Immerse yourself in an enriching urban retreat that expands on Chandra Easton's weekly "Releasing Into Presence" class. This extended session offers a unique opportunity to explore ways to deepen into presence through meditation, mantra, movement, and collective practice with personal input from Chandra. This session is for those who have some familiarity with Chandra’s teaching and want to go deeper into the practice. See below for specific requirements for attendance.
The morning will consist of practice and teaching, then after a potluck lunch, you will have a chance to receive 1:1 guidance from Chandra within a collective council format.
Meditation, Mantra, Movement: Mmm…
Meditation: Deepen your capacity to sit longer with greater relaxation, concentration, and lucidity. We will explore Dzogchen based approaches to the common practices of shamatha (quiescence) and vipashyana (insight) such as "settling the mind in its natural state" and "awareness of awareness." These methods cultivate mental clarity, spiritual insight, and nondual states of awareness.
Mantra: Immerse yourself in the transformative power of mantra recitation and chanting, exploring sacred chants from Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Movement: Awaken your body's innate wisdom through gentle yoga, self-massage, and meditative movement, unraveling knots (grantis) in the subtle body and cultivating ease in meditation and daily life.
Community and Connection
The day includes a potluck lunch, offering a chance to connect with fellow practitioners.
After lunch, we will engage in a mindful listening and sharing circle, where participants can ask questions about their practice. This interactive segment allows for personalized guidance from Chandra, collective learning from others' questions, and a supportive environment for sharing experiences.
Who is this for?
This immersion is designed for those familiar with Chandra's teachings. Participants should meet one of the following criteria:
- Attended at least four of Chandra's "Releasing Into Presence" Tuesday evening classes (in person or online streamed on Alembic YouTube. Listening to the recordings qualifies),
- Participated in other classes or retreats led by Chandra
- Worked one-on-one with Chandra
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Chandra directly at chandra.easton@gmail.com before applying to ensure you have the foundation to benefit fully from this immersive experience.
This event is in-person only and limited to 25 spots. For work study or scholarship opportunities, please reach out to eventbrite@berkeleyalembic.org
Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton is a prominent Dharma teacher, author, and translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts. Her journey in Buddhism began at a young age, taking refuge with the 16th Karmapa at the age of four. She later studied Buddhism and Tibetan language at the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives in Dharamsala, India, and received her degree in Religious Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara. In 2015, Easton was given the title Dorje Lopön (Vajra Teacher) of Tara Mandala under Lama Tsultrim Allione and given the name Lopön Yeshe Dawa Zangmo by H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche.
Chandra has made significant contributions to Buddhist teaching and practice throughout her career. She co-translated "Sublime Dharma, A Compilation of Two Texts on the Great Perfection" and authored "Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom," published in 2023. Easton has studied with prominent Tibetan and Western Buddhist teachers, including H.H. Dalai Lama, H.H. Karmapa, Lama Tsultrim Allione, and B. Alan Wallace. She serves on various councils at Tara Mandala, including the Executive Upaya Council, Guiding Teacher Prajna Council, and the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Council. Her work focuses on making traditional Tibetan teachings relevant and accessible for modern experiences, particularly in bringing forth the voice of the sacred feminine in Buddhist theory and practice.
Based in Berkeley, California, Chandra continues to teach at various venues, including the Berkeley Alembic and the SF Dharma Collective, and has been offering annual retreats at Esalen since 2003. She co-founded the 21 Taras Collective to record music for the twenty-one Taras mantras. Chandra has studied classical Indian Hindustani singing with Rita Sahai and Sudhanshu Sharma. This diverse background enriches her approach to teaching and practice, allowing her to draw from multiple traditions in her work as a Dharma teacher and author. Visit www.chandraeaston.com.
