THE BLUE PANCAKE: Mahamudra and Trekcho Retreat
with Richard John
March 3 - 14, 2027
The greatest magic of all is to be able to control and work with ego, our mind. We could say that magic begins at home. — Chogyam Trungpa
Chogyam Trungpa was an accomplished dzogchen master when he escaped from Tibet at the age of 19. In 1968 in England he wrote a seminal text on dzogchen– maha ati as he called it–the well-known (and often misquoted) The Way of Maha Ati text. The Blue Pancake was written from talks he gave on maha ati at Naropa Institute in 1974.
These two texts will form the basis of our study and practice, augmented by pith instructions from HH. Dilgo Khyentse, Jigme Lingpa, and Tulku Urgyen. As always, direct experience is the point. Much of this retreat will be in silence, with ample time for individual study, conversation, and enjoyment of the magical environment of Casa Werma.
Prerequisite: Participants must have received pointing out transmission from a Kagyu or Nyingma rinpoche. This includes transmission from Loppon Lodrö Dorje, and the Three Yanas retreat.
Space is limited to 20 participants, so please register early.
Full program tuition, excluding accommodations, includes three delicious and balanced Mexican-style meals daily, prepared with care for food sensitivities: $1,000 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.
Early Bird Discount: $150 usd off if you register before January 17, 2027
Special Pricing for Canadians – We want to make it easy for Canadians to join us! Your tuition will be the same amount in Canadian dollars as in U.S. dollars. Once your registration is complete, Casa Werma will adjust your guest statement accordingly.
Please note: This special Canadian pricing is already discounted and is offered in place of our early-bird pricing.
We are committed to including people of all income levels; scholarship and a sliding scale are available. If you need financial assistance, we encourage you to send us an email.
Pay-It-Forward program tuition not including accommodations: $1,108 usd. We invite all who are able to do so to consider paying Pay-It-Forward 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 Pay-It-Forward Tuition Add-On in Registration.
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.
Travel Arrangements:
We recommend flying into Morelia Airport (approximately a 90-minute drive away). Ground transportation with a a highly experienced private driver from the airport is available for $98 USD each way. We are happy to assist with travel arrangements; please inquire about available options. Visit our “How to Get Here” page for more information.
We recommend purchasing travel insurance.
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. Richard completed the first three-year retreat at Gampo Abbey, and has led meditation retreats throughout North America for over 40 years.
Learn more about Richard JohnCategories : Meditation Retreat / Un retiro de meditación, Shambhala Vajrayana