Mindfulness and awareness alone are the iron hook that will lead you to liberation. 

–Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

This four-week intensive will take place Monday through Saturday from nine until five, lunch included. Anyone is welcome to join the sitting for a half-day from nine to twelve (lunch not included), for an entire day, or for one or more weeks. If you are on the Shambhala path, you can earn credit for a weekthun, or, if you attend the entire month, a dathun. 

This will be a silent retreat with the exception of an afternoon discussion group every other day during tea break. There will be pith meditation instructions read as gentle guidance during sitting sessions. We will also have contemplation practice. Catered lunch and afternoon snack are provided. Meeting with a meditation instructor is offered during the afternoon break. The morning session will include the practice of Qigong to help integrate the healing wisdom of meditation with the healing wisdom of the body. Since practice and study go hand in hand, and to encourage a 24-hour meditation experience, evening readings from The Sacred Path of the Warrior will be suggested. We hope you can join us!

Daily Schedule:

9-12—sitting and walking meditation, Qigong

12-12:30—catered lunch in shrine room

12:30-2:00—clean up, break, opportunity to meet with meditation instructor

2:00-3:30—meditation and contemplation practice

3:30-4:00—tea

3:30-4:30 (every other day)—tea and discussion

4:00-5:00—meditation

Evening—home reading and study

Price:

4 weeks—$800

1 week— $225

Full day—$40

Half day—$15 or by donation

Having helped lead a month-long meditation retreat at Dorje Denma Ling in 2023, Dede Gaston was inspired to offer an intensive retreat here at the Victoria Shambhala Centre, saying, “Such consistent daily practice made me experience so much freedom from painful habitual patterns that I want to do one every year.”

Dede Gaston is a long-time student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and was trained as a meditation instructor by Pema Chodron. She is past director of the Halifax Shambhala Centre, and helped establish the Fredericton Shambhala Centre. She is a retired ballet dancer and choreographer, an author, a mother of four, and a grandmother.

For further information, or if you are interested in staffing this program, and can commit to at least one week, please contact Dede at [email protected]

HOW TO REGISTER AND PAY (Please read fully before registering)

You can register for:

A. The full dathun ($800, November 4^th to 30^th, Monday to Saturday)

or

B. One or more weeks

• Week 1: $225 (Monday to Saturday, November 4^th to 9th)
• Week 2: $225 (Monday to Saturday, November 11^th to 16th)
• Week 3: $225 (Monday to Saturday, November 18^th to 23rd)
• Week 4: $225 (Monday to Saturday, November 25^th to 30th)

or

C. Individual days ($40 per day).

• Prices include a catered vegan lunch.
• Prepayment is required for each of these three options to assist in meal planning.
• After you register, you will be sent an AUTOMATIC EMAIL with a link to our payment options.

Registration Steps:

1. Click on the registration button below.
2. Fill out your name and contact details.
3. In the “comment” field below the phone number field, TELL US WHICH DAYS/WEEKS YOU ARE ATTENDING. 
4. Click submit.
5. After you register, you will receive an AUTOMATIC EMAIL with a link to payment options. Follow the instructions in the email.
6. Registration and Payment must be complete by Monday, October 28^th at 4 pm.
7. Changes to dates must be made one week in advance by emailing: Diane Osoko at [email protected]

Morning Drop-in Option:

We are also offering a morning-only (9 am to 12 pm) drop-in fee for $15 or by donation. Lunch is not included for drop-ins. Participants wanting this option should come early (8:30 am) to register and pay. Sessions start promptly at 9 am.

Please contact [email protected] with payment questions.