Knowing The Nature of Mind - Mahamudra & Trekcho Retreat
con Richard John
March 13 - 29, 2026
The training in recognizing mind essence is this: short moments repeated many times. There is no other way. –Tulku Urgyen
This year the retreat will be a full two weeks. Whether you are a new or senior vajrayana practitioner, it is time to set the highest priority for the rest of your life: knowing the direct experience of buddha nature.
This retreat is devoted to recognizing the nature of mind. Trusting the simplicity of direct personal experience, we will touch on the investigation practices of Mahamudra to support the profound instructions of Trekchö, the pointing out practice of Dzogchen.
The approach is not scholarly or dependent upon many years of practice. It is for committed tantrikas who are open to hearing, contemplating and meditating with the pith instructions of great lineage masters, such as Garab Dorje, Yeshe Tsögyal, HH Dilgo Khyentse, Tulku Urgyen, and Chögyam Trungpa.
The atmosphere of gentle discipline will be mostly silent, with ample time for personal study, questions and conversation, and the space to enjoy the beautiful environment of Casa Werma. The region has been sacred to the indigenous Purépecha people for centuries, and Casa Werma itself was blessed by the Vidyadhara and Sakyong Mipham.
The retreat is limited to 20 participants, so early registration is highly recommended.
Prerequisite:
Participants must have received the pointing out transmission from a lineage holder of the Kagyu or Nyingma tradition.
The Teacher – Richard John
An early student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Richard also served as acharya for Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for 20 years. He completed the first three-year retreat at Gampo Abbey, and leads meditation retreats throughout North America. Richard emphasizes that he is a beginning student of Dzogchen, and his role is to facilitate this retreat through the teachings of great masters.
Heart Gifts It is customary to offer a monetary heart gift to a dharma teacher. This is a significant source of income for many teachers. Gifts are voluntary, and any amount will be appreciated. There will be an opportunity to do this near the end of the program
Full program tuition not including accommodations: $1,500 usd. We invite all who are able to do so to pay the full tuition rate. By doing so, you directly support Casa Werma’s operating budget, helping to sustain our dharma programs, maintain our facilities and ensure the continued care of this sacred place throughout the year.
Special Pricing for Canadians – We’re happy to make it easier for Canadians to join us! To keep things fair, your fee in Canadian dollars will match the U.S. dollar amount, based on the exchange rate at the time of registration. After you register, Casa Werma will adjust your guest statement accordingly.
Patron Tuition not including accommodations: $2,000 usd. We invite all who are able to do so to consider paying the Patron tuition rate. By doing so, you make it possible for us to offer scholarships to others, particularly our Mexico sangha, while also contributing to Casa Werma’s year-round operations. Please select Patron Tuition Add-On in Registration.
Subsidized program tuition not including accommodations: 20% off Full Tuition If the full program tuition is unworkable for you, please pay the subsidized rate. Unfortunately, Casa Werma is not able to offer work/trade options at this time. Please type “SUBSIDIZED” in Discount Code in Registration.
Travel Arrangements: We recommend flights into Morelia airport (90 minutes away by car). We can help with travel arrangements, please visit our How to Get Here page for more info or send us an email at: reservations@casawerma.org with any further questions. All participant air travel will be offset by The Good Traveler carbon offset program.
What to Expect:
Arrive Early: Casa Werma is at high altitude and the climate and food may take getting used to. Arriving a day or two early is recommended. Arrival day for this retreat will be March 13, 2026 (no program activities). The program will begin on March 14, 2026 with a welcome Brunch followed by orientation and opening remarks by the teacher (Time TBD)
Closed Retreat: To support deep practice, this is a mostly closed retreat with no time for shopping or sightseeing. Please plan extra days before or after if you’d like to explore Pátzcuaro.
Daily Schedule: Expect three daily practice sessions—morning, afternoon, and evening—with breaks for meals, rest, movement, walking meditation, and quiet time in the garden. we start with Lujong at 6:30 am and end after dinner with practice and closing chants by 8:00 pm. There is a daily 1.5 hour midday break.
Guru Yoga: Each day includes a brief guru yoga practice to cultivate loving-kindness and devotion.
Shared Roles: All participants help with light duties like timekeeping, shrine care, or tidying. Tasks are simple and adaptable to all abilities.
Why Casa Werma & Why Travel?
- Practicing together in person helps us step away from daily distractions and habits, creating a fully supportive environment for intensive practice.
- Being in community with others who share the same aspiration builds genuine sangha in a way that online programs can’t. Casa Werma is a sacred site, visited by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Practicing here connects us with those blessings.
- These are turbulent times. In this dark age, coming together to practice as a community is a way to anchor ourselves in clarity and compassion — for our own benefit and for the
world around us.
Committing to this schedule — and traveling so far to do so — creates a powerful container for transformation. Free from the distractions of daily life, the structure and support of this retreat allow the teachings to truly penetrate.
Please email reservations@casawerma.org with any further questions.
About the Teacher
Richard John
An early student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Richard also served as acharya for Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for 20 years. He completed the first three-year retreat at Gampo Abbey, and leads meditation retreats throughout North America. Richard emphasizes that he is a beginning student of Dzogchen, and his role is to facilitate this retreat through the […]
Learn more about Richard JohnCategories : Advanced Training / Entrenamiento avanzado, Meditation Retreat / Un retiro de meditación, Shambhala Vajrayana