Fierce Compassion: A Path Through Adversity (Online)

This is the ONLINE component of the retreat. If you’d like to register for the RESIDENTIAL component, please click here.

Join Chris Berlin and guest teacher Khenpo Kalsang in exploring fierce compassion as a way to take difficulties and challenging times onto the path. Learn how to draw on an aspirational attitude and the energy of clear awareness to attend to the realities of life change in a turbulent world.

We will also draw on Rabjam Longchenpa’s work “Freedom Attends Reality” as a foundation for cultivating a seven-stage practice to integrate the aims of Dzogchen into skillful means within our everyday lives through fierce compassion.

Please join us to:

• Explore—the raw energy present within emotions, aspiration, and awareness itself.
• Practice—seven key stages to cultivate a contemplative approach to attending reality with wisdom and compassion.
• Transform—this life into a path that is empowered through Dharma and which can hold all we feel, experience, and aspire to awaken in our lives.

Suitable for all levels. Some body movement will be offered. Music and chanting will support our practice.

Typical Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern time zone)

First Day — Opening session begins around 7:00 pm.

Full-Day Schedule — Morning meditation 7:00 am; Breakfast break 8:00-9:30 am; Lunch break 12:00-2:00 pm; Dinner break 5:30-7:00 pm.

Last Day — The closing session typically ends by 12:00 pm.

These times are just for reference. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Zoom Link

The Zoom link will be sent several days before the retreat to all those registered. If you register after that date, you’ll receive the link with your confirmation email shortly after submitting your registration. If you don’t see an email from Natural Dharma Registrar or Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, it may have mistakenly gone to your spam folder or to Promotions or Updates in Gmail.

Important: Please put these this email address in your Contact or Safe-Send list to make sure you receive our emails:

• register@naturaldharma.org

Program Cost

Our program fees provide essential support to our non-profit operations and NDF’s mission to spread the Dharma in accessible, relevant, and creative ways. Our goal is that no one misses out on our events due to lack of funds. Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to offer tiered pricing and additional support to fit varied financial situations: 

• May All Beings Benefit! *– supporting access for all and general support for NDF operations
• A Middle Way – covering the base cost
• Held in Sangha Loving-kindness – offering ease when financial resources are limiting

If the lowest cost tier creates an obstacle to your attendance, please see our financial support options on the registration page. The process is simple and does not require extensive information. Financial aid is immediately approved using discount code options that allow you to contribute the most you are able while honoring your particular resources.

* The difference between the May All Beings Benefit! tier and the Middle Way tier will be considered a tax-deductible donation and will be acknowledged as such in writing. Contributing at this level helps us offer financial aid to other participants. Thank you!!

Access to Recordings

NDF offers unlimited access to recordings, which are accessed in your user dashboard (more information about user accounts provided in a pre-retreat letter). If you have a user account, please register with the same email you use to log into your dashboard. If not, an account will be created for you using your registration address.

Availability will vary depending on the type of event and the backlog for our precious resource volunteers. Thank you for your patience.

Natural Dharma Fellowship Full Calendar