Drala Mountain Center

11/11/2025

Recently Judy Lief and Larry Mermelstein got together to give an interview about preserving legacy, 📿 's teachings 🔆, and the retreats they both lead here at to preserve and pass on those teachings.

Check it out!

11/11/2025

11/07/2025

Martha Bonzi passed away on October 29, shortly before midnight at the age of 89. For decades, during Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s life and continuing after his passing, Martha has been an extremely generous patron of the dharma and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings and vision. All her contributions are too numerous to list. Martha made the first large and transformational endowment to Naropa that established it as a viable centre of learning. She purchased the building that became the Halifax Shambhala Centre and established both Gampo Abbey and Milk Lake Retreat Centre in Nova Scotia through her generous donations. She was also the first and incredibly important, loyal patron of the Nalanda Translation Committee.

It's not an exaggeration to say that Martha, to a large extent, changed the lives of all Shambhalians and the course of the dharma in North America through her generous donations to Shambhala over many years.

We send our deep and heartfelt condolences to Martha's children, Helen, Sally, Judy, and Ned, as well as her many grandchildren and wider family.

To read the obituary and tributes to Martha on The Chronicles Project, visit https://www.chronicleproject.com/the-passing-of-martha-bonzi/

11/05/2025

Today is the Full Moon, the Beaver Moon - and also the biggest Super Moon of 2025. If you have a chance, step outside, particularly around moonrise (here in Colorado that will be around 4:40 pm) to have the best chance of seeing it at it's biggest and brightest.

Here at we practice the Sadhana of Mahamudra in the on , according to the teaching of the , Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who is also the Sadhana's author. It's meant to be a time of particular openness, a gap that the practice helps us access and feel.

What about you? Have you practiced the Sadhana of Mahamudra? What was your experience? Will you be practicing the Sadhana of Mahamudra today? Do you have a different full moon practice?

This photo was taken on March 13th at the Great Stupa, just before the eclipse.

11/04/2025

Do you find yourself wondering what the natural world has to teach you?

Often when we talk about being in nature or even gardening or just being outside we talk about the benefits, the relaxation, and how time outside can boost our physical and mental wellbeing. What we don't talk about are all the ways the world can teach us, the lessons it has, and the practices that are inspired by nature.

If you want to learn more about the ways nature can teach us, and support our contemplative paths, our Online retreat, Nature as Guru might just be the retreat for you. Now 50% off, join teacher Mary Paffard in an exploration of the hidden wisdom of the natural world, and how you too can tap into it. Register here: https://www.dralamountain.org/program/o-ng1125-online-nature-as-guru/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSKdJQrU2wc

Program Dates & Times: November 7th | 5:30 – 7:30 pm November 8th | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm / 2:00 – 4:00 pm November 9th | 8:00 – 10:30 am This weekend will invite you to dissolve the separations that many of us feel between ourselves, our lives and the natural regenerative worlds we [...]

10/30/2025

Who knew yesterday's could last almost until ? Up next are the dynamic trio, Calcifer (Orange, 2 year old) (yes, that is a reference) Onyx (Tuxedo 2.5-3 year old) and Jasper (Tabby, 8 year old).

These three certainly like keeping their humans on their toes. Jasper first came to Colorado after being rescued just before a hurricane hit the coast of Texas. He's been somewhat bomb-proof ever since, but loves a good cuddle and is never shy with his meows of command!

Onyx is a local rescue, and this dapper gentleman is the sweetest boy. A little shy at first, he's started to learn a little from Jasper's imperious nature, but he's first and foremost a cats cat and is the first to start a rousing chase across the whole house.

Calcifer is a bundle of mischief and chaos wrapped in a too-sweet candy coating. Prone to encouraging his humans to sleep late by cuddling in the early morning, Calcifer has a ready purr, a happy nature, and is never happier than in a lap. Or possibly chasing his older brothers across the room and causing new kinds of chaos!

10/30/2025

Continuing our for yesterday's , up next is Zoro, beloved cat of Robbie, our executive director. Zoro may be one of the original , here's his unique story from Robbie:

"On a freezing December day over twelve years ago at Drala Mountain Center, staff member Zane Edwards discovered a large tuxedo cat meowing outside the trailer offices, hoping to come in from the cold. Zane posted a photo of him on Facebook, asking if anyone could take him in. The moment I saw it, I knew he was my next cat. When I brought him home, we discovered he had a microchip linking him to Parker, Colorado—but his previous owners said he’d been missing for a long time and gladly relinquished him. That’s how Zoro came into our lives. Since then, he’s been a remarkably healthy, social, and endlessly funny cat—an affectionate companion and a clever hunter who keeps life interesting."

10/30/2025

We're a little behind the times but, Yesterday was ! In Honor of National Cat Day we here at Drala Mountain Center wanted to show you some of the , starting with Mushi!

Mushi, who is about two, is a newcomer to Drala Mountain, and her owner says "Incredibly snuggly and talkative. She's an indoor princess who enjoys sunbathing and bunny kicking her many toys. Really spoiled, but absolutely loves people more than anything. "

Enjoy! We'll be sharing more throughout the day.

10/28/2025

Winter is just around the corner here at Drala Mountain Center, which has many of us turning inward, seeking quiet nourishment and practice to refuel for the year ahead. In much of the Buddhist and Contemplative world that means , , and reconnection with self, other, and the present moment.

How do you reconnect and recharge in the winter months? Is there a practice or tradition you're looking forward to this year?

There are a lot of opportunities to reconnect at Drala Mountain Center, but our upcoming Learn to Meditate, Peace and Freedom, and the Heart of Mindfulness retreats are at the core of our winter practice. If you're looking for something a little different, Retreat and Renewal combines meditation and yoga practice for a winter recharge just after , and Opening to Inspiration offers a writing retreat to help you dive into creativity with an open heart and mind this winter.

Visit our website to see upcoming retreats or book your next solo-visit to .

10/22/2025

It's spooky season! 👻🎃 In the Buddhist tradition at Drala Mountain Center we have what are called ‘Hungry Ghosts.’ Many people have identified Koanashi from Spirited Away as a potenital Hungry Ghost - but these ghosts are more than just an idea or myth.

The hungry ghosts live in a realm that is defined by insatiable craving. They’re often depicted with huge bellies and tiny mouths, unable to fully satisfy themselves. 🍜🍡🍙

The spookiest thing about the hungry ghost realm is that these ghosts aren’t in some magical realm far away. They’re right here in our own minds. We all have the capacity to become hungry ghosts, with our phones, our snacks, our relationships, our ambition; hungry ghosts that will try and try to satiate themselves in ways that will never work. Fortunately, we can move from the hungry ghost realm into Buddhahood, seeing the craving for what it is and becoming free & Not so spooky after all.

Have you ever had a moment where you realized what you were doing to satisfy a craving or desire wasn't working? How did you work through that moment?

Images from Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and a 12th century Japanese scroll from Kyoto which depicts hungry ghosts.

10/21/2025

As we head into the quieter winter months ❄️ we see a rise in demand for Silent Retreats. Silence is an opportunity to turn inward, embrace each moment, and nourish yourself and your wellbeing. As noted in the Washington Post (link below) the desire for silence is rising across many traditions. That's why we're offering two week-long silent retreat this December! 📿

Janet Solyntjes & Gaylon Ferguson will be leading a 7-day silent retreat, The Heart of Mindfulness, with a strong focus on mindfulness and practice. Open to all experienced meditators this retreat offers a strong container in Noble Silence.
Learn More and Register: https://www.dralamountain.org/program/hom1225-the-heart-of-mindfulness-a-silent-meditation-retreat/

Gelong Loden Nyima will be offering Peace and Freedom, also a 7-day retreat held in silence with teachings on shamatha and vipashyana meditation, combined with simple yoga that helps facilitate the meditative experience.
Learn More and Register: https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pfw1225-peace-and-freedom-a-weeklong-meditation-retreat/