Way of Compassion Dharma Center

Exploring Refuge with Drupon Samten
2025-12-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | CO
Special Event – Exploring Taking Refuge with Drupon Samten
December 4th, 2025
As many students have asked about taking formal refuge vows, we requested Drupon Samten to offer them. We are delighted that she has agreed and will offer them in January, 2026 (date to be announced). Prior to the refuge ceremony, Drupon-la would like to offer two orientation sessions for students interested in taking the refuge vows. The first will be on December 4th at 7 pm Mountain Time, USA. This will be online as Drupon Samten is in India. You can attend at the Dharma center in person or attend online from home.
For details and registration – click here.

Heroic Heart Retreat at the Here and Now Center in Gunnison, CO
2025-12-14 09:30 - 15:30 | Here and Now Center, 115 S Colorado ST, Gunnison, CO, 81230, United States
Heroic Heart Half-Day Retreat
December 14th – In Person and Online
We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather monthly for these precious teachings and excited to return to Gunnison, CO to host this retreat!
This month’s topic is “Letting Go of the Illusion,” chapter 24 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. These are truly precious and essential teachings for our current times.
The retreat is from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Mountain Time, with an hour break for lunch.
Offered by donation. To learn more and register, click here.

New Year's Meditation Retreat
2026-01-01 - 2026-01-04 | Mercy Center, 535 Sacramento St, Auburn, CA, 95603, United States
Begin 2026 at the annual New Year’s meditation retreat with John and Laura at the Mercy Center in Auburn, CA. This is a rare opportunity to be guided in practice by both John Bruna and Laura Bartels!
The retreat is beginner friendly and will also allow for seasoned meditators to deepen their practice. We will focus on developing the foundational methods and practices to sustain a meditation practice that is right for you. The days will include multiple short meditation sessions, quiet reflection time, guidance, and discussion in the group teachings.
This retreat is hosted by the Mercy Center – Learn more.

Heroic Heart Retreat - Practicing Generosity
2026-01-18 09:30 - 15:30 | Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
Heroic Heart – Full-Day Retreat
January 18th, 2026 – Online and In Person
We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather monthly for these precious teachings. This month’s topic is “Practicing Generosity” based on chapter 25 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. These are truly precious and essential teachings for our current times.
Offered by donation. To learn more and register, click here.

Heroic Heart Retreat - Practicing Discipline
2026-02-08 09:30 - 15:30 | Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
Heroic Heart – Full-Day Retreat
February 8th, 2026 – Online and In Person
We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather monthly for these precious teachings. This month’s topic will be “Practicing Discipline” based on chapter 26 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. These are truly precious and essential teachings for our current times.
Offered by donation. Save the date! Registration opening soon.

Heroic Heart Day-Long Retreat in Grand Junction
2026-03-07 09:30 - 15:30 | Unitarian Universalist Church, 536 Ouray Ave, Grand Junction, 81501, United States
Saturday, March 7th, 2026 – In Grand Junction and Online
We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Grand Junction for our monthly Heroic Heart retreat. This month’s topic is Practicing Patience, chapter 27 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.
For details and registration, click here.

Daylong Retreat at Durango Dharma Center - Online and In Person
2026-03-29 09:30 - 15:30 | Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East 3rd Ave. Suite 109, Durango, CO, United States
Hosted by the Durango Dharma Center

The Three Principal Aspects of the Path: A Daylong Retreat with John Bruna

Sunday, March 29th from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
In this daylong retreat, John Bruna will explore the timeless wisdom of The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, a short yet profound teaching by Je Tsongkhapa that distills the essence of the entire Buddhist path into just fourteen verses. Together, we will unpack these pith instructions and explore how they speak directly to the challenges, aspirations and inner struggles of modern life.
Drawing from classical Buddhist philosophy while making clear connections to contemporary Western psychology and therapeutic models, this retreat offers both depth and accessibility. It is well-suited for those new to Buddhist thought as well as seasoned practitioners seeking to deepen and integrate their practice.
At the heart of this teaching are three essential qualities that support genuine well-being, inner freedom and compassionate engagement with the world:
Renunciation
Learning to recognize how misperceptions and habitual patterns of mind give rise to unnecessary suffering—for ourselves and others. Renunciation in this context is not withdrawal from life, but a clear-eyed understanding of what truly leads to happiness, freedom and meaning, and how to cultivate those conditions in daily life.
Bodhicitta (Great Compassion)
Discovering the profound strength, resilience and healing that emerge when we cultivate connection and an altruistic motivation to benefit others. Bodhicitta transforms personal practice into a source of purpose, belonging and service.
Wisdom
Developing the capacity to understand ourselves and our experience of the world more accurately. Through this clarity, we begin to loosen deeply ingrained misperceptions that fuel emotional reactivity, distress and confusion—opening the door to greater balance, insight and freedom.
Throughout the retreat, participants will be guided through reflection, contemplation and practice aimed at integrating these teachings into real life—not merely as philosophical ideas, but as living principles that support healing, ethical living and genuine happiness.
COST: The Dharma Center operates on the gift economy and the cost of the daylong is on a two-part sliding scale. The fee that you offer through the registration system ($50, $70, $89, or $108 or scholarship options of $25 or $0) supports our nonprofit, which pays the costs of the building, utilities, website, administration, etc. In keeping with our 2,600-year-old tradition, the teacher of the retreat is not compensated but rather shares the teachings freely. In turn, you are invited into the practice of dana, or generosity, a gift economy system that has been alive since the time of the Buddha. You are invited to make a donation to support the teacher in continuing their valuable work. Donations in any amount whatsoever are gratefully received, and the practice of generosity is always elective.
LOCATION: Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East Third Avenue, Suite 109 in Durango and Zoom
QUESTIONS: If you have questions, please reach out to the registrar, Kurt, at registrar@durangodharma.org or leave a message at 970-426-8983.
Register

Daylong Retreat - Three Principal Aspects of the Path
2026-03-29 09:30 - 15:30 | Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East 3rd Ave. Suite 109, Durango, CO, United States
The Three Principal Aspects of the Path:
A Daylong Retreat with John Bruna

Hosted by the Durango Dharma Center
Sunday, March 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
In this daylong retreat, John Bruna will explore the timeless wisdom of The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, a short yet profound teaching by Je Tsongkhapa that distills the essence of the entire Buddhist path into just fourteen verses. Together, we will unpack these pith instructions and explore how they speak directly to the challenges, aspirations and inner struggles of modern life.
Drawing from classical Buddhist philosophy while making clear connections to contemporary Western psychology and therapeutic models, this retreat offers both depth and accessibility. It is well-suited for those new to Buddhist thought as well as seasoned practitioners seeking to deepen and integrate their practice.
At the heart of this teaching are three essential qualities that support genuine well-being, inner freedom and compassionate engagement with the world:
Renunciation
Learning to recognize how misperceptions and habitual patterns of mind give rise to unnecessary suffering—for ourselves and others. Renunciation in this context is not withdrawal from life, but a clear-eyed understanding of what truly leads to happiness, freedom and meaning, and how to cultivate those conditions in daily life.
Bodhicitta (Great Compassion)
Discovering the profound strength, resilience and healing that emerge when we cultivate connection and an altruistic motivation to benefit others. Bodhicitta transforms personal practice into a source of purpose, belonging and service.
Wisdom
Developing the capacity to understand ourselves and our experience of the world more accurately. Through this clarity, we begin to loosen deeply ingrained misperceptions that fuel emotional reactivity, distress and confusion—opening the door to greater balance, insight and freedom.
Throughout the retreat, participants will be guided through reflection, contemplation and practice aimed at integrating these teachings into real life—not merely as philosophical ideas, but as living principles that support healing, ethical living and genuine happiness.
Register at the Durango Dharma Center.

Special Events with the Monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery
2026-04-09 - 2026-04-12 | Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
We are incredibly grateful and excited to announce the special visit of the monks of the famed Gaden Shartse Monastery. Our center will once again be able to host the precious healings, blessings, teachings, and a special dinner and cultural night.
Schedule of Events

Thursday, April 9th at 6:30 pm: Tea Ceremony
Friday April 10th at 6:30 pm: Vajravidaran Healing Ritual
Saturday, April 11th at 6:30 pm: Green Tara Empowerment
Sunday, April 12th at 6 pm: Tibetan Momo Dinner and Cultural Night with the Monks
Personal Healings, Astrology, House, Land, and Business Blessings

For the complete schedule and details, click here.

Living Mindfully Spring Retreat
2026-04-23 - 2026-04-26 | Blazing Mountain Retreat Center, 2541 W Carefree Wy, Crestone, CO, 81131, United States
Living Mindfully Retreat with John Bruna
April 23-26, 2026
Our living mindfully retreats focus on developing skills to reduce the cognitive distortions, as well as unhealthy mental habits and patterns that create emotional and physical distress. The skills of living mindfully empower you to engage in your lives in ways that reduce stress, develop resiliency, attain greater degrees of self-worth, and cultivate more joy. Though based on Buddhist teachings, these practices are taught in a universal language, honoring and enhancing each person’s spiritual tradition and/or philosophy. Essentially, these are skills to help one live a life they find meaningful and fulfilling.
To learn more and register, click here.

Heroic Heart Retreat - Practicing Diligence
2026-05-10 09:30 - 15:30 | Way of Compassion Dharma Center, 520 S 3rd ST, Suite 12, Carbondale, CO, 81623, United States
Heroic Heart – Full-Day Retreat
May 10th, 2026 – Online and In Person
We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather monthly for these precious teachings. This month’s topic is “Practicing Diligence” based on chapter 28 of The Heroic Heart, a commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. These are truly precious and essential teachings for our current times.
Offered by donation. Save the date! Registration opening soon.
