Guided Ngondro Retreat

Time: November 7–15, 2025

Location: Sea to Sky Retreat Centre (SSRC), Whistler, BC, Canada

Retreat Description:

This retreat will be led by two authorized instructors of Siddhartha’s Intent, Cydney Kawamura and Bruce Ashton. The retreat will provide a basic overview of the Ngöndro practice for participants.   Talks will be presented on each section of the Ngöndro with guided practice time for people who are new or want a refresher.  Longchen Nyngthik, Chetsun Nyingthik and Karma Kagyu ngöndros will all be supported.  All ngöndro practitioners are welcome especially those who are just beginning.

Prerequisites:

All participants are required to have received a Ngöndro lung (oral transmission) for the practice they’ll be doing. If you wish to attend but have not received a lung please contact the instructors [email protected] or [email protected].

The retreat will begin Friday, November 7 and continue through Saturday, November 15, and will include teachings on each Ngöndro section, guided practice, Q & A sessions, as well as intensive practice. The retreat will be structured to allow Ngöndro Gar practitioners to accumulate 8 hours for each of the 7 retreat days. The instructors will be present throughout the week as a resource and support.

Retreat schedule:

Registration is now open:

Please read the important information about the retreat program before filling out the registration form: 

Retreat Fee: 

The retreat fee covers 8 nights of accommodation, all meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner), tea/coffee/snacks available throughout the day. For a shared room (double occupancy) in the Retreat House or Main Lodge or Mid-Level, the cost is CAD $720 (USD $522 @ Aug 2025 exchange rates).  Private indoor room availability is very limited and will not be guaranteed.  Following are private options and cabin sharing rates:

Private Indoor Room (subject to availability): CAD $1000

Private Retreat Cabin with in-suite bath and kitchen (subject to availability): CAD $1160

Shared Retreat Cabin with in-suite bath and kitchen (subject to availability):CAD $800

Practice Subsidy by KYS: 

KYS, an organization independent of SSRC, is accepting applications for financial assistance to support program participants with demonstrated financial need.   For more information about the KYS practice subsidy application process, please send an inquiry to [email protected]

SSRC Refund and Cancellation Policy:

• More than 30 days prior to retreat arrival day:
  A full refund, minus applicable processing fees*, will be issued.

• 1–30 days prior to retreat arrival day:
  A 50% refund, minus applicable processing fees*, will be issued.

• On or after the retreat arrival day:
  No refund will be issued.
• If a retreat is cancelled by SSRC:
  A full refund, minus applicable processing fees*, will be issued.
• Medical Exception: if you are unable to attend due to acute illness and notify us before arrival, a full refund (minus applicable processing fees*) will be provided. Please inform us as early as possible so we can respond appropriately and help safeguard the health of other retreatants, volunteers, and staff.

* Processing Fees:

• • Credit Card Payments:
    A 4% processing fee will be deducted from all refunds to cover non-refundable transaction costs incurred by financial institutions.
  • e-Transfer Payments:
    A CA $1.50 processing fee will be deducted from refunds to cover non-refundable banking charges.

Room Assignments:

Please note most rooms on site are double-occupancy rooms. Private room and cabin occupancy are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.  In shared rooms, people will be housed with others with similar gender requests for housing. There will be an opportunity to indicate a preference for sharing a room with another participant should you be attending with a friend or partner.  Rooms will be assigned in advance based on needs, and at discretion of the organizers.

Accommodation:

The Sea to Sky Retreat Centre has buildings for dining, meeting, and sleeping. Given the complexity of creating a safe and welcoming space for people’s diverse needs, we ask for your understanding and flexibility on room allocation. View pictures of SSRC’s accommodation:

Facilities – Siddhartha’s Intent 

On-Site Accessibility:

Please note, there are limits to the Retreat Centre’s infrastructure: there are no fully accessible washrooms, and the terrain includes uneven rock and dirt pathways, hills, and stairs. The location is unsuited to a standard wheelchair. Please let us know if you think these limits to accessibility will impact you, or if you have accessibility needs related to standing, walking or climbing stairs so that we can work together to assess and strategize.

Special Dietary Needs:

There will be an opportunity to specify any special needs including medically acute food allergies. We may not be able to meet everyone’s preferences. We encourage you to please reflect on the difference between needs and preferences for your stay as you make your request, as this allows us to more easily accommodate all retreatants.

About the Retreat Centre:

The Sea to Sky Retreat Centre is on a secluded site of extraordinary natural beauty in BC’s coastal mountain range. It is located off the Sea to Sky Highway near Whistler, on acres of rocky mountain terrain. For more information, you are invited to explore the Sea to Sky Retreat Centre’s Website.

Arrival & Departure

Arrival: Friday, October 31— Please plan to arrive between 2PM and 5PM. The dinner will start at 6pm, followed with a short orientation.

Departure: Sunday, November 2, after lunch.

Early Arrival – By Exception Only:

Due to limited staffing and the need to fully prepare the retreat space, early arrival is not generally accommodated. However, if you have a specific travel-related reason requiring arrival before the retreat start date, please contact us in advance to discuss your situation. Early arrival is subject to pre-approval, availability, and an additional fee of CA$155 per night. Please note: SSRC is an off-grid and remotely located centre. We are only able to receive guests during designated business hours, and all pick-up or drop-off must be arranged in advance with our team. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Registration is now open. 

👉 Click the registration form to complete the registration.

https://forms.gle/mhansYYvDQGBRVkE9

For additional information, contact: [email protected]