January 12 - 21, 2008
Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo, Lotus Gate Sanctuary, Big Island of Hawai'i, 10-day residential retreat

The Mandala Experience is an experience of consciousness in which our self-identity becomes rooted in our true essence. To generate this transformation, we relate to ourselves on a visionary level in which we are deity, our speech is mantra, and our mind is ever-present awareness. As we consciously create this mandala, we experience it, and arrive at the realization of our true being in a profound and life-changing way.

This retreat will focus on the mandala of the mother buddha, Yeshe Tsogyal, and other practices of Dudjom Rinpoche's mind-treasure known as the Dakini Heart Essence. It will include empowerment, teachings, study, meditation, ritual training, supplementary practices such as self-empowerment, amendment, and fire offerings, and time for personal integration. (See image on the right for a symbolic representation of this mandala).

Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo has 29 years experience studying, practicing, translating, and teaching the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She is also a certified Hakomi Therapist. Authorized by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, Yeshe Wangmo is devoted to the correct understanding of this wisdom tradition, the experience of it in meditation, and the embodiment of it in daily life.

Lotus Gate Sanctuary under the direction of Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo is located on the south part of the Big Island. Nestled in the seclusion of a lush valley, it has served as a retreat place for Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and as his teaching center in the Hawaiian islands. Daytime average 70 degrees, nighttime 60 degrees. January is likely to be dry and clear.

Dates . . . The arrival date is Friday January 11 and the departure date is Tuesday January 22. The retreat starts on Saturday, January 12 at 11AM and ends Monday, January 21 at 4PM. If you have your own transportation you may arrive and depart on the actual retreat days.

Fees . . .

Course Fee:
$400.
Texts will be sold separately prior to the retreat as PDF files which you can print out.

Meals:
Will be in the range of $275 - $300. To be confirmed. Vegetarian upon request.

Accommodations for 11 nights Jan. 11 - 21:
Camping, bring all your own stuff, use outhouse and bath house, sleep in open air yoga house in case of rain: $250

Simple, rustic, cabin with single bed, bring own bedding and towels, use separate outhouse and bath house, single occupancy: $325

Luxury Main House, fully furnished room, bedding and towels provided, single occupancy: $450

In addition, we have an isolated retreat cabin reached by a 10-minute uphill walk and we may possible have our mountain retreat house ready with three bedrooms, along that same uphill 10-minute walk. For double occupancy rates, please enquire.

This is a residential retreat limited to 12 participants.

Payment & Financial Information

All fees are payable by check, money order, or through PayPal. Checks and money order are payable to "Jnanasukha" and can be sent to: Jnanasukha, P.O. Box 6645, Ocean View HI 96737.

Nowadays you can use PayPal without having an account. It's convenient. In this case, when you register, we will email you a PayPal invoice.

To reserve your space for this retreat, a 50% deposit of your total cost (course fees + meals + accommodations) is due at the time of registration. The balance is due on arrival or earlier.

Cancellation before Dec. 10: full refund less $25.
Cancellation Dec. 10 - Dec. 31: full refund less $100.
After Dec. 31: no refund

For Deferred Payment Plan or Scholarship please contact us. See above contact information on the right.

Travel

Travel to the Big Island & Transportation to Lotus Gate
You may arrive at Lotus Gate on Friday Jan. 11 anytime before sunset. Group departure is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7AM.

We recommend you fly into Kona on the Big Island (airport code KOA). Go to kayak.com for overall pricing information. Before booking your flight, make sure you understand the following information about public transportation to Lotus Gate. It's tricky. Also, the travel time between the airport and Lotus Gate is about 2hrs.

We recommend you travel through Kona because the Hele-On bus schedule (see below) runs directly from the Kona airport to your destination near Lotus Gate and returns you to the Kona airport without you having to take a taxi, which is the case if you go through Hilo or through Kona on any days other than what's specified below.

Actually the retreat days were chosen to coincide with this extremely silly bus schedule and also when the airfares go down after the holidays. But you'll be in Hawai'i and the bus is . . . a memorable trip!

So . . . transportation from the Kona airport to Lotus Gate is available by public bus called Hele-On on Fridays only. It's free with a $1 charge per luggage bag. It will leave the airport on Friday Jan. 11 at 3PM so your flight should arrive not much later than 2:15PM. The bus brings you to Ocean View at 5:15PM. We will meet you there to bring you to Lotus Gate.

If you arrive at the Kona airport any day other than Friday, the Hele-On Bus does not leave from the airport. It leaves from K-Mart daily at 3:50PM and arrives at the Wong Yuen store (Waiohinu - not Ocean View) at 5:30PM. Please note, it's a $25 taxi ride from the airport to K-Mart. Allow 30 minutes.

Now, for transportation from Lotus Gate to the Kona airport on Tuesday Jan. 22: the bus leaves Ocean View at 7AM (we will bring you there) and you arrive at the Kona airport at 9:15AM. So you can book a flight anytime after 10:30AM.

If you are traveling through the Hilo airport, the Hele-on Bus leaves Prince Kuhio Plaza Monday-Friday at 3:10PM and arrives at Wong Yuen store (Waiohinu) at 3.55PM. It is $25 taxi fare from the Hilo airport to Prince Kuhio Plaza. Allow 20 minutes.

To return from Lotus Gate to Hilo, the bus leaves on Tuesday Jan. 22 from Waiohinu at 7AM and you arrive at Prince Kuhio Plaza at 8:45AM. It is $20 taxi fare from Prince Kuhio Plaza to the Hilo airport. Allow 20 minutes.

What to Bring