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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260523T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260525T140000
DTSTAMP:20260518T155326Z
CREATED:20260409T232836Z
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UID:10010553-1779537600-1779717600@kcc.org
SUMMARY:KCC Family Retreat at SCOL
DESCRIPTION:Registration for this event is closed. \nFamilies take note! You are invited to join other families for a weekend of fun at KCC’s retreat land\, Ser Chö Ösel Ling\, near Goldendale\, WA. Who may attend? Families of any configuration\, especially those with children through high school age. \nWhile it will be loosely structured\, there will be a variety of activities offered such as hikes\, art\, nature exploration\, conversations\, or just relaxing with friends. A special feature will be creative Dharma Drama with roles and activities for all ages organized by Laurie Simpson from the KCC Children’s Program. \nThis year\, lunch and dinner will be provided by volunteers and SCOL staff. Families need to bring and prepare their own breakfasts. Cabin assignments will be on a first-come-first-served basis\, unless special accommodation is needed. \nWe hope that your family will consider joining us for this fun time with Sangha friends and family! \nFor questions you can email Cynthia Irvine at cynthia@kcc.org. \nSchedule\nArrive between 10 and 11:30am Saturday\, May 23\, in time for lunch (provided).\nLeave after lunch on Monday\, May 25. \nPricing\nNo one will be turned away for lack of funds! Suggested price is $25 for adults and $10 per child\, per night to help with costs of food and operating SCOL. Larger contributions are welcome and appreciated. If you are tight on funds\, an anonymous donor is willing to cover this portion of the May Family retreat. \nPlease register by May 16 so we can plan meals and supplies for activities. See you there!\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/family-retreat-2026/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/family-retreat-2026/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Family-Retreat-at-SCOL.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260508T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260515T100000
DTSTAMP:20260508T234918Z
CREATED:20260311T223030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T234918Z
UID:10010283-1778261400-1778839200@kcc.org
SUMMARY:Vipashyana: Exploring the Nature of Being
DESCRIPTION:Registration for this event is closed. \nIn the wisdom tradition of Mahamudra\, the principal meditation practices are shamatha and vipashyana. With the mind resting at ease through shamatha (or calm abiding meditation)\, we gain some respite from the seemingly constant barrage of thoughts and emotions\, which when not understood\, serve to veil the nature of our being. But shamatha practice is not sufficient to eradicate our confusion. It is vipashyana meditation that leads to liberating insight into the nature of our being and the nature of our experiences of thoughts\, emotions\, and perceptions. \nVipashyana practice is an analytical approach to meditation\, but not in an ordinary intellectual sense. As Traleg Rinpoche says\, these investigations are “designed to cut through to the very heart of things—to pave the way for a direct insight into the very nature of ultimate reality itself… The Mahamudra teachings counsel that we cannot understand the nature of reality without understanding the nature of the mind\, and this understanding is the whole purpose of vipashyana meditation.” \nIn general\, before beginning vipashyana practice\, a decent foundation of shamatha meditation is important. If you are new to vipashyana practice\, it is suggested that you have at least a year of relatively consistent shamatha practice experience. Otherwise\, it may prove difficult to maintain mindfulness and awareness during the insight investigations. If you are not sure if the retreat is right for you\, contact Lama Eric. \nThis retreat is held as a shared practice container\, and we ask that everyone who registers\, whether attending in person or on Zoom\, plan to be present for all sessions. Recordings will be available as a reference for those who attend live\, but not as an alternative way to take part. Please note: this retreat involves daily periods of silence. \nBook References \nIn Mind at Ease\, Traleg Kyabgon speaks clearly and eloquently about vipashyana meditation and the nature of mind. It also contains wonderful teachings on shamatha practice. For the investigations themselves\, we will follow Dakpo Tashi Namgyal’s Clarifying the Natural State and Thrangu Rinpoche’s commentary on that text\, Crystal Clear. You needn’t necessarily have any of these to participate\, but they would be beneficial reference materials. \nRetreat Schedule  \nThe retreat opens on Friday\, May 8 with dinner and an evening session and ends on Friday\, May 15 with a closing session and breakfast in the morning. For retreat days\, the schedule will be as follows: \nAM\n6:30 – 7:30 am             Group meditation\n7:30 – 9:00 am             Breakfast break\n9:00 – 10:30 am           Teaching and meditation\n10:30 – 11:00 am         Tea break\n11:00 – 12:00 pm         Self-guided practice \nPM\n12:00 – 2:30 pm           Lunch break\n2:30 – 4:00 pm            Meditation and discussion\n4:00 – 4:30 pm            Tea break\n4:30 – 5:30 pm            Teaching and meditation\n5:30 – 7:00 pm            Dinner break\n7:00 – 7:45pm             Evening chanting and prayers \nThe retreat will be held at Ser Chö Ösel Ling\, our retreat land in Goldendale\, WA\, and is also offered online via Zoom. The online option is available on a sliding scale so that anyone for whom travel or cost is a barrier can still fully participate. For in-person retreat\, lodging and three vegetarian meals a day are included. \n  \nRegistration for this event is closed. \n \n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/vipashyana-exploring-the-nature-of-being/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/vipashyana-exploring-the-nature-of-being/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event,Zoom Retreat
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Event-Pic-169-18.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260502T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260502T160000
DTSTAMP:20260422T170926Z
CREATED:20260421T000717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T170926Z
UID:10010687-1777716000-1777737600@kcc.org
SUMMARY:SCOL Spring Work Party
DESCRIPTION:SCOL hosts work parties several times a year to serve together on major projects. These are opportunities to meet in a more informal setting\, socialize\, and complete tasks needed to operate our retreat facility and a property of this size. \nThis May’s work party will focus on fire prevention and preparedness. We will use tools such as weedwhackers\, leaf blowers\, and pole saws to get ready for what may be a dangerous fire season due to such a mild winter. SCOL staff and our skilled volunteer\, Bruce Niemann\, will head up training and projects around the main retreat buildings. There are also less physical tasks appropriate for different skills and abilities. All are welcome. \nThe work will start at 10:00am on Saturday May 2\, including a vegetarian lunch at noon provided by SCOL\, then a second work session in the afternoon from 2:00-4:00. As always\, lodging is free\, and you are welcome to come on Friday and stay through Sunday. Cabins are first-come-first-served. We will not have a cook\, so plan to bring your own food other than Saturday lunch. It is a good idea to also bring work gloves\, sturdy shoes or boots\, a rain jacket\, bug spray\, a good H2O container\, and a sun hat. If you have your own safety glasses and ear protection\, it is recommended\, though SCOL also has these on site. \nPlease RSVP by April 29th by emailing Vicki at vicki@kcc.org. Join in the fun\, company\, and a chance to enjoy our beautiful environment! \n– Vicki\, SCOL \nIn addition to much-appreciated service at SCOL on Saturday\, below are other local events you may enjoy that weekend: \nGorge Artists Open Studio 2026\, May 1-3 – Painters\, sculptors\, wood workers\, ceramic artists\, and jewelry makers on both sides of the Gorge open their personal studios to the public for FREE. More information here. \n21st Annual Pacific NW Plein Air exhibit at Maryhill Museum of Art – Landscape artists will have spent 4 days during the previous week at various outside locations in the Gorge creating original pieces for a juried competition. A reception and awards ceremony will be held 5-7pm on May 2nd and the exhibit in the Museum will run May 3 – 25. More information here. \nWildflower hiking trails\, OR and WA – experience the Gorge in bloom\, hiking trails at all ability levels.\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/scol-work-party-2/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/scol-work-party-2/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event,Volunteer Opportunity
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Essence-of-Meditation-Event-169.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260410T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260413T140000
DTSTAMP:20260326T222810Z
CREATED:20251218T021012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T222810Z
UID:10009286-1775840400-1776088800@kcc.org
SUMMARY:The Essence of Meditation: Letting Go Into Being
DESCRIPTION:In-person and over Zoom \nNever done a meditation retreat before?\nFeel like you need a sanity break?\nNeed some inspiration for your meditation? \nThis weekend retreat—from Friday evening till Monday lunch—can serve any of these purposes and more. So much of our unease\, self-criticism\, despondency\, or stress is caused by thoughts and patterns of thinking that we are often barely aware of. Meditation is about becoming increasingly familiar with the essence of our being—that which lies beneath all fleeting experiences and is a source of inherent well-being. \nJust extracting ourselves from the busyness of our daily lives to spend contemplative time at our spacious\, quiet\, and nurturing retreat land for a weekend does us good. Combine that with gentle and repeated opportunities to become more familiar with the essence of our being through guided meditation and we have something even more meaningful! This retreat is an opportunity to engage more deeply in this process and can equally serve as an introduction to or as an infusion of inspiration for this path of discovery. \nWhat can you expect to gain from this weekend? \n\nAn experiential understanding of the benefits of meditation through guided sessions\, with plenty of stretch breaks\nThe opportunity to experiment with several types of meditation\, some related to developing spacious calm and some focused on opening the heart\nParticipation in question and discussion periods to learn from the teacher and peers\nConfidence in how to bring a regular meditation practice into your life.\n\nSample Schedule \nAM\n6:30-7:30 Meditation\n7:30-9:00 Breakfast Break\n9:00-10:30 Meditation and Teaching\n10:30-11:00 Tea Break\n11:00-12:00 Meditation \nPM\n12:00-2:30 Lunch Break\n2:30-4:00 Meditation and Discussion\n4:00-4:30 Tea Break\n4:30-5:30 Meditation\n5:30-7:00 Dinner Break\n7:00-7:45 Aspiration Prayers and Inspirational Song \nVegetarian meals will be provided. The meal breaks will be spacious. And we will all perform assigned tasks to contribute to the retreat experience. \nLooking forward to being with you there! \nBy signing up you are agreeing to participate in the retreat from beginning to end. This is important to create a cohesive and supportive environment for all. \n  \nREGISTER FOR IN-PERSON \n ZOOM REGISTRATION  \n  \nFinancial Assistance: Financial Assistance (up to 50% of the retreat cost) may be available for individuals with financial constraints. The amount of FA available depends entirely on donations to the Financial Assistance Fund. For those who can afford it\, please consider contributing to the Financial Assistance Fund so that others who are less financially fortunate are able to attend KCC retreats. \nTo apply for Financial Assistance\, contact the Financial Assistance Team at KCC-FA@kcc.org with details of your request. After you have received confirmation\, then register for the retreat. For further details\, read the KCC Financial Assistance Policy here.\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/the-essence-of-meditation-letting-go-into-being-2/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/the-essence-of-meditation-letting-go-into-being-2/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Copy-of-Event-Pic-169-32.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260220T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260320T100000
DTSTAMP:20260305T020644Z
CREATED:20251125T000213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T020644Z
UID:10009216-1771596000-1774000800@kcc.org
SUMMARY:Personal Practice Retreat
DESCRIPTION:We are pleased to be able to once again host our annual one-month opportunity for personal retreat at Ser Chö Ösel Ling\, our retreat land in Goldendale\, WA. Some may sign up for the entire month and others will come for stays ranging from a weekend to three weeks. Each week of retreat will begin on a Friday from February 20 until March 20\, 2026. Time periods available are for 1-week\, 2-weeks\, 3-weeks\, 4-weeks and weekends\, all beginning on a Friday. \nDuring the personal retreat time\, all retreatants keep the same schedule and practice on their own in their rooms or in one of the meditation halls. Everyone gathers for meals and in the evening after dinner for a short meditation and the recitation of aspiration prayers or inspirational songs. All of the meals will be provided. \nThe month of personal retreat is an excellent way to deepen one’s practice in the support of other community members. Being able to devote more time to meditation away from our habitually busy environs can be very inspiring and nurturing. Each day will have periods of silence\, and silence will also be observed each week for a number of days. \nBefore engaging in personal retreat\, it is recommended that participants have previous experience that includes at least some facilitated group retreat and perhaps some individual retreat. The most skillful approach to personal retreat is to begin with a weekend and gradually increase the length of one’s stay. Beginning with a retreat that is beyond one’s current capacity can undermine the potential benefit of one’s stay and unnecessarily dampen enthusiasm for future retreat. \nRegardless of experience\, each participant will create an individualized practice plan – either by themselves or in consultation with an advisor. If you are new to personal retreat with KCC\, we request that you speak with an advisor about creating an outline for your retreat in order to facilitate a meaningful experience. To design a retreat plan\, you can reach out to Lama Eric by making an appointment here\, or to Lama Kathleen by email at kdabenz@gmail.com. \nSample Schedule \nAM\n6:00-7:20      Practice Session\n7:30-9:00      Breakfast\n9:00-10:30    Practice Session\n10:30-11:00   Tea Break\n11:00-12:00   Practice Session \nPM\n12:10-2:00     Lunch\n2:00-3:30      Practice Session\n3:30-4:00      Tea Break\n4:00-5:15       Practice Session\n5:30-6:45      Dinner\n6:45-7:30      Group Practice \nArrival Time on Fridays: Between 2 PM and 4 PM\nDeparture Time on Last Day of your Retreat Period: After breakfast and before 10:00 AM \nMeals and Chores\nThree vegetarian meals will be served daily. Retreatants are expected to contribute up to one hour per day toward chores that will be done during the three meal breaks. \nRegistration\nThe number of participants for this retreat will be limited to 16 participants in single occupancy cabins only\, allowing for a spacious environment to support this longer retreat. Registration will be open for retreats of a week or longer until February 15th; registration for weekends will stay open throughout. \nPricing \n1 week: $600\nWeekend: $270 \nIncludes single cabin and 3 meals per day. \n  \nREGISTER FOR 1 WEEKREGISTER FOR A WEEKEND \n  \nNote: To support the staff and the retreat container for all retreatants\, each retreat period begins on a Friday. If there are extenuating circumstances and the only way you could attend would be to come on different dates\, you may contact scol.retreats@kcc.org with details about your circumstances. Requests will be reviewed in consultation with Lama Eric and approved on a case-by-case basis. \nFinancial Assistance: Financial Assistance (up to 50% of the retreat cost) may be available for individuals with financial constraints. The amount of FA available depends entirely on donations to the Financial Assistance Fund. For those who can afford it\, please consider contributing to the Financial Assistance Fund so that others who are less financially fortunate are able to attend KCC retreats. \nTo apply for Financial Assistance\, contact the Financial Assistance Team at KCC-FA@kcc.org with details of your request. After you have received confirmation\, then register for the retreat. For further details\, read the KCC Financial Assistance Policy here. \n \n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/personal-practice-retreat/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/personal-practice-retreat/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Copy-of-Event-Pic-169-25.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260218T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260218T160000
DTSTAMP:20260121T175834Z
CREATED:20260121T174312Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T175834Z
UID:10009756-1771408800-1771430400@kcc.org
SUMMARY:Losar Celebration at SCOL
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate Losar 2026\, year of the Fire Horse\, at SCOL on February 18! \nIt is traditional on the Tibetan New Year to do a thorough cleaning in preparation for the coming year. SCOL invites you to our Goldendale retreat center for a work party to clean the facility to prepare for the 2026 retreat season. \nWork will begin at 10 am February 18th\, a celebration lunch will be provided at noon\, then another work session will be held from 2 – 4 pm. We will be concentrating on all indoor spaces\, including cabins\, apartments\, shrine rooms\, dining areas\, and yoga rooms\, plus the traditional replacing of prayer flags on the property. \nYou are welcome to come for the day or spend the night\, either Tuesday or Wednesday\, free of charge. Other than Wednesday lunch\, you are responsible for your own meals. You are welcome to use the cloister dining areas for preparing and storing food. Please bring warm work clothes and\, as usual\, your own linens. Also\, check the weather before you come and be prepared for snow on the roads. \nWe would love to share Losar with you. It will not be all work; come enjoy a fine vegetarian meal and time with wonderful Sangha friends. Feel free to email or call with any questions. \nVicki Fields\, SCOL\n541 570-8116 \nPlease RSVP at scol.kcc@gmail.com by February 15. \nNote: Those starting the Personal Practice Retreat on Feb 20th are welcome to make arrangements to arrive for Losar. Please contact Vicki.\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/losar-celebration-at-scol/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/losar-celebration-at-scol/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:SCOL Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Event-Pic-169-4.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251205T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251212T100000
DTSTAMP:20251203T185442Z
CREATED:20250912T204432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T185442Z
UID:10009003-1764954000-1765533600@kcc.org
SUMMARY:Vipashyana through the Three Turnings of Buddhism
DESCRIPTION:In person at Ser Chö Ösel Ling and via Zoom \nThe Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma is a classification of the views and practices expressed by Shakyamuni Buddha in his forty-five years of teaching. \nIn Vajrayana Buddhism as preserved in Tibet\, we embrace each of these systems in our study and practice as complementary rather than contradictory. In this retreat\, we’ll explore the vipashyana\, or insight\, practices and contemplations of each of these turnings. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrom the First Turning—closely related to what is often called Early Buddhism—we will review and contemplate the Four Noble Truths\, practice the Four Applications of Mindfulness\, and reinforce skillful renunciation through the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Second Turning teachings are primarily concerned with a deeper insight into wisdom and an embrace of the skillful means of relative bodhicitta. We will reinforce these views by enhancing our understanding and experience of emptiness through various contemplations and recitation of the Heart Sutra. We will also practice the opening of our hearts to others through the practices of the Four Immeasurables and exchanging self and other (tonglen). \nThe Third Turning is primarily concerned with buddha nature—the view that all beings share the same empty\, luminous\, and unimpeded nature that is consummate well being and ease. That is\, awakening is already present in our being\, and the goal of our practice is to recognize and stabilize this insight. Yidam practices\, such as Chenrezi\, and the traditions of Mahamudra and Dzokchen are pathways to this truth\, and we will approach our Buddha nature through guided meditations in these techniques. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis retreat will prove suitable for anyone with even just a few months of practice background. There are no prerequisites to attend other than being present for the entirety of the retreat. In-person registration is closed. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER OVER ZOOM \n  \nWe want retreat to be accessible to everyone. Scholarships covering up to 50% of the cost of a double cabin are available through our Financial Assistance Fund. Additional sponsorship may also be available. Please email KCC-FA@kcc.org for more information and to apply. View our Financial Assistance Policy here. Please email Cynthia if you are interested in donating to our Financial Assistance Fund or sponsoring a retreatant. \nBy signing up\, you are agreeing to maintaining the integrity of the mandala by attending the entirety of the retreat\, whether in person or via Zoom. \n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/integrating-the-three-turnings-of-buddhist-practice/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/integrating-the-three-turnings-of-buddhist-practice/
LOCATION:SCOL – Retreat Center\, Goldendale\, WA\, 98620\, United States
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event,Zoom Retreat
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Three-Turnings-Retreat.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251024T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251027T120000
DTSTAMP:20250812T210042Z
CREATED:20250217T184218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T210042Z
UID:10008695-1761300000-1761566400@kcc.org
SUMMARY:The World is Its Own Magic - A Weekend of Plein Air Painting and Mindfulness
DESCRIPTION:Description\nThis four-day residential weekend workshop offers techniques in outdoor landscape painting in the high desert forest of the eastern Columbia Gorge. \nThe workshop is designed for artists of varying skill levels who have some experience in drawing and composition; knowledge of color theory is helpful. We will explore color\, composition\, and perspective in new and complex ways allowing artists to unlock fresh avenues of expression and deepen their understanding of visual storytelling. \nSet at a Buddhist rural retreat center near Goldendale\, Washington\, the schedule will include a guided morning meditation led by KCC teacher Kathleen Benz. We will allow ourselves to become still\, reflective and observant\, and from this mindful stillness we will visit our first painting site where Jef will give guidance on viewing the landscape\, seeing space\, and how it might be arranged in a rectangular canvas\, and then how to manage drawing and colors with mind and heart. \nThe tuition includes lodging\, vegetarian meals and guidance in painting and meditation. The SCOL center will provide a cook and facilities staff\, but each student will be asked to complete a daily task of service. \nArtist Jef Gunn\nA Northwest native\, Jef Gunn studied drawing and painting in California through the 1970s and held residencies in Barcelona and Paris in the 1980s. With a balance of humor\, broad knowledge and helpful insight he is able to draw from each student their own natural way to paint\, while bringing to bear practical instruction through contemporary and historical examples. He has been teaching painting\, including landscape outdoors\, for over 20 years. Jef has been a part of the KCC Buddhist community since moving to Portland in 1998. He was part of the team that built the retreat facility at SCOL. \n“Over these years of meditation practice and learning Buddhist views on life\, ethics and kindness\, and care for all beings\, I’ve seen a shift in my work as an artist. Sometimes\, I’ve made this explicit in the forms of the work or in the titles\, with both abstract works and landscapes. \nBringing Buddhist awareness and perhaps a Daoist understanding\, life and living systems open before us. A hill is just a hill\, then it’s a metaphor\, then it’s a hill again. It lifts into sky and drifts into valley. River flows to the sea. Cloud flows. Warm colors and cool colors interact. The blues of the sky change as you look higher. The wind blows through you. You mix colors\, looking at the wide world for clues. You’re interacting with this wild inhabited land\, and you’re responding with irascible paints on a palette. \nJust as with following meditation instructions\, you follow a protocol with the palette\, the mixing knife\, the colors\, the canvas\, the impossible view\, its impossible spaciousness. The mind too is impossibly spacious. You can be present for the whole thing. You might even end up with a painting.”\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/the-world-is-its-own-magic-a-weekend-of-plein-air-painting-and-mindfulness-25/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/the-world-is-its-own-magic-a-weekend-of-plein-air-painting-and-mindfulness-25/
LOCATION:WA
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/SCOL_painting_JG_2015-300x79-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251003T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251006T120000
DTSTAMP:20251002T003139Z
CREATED:20250819T030103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T003139Z
UID:10008884-1759510800-1759752000@kcc.org
SUMMARY:The Essence of Meditation: Letting Go Into Being
DESCRIPTION:Feel like you need a sanity break?\nNever done a meditation retreat before?\nNeed some inspiration for your meditation? \nThis weekend retreat—from Friday evening till Monday lunch—can serve any of these purposes and more. Just to extract ourself from the treadmill of daily patterns to visit our spacious\, quiet\, and nurturing retreat land for a weekend does us good. Combine that with gentle and repeated opportunities to become more familiar with the essence of our being through guided meditation and we have something even more meaningful. \nSo much of our unease\, self-criticism\, despondency\, or stress is caused by thoughts and patterns of thinking that we are often barely aware of. Meditation is about becoming more and more familiar with the essence of our being—that which lies beneath all fleeting experiences and is a source of inherent well being. This retreat is an opportunity to engage more deeply in this process and can equally serve as an introduction to or as an infusion of inspiration for this path of discovery. \nIn this retreat we will cover the benefits of meditation\, experimenting with several techniques\, and have time for questions and discussion about the practices. There will be frequent stretch breaks and options to sit on a cushion\, in a chair\, or lie on the floor. Vegetarian meals will be provided\, and we all will perform assigned tasks to contribute to the retreat experience. \nLooking forward to being with you there! \nRegistration is closed. \n \n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/the-essence-of-meditation-letting-go-into-being-oct-25/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/the-essence-of-meditation-letting-go-into-being-oct-25/
LOCATION:WA
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://kcc.org/wp-content/uploads/Lotus-Blossom-1-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250919T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250926T120000
DTSTAMP:20250918T004325Z
CREATED:20250804T194917Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T004325Z
UID:10008877-1758297600-1758888000@kcc.org
SUMMARY:Personal Practice Retreat--September 2025
DESCRIPTION:We are pleased to be able to once again host a 1-week personal retreat at Ser Chö Ösel Ling\, our retreat land in Goldendale\, WA. Some may sign up for the entire week and others will come for a weekend. The week or weekend of retreat will begin on a Friday September 19. \nDuring the personal retreat time\, all retreatants keep the same schedule and practice on their own in their rooms or in one of the meditation halls. Everyone gathers for meals and in the evening after dinner for a short meditation and the recitation of aspiration prayers or inspirational songs. All of the meals will be provided. \nThe personal retreat is an excellent way to deepen one’s practice in the support of other community members. Being able to devote more time to meditation away from our habitually busy usual environs can be very inspiring and nurturing. Each day will have periods of silence\, and silence will also be observed for a number of days during the week. \nBefore engaging in personal retreat\, it is recommended that participants have some previous experience that includes at least some facilitated group retreat and perhaps some individual retreat. The most skillful approach to personal retreat is to begin with a weekend and gradually increase the length of one’s stay. Beginning with a retreat that is beyond one’s current capacity can undermine the potential benefit of one’s stay and unnecessarily dampen enthusiasm for future retreat. \nRegardless of experience\, each participant will create an individualized practice plan – either by themselves or in consultation with an advisor. If you are new to personal retreat with KCC\, we request that you speak with an advisor about creating an outline for your retreat in order to facilitate a meaningful experience. To design a retreat plan\, you can reach out to Lama Eric by making an appointment HERE\, or to Lama Kathleen at kdabenz@gmail.com. \nRegistration\nThe number of participants for this retreat will be limited to 16 participants in single occupancy cabins only\, allowing for a spacious environment. Registration is now closed. \nPricing (includes single cabin and 3 meals per day)\nPer night: $90\, minimum two nights.\nEveryone starts on the same day\, and chooses the length that works for them. \nFinancial Assistance: Financial Assistance (up to 50% of the retreat cost) may be available for individuals with financial constraints. The number of FA available depends entirely on donations to the Financial Assistance Fund. For those who can afford it\, please consider contributing to the Financial Assistance Fund so that others who are less financially fortunate are able to attend KCC retreats. \nTo apply for Financial Assistance\, review the KCC Financial Assistance Policy. Once you have read the policy guidelines\, contact the Financial Assistance Team at KCC-FA@kcc.org. After you have received confirmation\, you may register for the retreat. \n \nMeals and Chores\nThree vegetarian meals will be served daily. Retreatants are expected to contribute up to one hour per day toward chores that will be done during the three meal breaks.\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/personal-practice-retreat-september-2025/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/personal-practice-retreat-september-2025/
LOCATION:WA
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250905T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250913T073000
DTSTAMP:20250910T000515Z
CREATED:20250710T000551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T000515Z
UID:10008875-1757098800-1757748600@kcc.org
SUMMARY:Bokar Mahamudra Seminar 2025
DESCRIPTION:In person and over Zoom \nKagyu Changchub Chuling is pleased to announce that\, per the wish of Khenpo Lodrö Donyö Rinpoche\, Lama Eric will again be offering Bokar Rinpoche’s Mahamudra Seminar at Ser Chö Ösel Ling (SCOL)\, our retreat land in Goldendale\, WA\, and via Zoom. \nBokar Rinpoche initiated the program in 1992 to provide a concise yet complete approach to the stages of mahamudra practice\, in a manner suited to the lives of modern lay practitioners. Over the past several decades\, hundreds of aspirants have found the support and structure of this course a powerful means for launching them into and deepening their daily practice. We heartily welcome and encourage anyone interested to participate in this seminar. \nThe Practice Program \nA key component of the program is the practice commitment which acts as a critical support for making dharma a stable feature in one’s life. At a minimum\, participants are asked to practice shamatha (resting meditation) for 30 minutes daily and to do 100\,000 repetitions of Chenrezi’s mantra over the year. Though 100\,000 recitations may sound like a large number\, the mantras can be done outside of formal meditation\, and most do not find it difficult to complete them. \nTraditionally\, the preliminary practices (often referred to by their Tibetan name\, ngondro) are done as a prerequisite to engaging in vajrayana practices\, including shamatha and vipashyana of the mahamudra tradition. These meditations remove obstacles and create positive conditions that allow practitioners to engage more deeply in the practices that follow. These include refuge and prostrations\, the 100-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva\, mandala offering\, and guru yoga. Each of these four practices are performed during one quarter of the practice year—refuge and prostrations for the first three months\, Vajrasattva for the second three months\, etc. One can commit to doing 5\,000 or 10\,000 of each per quarter. A commitment of 10\,000 per quarter is likely to take about 30-45 minutes per day. These are optional for first year participants. \nFor those who continue to the second year\, instructions on vipashyana are given\, and in the third year—if one has met certain practice requirements—the practice of the union of shamatha and vipashyana\, or mahamudra\, is introduced. One continues accumulating the preliminary practices as part of the second and third year commitments. \nFurther\, for those who are interested\, after practicing the third year teachings for three years\, one can choose to begin the yidam aspect of the seminar. One would then receive the empowerment and instruction for the yidam and take that as one’s main practice. The yidam teachings also progress through outer\, inner\, secret\, and most secret levels every two years. \nWho Should Attend \nPractitioners at all levels are welcome to join the seminar. One must attend the whole seminar and be willing to take on the accompanying practice commitments for one year. Participants should have already received the vow of refuge—the formal act of becoming Buddhist—or be ready to take it. The refuge vow will be offered at the seminar. \nThe Seminar  \nThe day will begin with calm abiding meditation and end with the Chenrezi practice. There will be detailed instruction for all of the practices to be done of the course of the year and plenty of time for questions and discussion. The daily schedule will be fairly full but will also allow for ample stretch breaks and time for rest and reflection. There is a nearly equal balance of meditation and teachings during the seminar. \nThe Founder\, Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche \nKyabje Bokar Rinpoche (1940-2004) was a renowned master of the Karma Kagyu lineage and the principal lineage holder of Shangpa Kagyu\, which he inherited from his root guru\, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche. Drawing from a lifetime of study\, intensive meditation\, and many years of experience as a retreat master\, Bokar Rinpoche first offered this program in 1992. \nKhenpo Lodrö Donyö Rinpoche\, Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche’s main student and the abbot of Bokar Monastery\, continues to offer this seminar roughly every other year in India. \nHistory and More Details of the Seminar here.\n\nVIEW EVENT DETAILS: https://kcc.org/event/bokar-mahamudra-seminar-2025/
URL:https://kcc.org/event/bokar-mahamudra-seminar-2025/
LOCATION:WA
CATEGORIES:Retreats & Special Events,SCOL Event
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