Way of Compassion Dharma Center

Heroic Heart Half-Day Retreat
2025-03-23 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
Respecting Even Our Enemies – Half-Day Retreat
March 23rd – Online and In Person
We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather monthly for these precious teaching. This month’s topic is very timely – Respecting Even Our Enemies, Chapter 15 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. These are truly precious and timely teachings for our current times.
“Just as the archetypal hero possesses the heart to face trials and tribulations for the sake of helping others, the bodhisattva has a remarkable resolve to free others from suffering so that all may achieve true happiness and awakening. Through each challenge, the Buddhist hero of compassion develops rich inner qualities that empower them to be of true benefit to others.
In The Heroic Heart, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, an esteemed spiritual teacher with a lifetime of experience, illuminates the heart of Mahayana Buddhism—bodhichitta—describing it as “the selfless expression of boundless compassion.” Jetsunma uses as a touchstone the famous Tibetan Buddhist text The Thirty-Seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva. Here, she reveals how to become such a compassionate hero, the bodhisattva in training, and helps us to face the uncertain tides of the world, however joyful or dangerous, with a deep wish to find meaning and uncover the ultimate heart of wisdom and compassion.”
John Bruna teaching at the Durango Dharma Center
Each month our spiritual director, John Bruna, will facilitate meditation, study, and discussion on one of the topics from this precious text. The retreat will be both in-person and online and will consist of three sessions that are approximately fifty minutes long with a short break in between sessions. As usual, John will be donating his time and the retreat is offered on a free-will donation basis. All donations will go to the Way of Compassion Foundation.

Retreat Details

Date and Time: Sunday, March 23rd, 2025
Location: Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO 81623

Pacific Time: 8 am to 11 am
Mountain Time: 9 am to 12 pm
Central Time: 10 am to 1 pm
Eastern Time: 11 am to 2 pm

Cost: By donation. You may offer any amount.

Topic: Chapter 15, Respecting Even Our Enemies
Register: To register make a secure donation below (any amount). If you would like to register by check or in person at the retreat, email or call us, admin@wocompassion.org or 970-704-5512.
Online Attendees: The retreat will use the Zoom online webinar platform. There will be breaks and time for reflection, and questions and answers.
Make secure donation – Retreat Donation

Ghatika Monthly with John Bruna at Miyo Samten Ling
2025-03-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Center for Contemplative Research, 1 Carmelite Way, Crestone, CO, 81143, United States
John is making a return to Miyo Samten Ling this Saturday to be the guest teacher for the Center of Contemplative Research’s Ghatika Monthly Meditation and Discussion. You can join online for this live interactive teaching.
The Role of the Spiritual Teacher:
Guidance, Ethics, and the Search for Authentic Wisdom
Saturday, March 8th, 10:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
9 a.m. PDT / 12 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. Central European Time (CET)
Ways to attend:

Online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066316034 (Meeting ID: 860 6631 6034)
In-person at Miyo Samten Ling Hermitage at 10:00 a.m. MDT (1 Carmelite Way, Crestone, CO), in the chapel (the building with the bell tower)

Make a donation to CCR – Donate.
Topic Description:
In our spiritual journeys, the role of a teacher can be both profound and complex. How do we discern a true teacher from a misguided one? What qualities should we seek in a mentor, and how can we cultivate wisdom while maintaining discernment and personal integrity?
In this talk, John will share the 10 qualities of a spiritual teacher and discuss their relevance not only in traditional guru-disciple relationships but also in modern mentorship and personal growth. We’ll address the challenges of seeking guidance, the ethics of the teacher-student dynamic, and how to navigate relationships with wisdom and clarity.
Whether you’re actively searching for a teacher, reflecting on past experiences, or simply interested in the role of mentorship in your spiritual path, this discussion will offer practical insights on cultivating discernment, trust, and authentic learning. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on the power and responsibility of spiritual guidance in today’s world.
We look forward to seeing you this Saturday!

Tibetan New Year (Losar) Vajrasattva Practice
2025-02-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
Celebrate and Purify – In Person and Online
Year of the Wood Snake
Friday, February 27th
6:00 PM (Mountain Time)

Losar (Tibetan New Year) is the biggest holiday in Tibet. During this time, we can take the opportunity to close out the old year and bid goodbye to all the past negativities. We also take time to welcome the new year and inviting all beneficial and auspicious things into our lives. This event is a particularly powerful time for practice. The Way of Compassion Dharma Center will be hosting a Vajrasattva event on Friday, February 27th.
In honor of this precious event, we will be hosting an in person and online Vajrasattva practice of purification at 6 pm Mountain Time.

Vajrasattva

“Vajrasattva practice is so important generally, and especially nowadays in the world when there is not only global warming but many other problems. There are so many other dangers—of war and sicknesses, cancer, and so many people whom you know are dying. There are so many sicknesses and other conditions for dying.
This Vajrasattva practice and other purification practices are the ultimate answer, so everything in the world—what you see, every situation—tells you to practice Vajrasattva. To purify and do Vajrasattva practice is the ultimate answer, to stop the cause to be reborn in the lower realms and the immediate [result] is to have a higher rebirth, to make preparation for death and then to meet the Dharma, to meet the virtuous friend who reveals the path to enlightenment. Then to achieve ultimate happiness, to be free from samsara and to achieve enlightenment for the numberless sentient beings and to free them from the oceans of samsaric sufferings and bring them to full enlightenment.” – Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Here is the Zoom link to participate – Losar Celebration and Purification Practice.
Here is a link to download the practice – WOC Prayers Handout.
If you would like to make a donation, you may do so securely, using the donation button below.
Donate

Ghatika Monthly with John Bruna at Miyo Samten Ling
2025-02-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Center for Contemplative Research, 1 Carmelite Way, Crestone, CO, 81143, United States
John will once again be the guest teacher for the Center of Contemplative Research at Miyo Samten Ling. You can join online for this live interactive teaching.
Topic: Recovering from Addictions: Mindfulness and Intentional Living in the Age of Overconsumption and Distraction
Saturday, February 8th, 10:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
9 a.m. PDT / 12 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. Central European Time (CET)
Ways to attend:

Online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066316034 (Meeting ID: 860 6631 6034)
In-person at Miyo Samten Ling Hermitage at 10:00 a.m. MDT (1 Carmelite Way, Crestone, CO), in the chapel (the building with the bell tower)

Make a donation to CCR – Donate.
Topic Description:
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, many of us find ourselves trapped in cycles of compulsive digital consumption—endless scrolling, checking emails, texting, binge-watching, and constant stimulation that leave us feeling drained and disconnected. Our modern culture is filled with a wide range of addictions to substances, food, shopping, work, exercise, food, sex, and now technology and digital addictions. Now, more than ever, it is critical to return to practical and time-tested approaches to breaking free from addictions and cultivating a life of balance and fulfillment.
This Saturday, we are thrilled to welcome back John Bruna, who is uniquely equipped to guide us on this topic. Having spent decades immersed in study, practice, and teaching in the fields of addiction and recovery and Buddhism, John’s wisdom on this topic has helped guide countless people on their paths toward healing from addiction of all kinds.
Key Topics Covered:

Understanding the Dopamine Cycle – How our modern culture fuels compulsive behaviors and emotional distress.
Mindfulness and Self-Awareness – Practical tools to recognize addictive patterns and regain control.
The Power of Intentional Living – Aligning daily habits with values to cultivate meaning and purpose.
Embracing Healthy Discomfort – How resilience, discipline, and moderation contribute to lasting happiness.
Practical Strategies for Well-Being – Ethical and mindful practices for greater focus, connection, and peace of mind.

John will offer insights, reflections, and actionable steps to help participants shift from unconscious habits to mindful choices. Whether you’re struggling with digital distractions, addictive habits, or simply seeking more balance in your life, these skills provide a path to reclaim your attention, well-being, and sense of purpose.
We forward to seeing you this Saturday!

John Guest Teaching at CCR
2025-01-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Center for Contemplative Research, 1 Carmelite Way, Crestone, CO, 81143, United States
John will once again be the guest teacher for the Ghatika Series at the Center for Contemplative Research in Crestone, Colorado. You can attend in person or online. The topic is to be announces. To learn more – Ghatika Series at the Center for Contemplative Research.

Embracing Adversity – Half-Day Retreat
2024-12-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Here and Now Center, 115 S Colorado ST, Gunnison, CO, 81230, United States
Embracing Adversity – Half-Day Retreat
December 15th – Online and In Person in Gunnison, CO
We are excited that our December Heroic Heart retreat will be hosted by the Here and Now Center in Gunnison, Colorado! The topic will be Embracing Adversity, chapter 12 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. These are truly precious and timely teachings for our current times.
“Just as the archetypal hero possesses the heart to face trials and tribulations for the sake of helping others, the bodhisattva has a remarkable resolve to free others from suffering so that all may achieve true happiness and awakening. Through each challenge, the Buddhist hero of compassion develops rich inner qualities that empower them to be of true benefit to others.
In The Heroic Heart, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, an esteemed spiritual teacher with a lifetime of experience, illuminates the heart of Mahayana Buddhism—bodhichitta—describing it as “the selfless expression of boundless compassion.” Jetsunma uses as a touchstone the famous Tibetan Buddhist text The Thirty-Seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva. Here, she reveals how to become such a compassionate hero, the bodhisattva in training, and helps us to face the uncertain tides of the world, however joyful or dangerous, with a deep wish to find meaning and uncover the ultimate heart of wisdom and compassion.”
John Bruna teaching at the Durango Dharma Center
Each month our spiritual director, John Bruna, will facilitate meditation, study, and discussion on one of the topics from this precious text. The retreat will be both in-person and online and will consist of three sessions that are approximately fifty minutes long with a short break in between sessions. As usual, John will be donating his time and the retreat is offered on a free-will donation basis. All donations will go to the Way of Compassion Foundation.

Retreat Details

Date and Time: Sunday, December 15th, 2024.
Location: Here and Now Center, 115 S. Colorado ST, Gunnison, CO 81230

Pacific Time: 8 am to 11 am
Mountain Time: 9 am to 12 pm
Central Time: 10 am to 1 pm
Eastern Time: 11 am to 2 pm

Cost: By donation. You may offer any amount.

Topic: Chapter 12, Embracing Adversity
Register: To register make a secure donation below (any amount). If you would like to register by check or in person at the retreat, email or call us, admin@wocompassion.org or 970-704-5512.
Online Attendees: The retreat will use the Zoom online webinar platform. There will be breaks and time for reflection, and questions and answers.
Make secure donation – Retreat Donation

Zong Rinpoche Teaching
2024-10-27 09:30 - 16:00 | CO
You can attend online as well as in person!

Information to join online is below. We encourage you make a donation to TTL Dharma Center.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89834173405?pwd=dIAbldMxBQ5eGuxvTpM441CfgEzacV.1
Meeting ID: 898 3417 3405
Passcode: 123567
