion about what we can believe and who we can trust\, many of us may feel disempowered at times. Victim culture is often more supported than empowered culture. Uncertainty about the future of humanity and the planet can shake our confidence to its core. \nAnd when scandals happen with spiritual leaders – often around money\, sex\, and power – it can leave tantric practitioners wondering: What does authentic empowerment actually look like? What is my power? How can I strengthen it? How can I ethically wield it? This course attends to these questions and issues\, pressing ones for contemporary tantra practitioners. \nNovember 8 – November 29\, 2026 \nSunday morning online classes 9:30-11:00am MT\, Nov 8\, Nov 15 and Nov 22 \nSaturday & Sunday November 28-29 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min) \n\nRegistration\n \nfocus area\nBuddhism \nPower \npractice\nCourse & Optional \nHome Retreat \nDuration\nFour \nWeeks \nDay/Time\nSundays from 9:30-11am MT \nformat\nIn-Person or \nOnline \nThe Path Forward: Your Practice Holds the Key to True Empowerment.\nDo you feel strong and safe in your tantric practice? In your authentic presence? Do you have the resources you need to support others to feel empowered? \nPrimarily\, our practice helps us become a person who is authentic and therefore trustworthy – for ourselves and for others. This is part of what non-duality is about. The confusion of our times and world leaders doesn’t have to lead to our disempowerment. This course shares how our practice helps us to weave authenticity\, trustworthiness\, personal power\, and empowerment together. \nAs symbols representing the lower three chakras\, authenticity related to money\, sex\, and power form the foundation of our being\, energetically and in the material world. Catherine Sensei and her partner and teacher Qapel have taught that money and sex are often\, the handmaidens of power\, and that the spiritual path is a quest for the truest and most deep-rooted empowerment there is. \nIn this course\, Catherine Sensei and Susan Skjei teach on what power and empowerment mean for tantric practitioners\, drawing on tantric teachings\, Authentic Leadership\, and Right Use of Power to provide an important framework for understanding power in traditional and modern tantric traditions – empowering us to weave every moment with exactly the energy that is needed. \n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\n“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.”\nBrendan R. \nWhat You’ll Learn\nIn Power in Tantric Traditions\, you’ll discover: \n\nHow to be empowered as a tantric practitioner in uncertain times\nHow to feel strong in your tantric practice and tradition\nA deeper understanding of tantra in the context of Buddhism\nHow to be trustworthy for yourself and others through non-dual practice\nThe resources to support others to feel empowered\n\nThis course weaves together the wisdom of tantric Buddhism with proven frameworks for Authentic Leadership and the Right Use of Power\, giving you practical tools to embody empowerment in every moment. \n \nCourse Schedule\nNovember 8 – 29\, 2026 \nClass Times (Mountain Time)\n\nNovember 8 – 9:30-11am\nNovember 15 – 9:30-11am\nNovember 22 – 9:30-11am\nSaturday & Sunday November 28-29 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min)\n\nThe 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. \nWe encourage you to connect with Sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \nFlash Retreat Weekend: November 28-29\nTo 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. \nFormal group sessions will be held at these approximate times: \n\nFlash Retreat morning session: 9:30am MT\nFlash Retreat afternoon session: 2:30pm MT\nSessions will be 60-90 mins in length.\n\n\n \nMeet the Teachers\n\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei\nCatherine 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. \nShe trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan as his attendant and consort 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. \nMore About Sensei | About the Lineage \nSusan Skjei\, Ph.D\nSusan Skjei\, Ph.D. has been a practitioner and Senior Teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist Community for the last 30 years. She has taught many programs and led retreats in the US\, Canada and Europe. She studied with Chogyam Trungpa\, Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche as well as other Tibetan Buddhist and Zen teachers. Susan is also a leadership coach and organizational consultant. She has been a catalyst for positive change for leaders\, executive teams and boards of nonprofit organizations\, businesses\, and government agencies for over 25 years. She enjoys creating energetic and high trust learning environments that accelerate practical organizational results while building strong\, collaborative relationships. Formerly Susan was a Vice-President and Chief Learning Officer in the technology industry\, a co-founder of the ALIA Institute\, and the founding Director of the Authentic Leadership Center at Naropa University. She loves being in nature and enjoys hiking\, biking and watercolor painting. \n\nRegister Now\n\n“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.”\nEvangelos D.\n \nFAQs\nWhat is the main focus of the Power in Tantric Traditions course? \nThis 4-week series explores what empowerment means within Tantric Buddhism. It teaches practitioners how to navigate money\, sex\, and power using proven frameworks from Authentic Leadership and the Dharma. \nWho are the teachers for this course and what are their backgrounds? \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei\, a contemporary Dharma teacher\, collaborates with Susan Skjei\, Ph.D.\, an Authentic Leadership coach. Together\, they bridge ancient Buddhist wisdom with modern\, ethical leadership and empowerment frameworks. \nHow does this course help me feel more empowered during uncertain times?\nThe course provides practical tools to move beyond victim culture. By strengthening your spiritual practice and understanding non-duality\, you will develop the internal resources needed to remain resilient.\nWhy does the course focus specifically on money\, sex\, and power? \nThese foundational energies are often the “handmaidens of power.” Understanding them through a spiritual lens helps practitioners build trustworthiness and prevents the scandals often seen in modern spiritual communities. \nIs this course suitable for beginners in Tantric practice? \nYes\, the course is open to any practitioner with an open mind. It is designed to deepen your understanding of power\, whether you are new or highly experienced in spirituality. \nHow does non-dual practice help me become more trustworthy for others? \nNon-dual practice clarifies confusion\, helping you become a more reliable person. By aligning your actions with your practice\, you provide a stable\, empowered presence that supports yourself and the community. \nWhat practical resources will I gain from participating in this series? \nYou will discover how to feel strong in your tradition\, understand Tantra within Buddhism more deeply\, and gain leadership resources to support the empowerment of those around you. \nDana and Pricing \nDana: \nYou 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. \nThe 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. \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course. \nAs 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. \nIf 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. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \nAbout the Online Admin Fee \nIn 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. \nWe’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. \nThe 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. \nOur admin fee changes based on the date of registration. \nRegister four + weeks prior: $80\nRegister two to four weeks prior: $100\nRegister less than two weeks prior: $120 \n*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. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nHigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nOnline class systems (Zoom)\nRegistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\nCommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nOnline 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)\nQuality 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.\nOnline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nWebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n\n\n\nRegister 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 END:VCALENDAR