Quiet Mind, Open Heart: Awakening the Heart of the Bodhisattva

July 9 - 15, 2027

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Arrival: Friday, July 9th, 2027, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: Thursday, July 15th, 2027, 12:30 PM

Tuition:
$500 + 6 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tuition:
$5o0 + 6 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

Cultivating the Courage to Keep Our Hearts Open

What does it mean to live with an open heart in a world that so often breaks our hearts? How do we find the courage to turn toward suffering rather than away from it, and transform our compassion into meaningful action?

In this six-day meditation retreat, we will explore the Buddhist teachings on bodhicitta, the awakened heart of wisdom and compassion, and the bodhisattva path, a way of living dedicated to the well-being of all beings. Drawing inspiration from Pema Chödrön’s Becoming Bodhisattvas, we will discover how these timeless teachings can help us meet the challenges of our lives.

Together, we will explore how to awaken our compassionate intention, work skillfully with the fears and habitual patterns that close our hearts, and find the courage to bring our deepest aspirations into action. Through meditation, contemplative practices, and spacious time for rest and reflection, we will nurture the wisdom and compassion that are already present within us.

What to Expect

Rooted in the transformative power of sangha, this retreat invites us to recognize that awakening is not a solitary journey. As we learn to hold ourselves and one another with greater kindness, we discover the possibility of becoming a source of healing in the world.

For those who feel called, the retreat will offer an opportunity to explore and formally express the bodhisattva vow – a commitment to cultivate wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all beings. Participation in this vow ceremony will be entirely optional, with space for each person to engage in a way that honors their own spiritual path.

All are welcome, whether you are new to meditation and Buddhist teachings or have been practicing for many years. Come as you are, with an open mind and a willingness to explore what it means to live with an open heart.

Program Schedule

Day 1: Friday, July 9th

2:00 – 5:00 pm – Arrival & Check-In
5:30 pm – DMC Orientation
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Opening Circle

Days 2-6: Saturday, July 10th – Wednesday, July 14th

7:00 am – Morning Chants, Silent Meditation
7:30 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Meditation, Contemplative Practices, and Dharma Talk
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Stupa Tour, BodyWork Sessions, Rest
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Circle Practice 

Day 7: Thursday, July 15th

7:30 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Meditation, Closing Circle
12:30 pm – Lunch
1:30 pm — Departure

Why Did Past Participants Love this
Retreat?

“I’ve been coming to Quiet Mind, Open Heart retreats for over a decade; they encompass very approachable dharmic teachings.  The teachers are sensitive and accommodating to the students, allowing space for growth and connection, as well as self reflection and silence. They teach that everything on your path, is your path: challenge is opportunity, and vulnerability is strength. I highly recommend this retreat for nourishment and spiritual evolution.” —Dana Wills

“Amidst the majesty of nature, nestled in the warmth of community, I connected with some of the kindest and most generous people I will ever meet. The Quiet Mind, Open Heart” program inspired me to connect with my true purpose with self-compassion.—Greg M.

Retreat Faculty

Kelly Lindsey

Kelly Lindsey is a meditation teacher, Somatic Experiencing® practitioner, and Safe and Sound Protocol provider living in Austin, Texas. Her contemplative path began 30 years ago and has woven together meditation, somatic healing, psychology, and embodied spiritual practice. With extensive training in counseling psychology, Somatic Experiencing, Tibetan Buddhism, and classical Indian yoga, Kelly’s teaching reflects [...]

Melissa Perez

Melissa Perez is a Puerto Rican American educator, meditation instructor, and women’s circle facilitator. After a decade in elementary education, a deep spiritual calling led her into the Colorado mountains and to Drala Mountain Center, where she spent several years immersed in Buddhist teachings, meditation practice, and the sacred work of supporting retreats. These experiences [...]

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Single and Double Tents

Located in campgrounds throughout the property, these 12′ x 14′ tents have two twin beds, two bookcases and a hanging clothes rack.* Each campground offers a shared bathhouse. Summer platform tents are available from late May through early September. A tent can be rented as a single (without a roommate) or a double (with a roommate).

Some of our campgrounds were impacted by a recent wildfire and the affects may still be visible this summer, however, they are safe to use.

Bedding is not provided. Please bring your own twin sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, a pillow and towels.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

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