10-Day Mahamudra & Trekcho Retreat
con Richard John
March 1 - 13, 2025
The training in recognizing mind essence is this: short moment repeated many times. There is no other way. –Tulku Urgyen
Vajrayana practitioners are invited to join us for the 12th (almost annual) 10-Day Mahamudra and Trekchö Retreat at Casa Werma. Based on the transmission of the nature of mind by the guru, emphasis will be on direct personal experience–not scholarship.
The pith instructions of mahamudra and dzogchen are extremely consistent. Hearing these from different masters of the Practice Lineage, taking them to heart personally, and applying them in meditation leads to realization. Realization is not a matter of hoping and fearing about some future attainment: It is allowing the practice to change your reality, beginning right now, at this very moment.
To be authentic, mahamudra and trekchö must be have the moisture of devotion, so each day will include brief guru yoga practice. Much of the retreat will be in silence, with ample time for circle conversation, exercise, interviews, reading and stroke of Ashe practice.
Prerequisites: Participants must be vajrayana practitioners who have received the pointing out transmission within Shambhala, or from a Kagyu or Nyingma rinpoche.
Please register early: Space is limited. All participants must enter the retreat at the very beginning and commit to the entire 10-day retreat.
Full program tuition not including accommodations: $1000 usd. We invite all who are able to do so to pay the full tuition rate. By doing so, you directly support Casa Werma’s operating budget, helping to sustain our dharma programs, maintain our facilities and ensure the continued care of this sacred place throughout the year.
Heart Gifts: It is customary to offer a monetary heart gift to a dharma teacher. This is a significant source of income for many teachers. Gifts are voluntary, and any amount will be appreciated. There will be an opportunity to do this near the end of the retreat.
Pay-It-Forward program tuition not including accommodations: $1108 usd. We invite all who are able to do so to consider paying the Pay-It-Forward tuition rate. By doing so, you make it possible for us to offer scholarships to others, particularly our Mexico sangha, while also contributing to Casa Werma’s year-round operations. Please select Pay-It-Forward Tuition Add-On in Registration.
Subsidized program tuition not including accommodations: 20% off Full Tuition If the full program tuition is unworkable for you, please pay the subsidized rate. Unfortunately, Casa Werma is not able to offer work/trade options at this time. Please type “SUBSIDIZED” in Discount Code in Registration.
Off Site Hotel Accommodations: For those who are interested in staying off site. We recommend the following hotels in Centro Patzcuaro:
Both of them offer a discount to our participants if you mention “Casa Werma” and they are within 5 minutes walking distance to our meditation center.
Travel Arrangements: We recommend flights into Morelia airport (90 minutes away by car). We can help with travel arrangements, please visit our How to Get Here page for more info or send us an email at: [email protected] with any further questions. All participant air travel will be offset by The Good Traveler carbon offset program.
Please email [email protected] with any further questions.
Teacher / Maestr@
Richard John, an early student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, has served as acharya for Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for 20 years. He completed the first three-year retreat at Gampo Abbey, and now teaches Shambhala Buddhist meditation courses full time. Richard and his wife Liz reside in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Learn more about Richard John
