ABOUT THE RETREAT
July 16–19, 2026 | Austin Ratna Shri
Austin Ratna Shri warmly welcomes you to a precious Red Chenrezig Retreat with Venerable Lama Zopa Gyamtso, an extraordinary opportunity to receive empowerment, teachings, and engage in the profound practice of Red Chenrezig—the embodiment of enlightened compassion and magnetizing activity.
Whether you are new to the practice or a longtime practitioner, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to deepen your connection with compassion, cultivate loving-kindness, and receive authentic lineage instructions.
This Red Chenrezig Practice is the Avalokitesvara MAHĀKARUṆIKA-GUHYASAMĀJA
Composed by Guru Padmasaṁbhava and Revealed by Karma Chagmé, Rāga Asya
it is one of the main practices at Gar (Drikyng Kagyu) Monastery in Tibet and upheld continuously.
This Sacred Chenrezig practice is the Buddha of compassion and has a special yogic emphasis on the body mandala of channels and winds
The Samaya commitment of receiving the Red Chenrezig Empowerment given by Ven. Lama Zopa is to recite the Om Mani Padme Hung mantra of Chenrezig as much as you can on a daily basis.
Retreat Schedule
Thursday, July 16
7:00 PM
Red Chenrezig Empowerment
Bestowed by Venerable Lama Zopa Gyamtso
Live translation will be available in:
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English — Ina Bieler
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Chinese — Joey Wang
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French — Daniel Parkman
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Vietnamese - Pauline Dong
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Spanish - Ana Sofia Sarquis
Friday–Sunday, July 17–19
Daily Practice Sessions
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10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Saturday Morning - Special Teachings by Venerable Lama Zopa Gyamtso
Live translation will be available in:
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English — Ina Bieler
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Chinese — Joey Wang
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French — Daniel Parkman
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Vietnamese - Pauline Dong
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Spanish - Ana Sofia Sarquis
This retreat is open to all who wish to cultivate compassion and participate in this profound Vajrayana practice.
We look forward to welcoming you for this special opportunity to practice together and dedicate the merit for peace, harmony, and the benefit of all beings.
Location: Austin Ratna Shri
Please register for exact location
🙏 Suggested Offering
This retreat is offered on a suggested donation basis.
Suggested Offerings
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Thursday Empowerment Only: $54 - 108 offering to Ven. Lama Zopa Gyamtso
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Entire Retreat (July 16–19): $108–$300
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Single Day (Fri / Sat / Sun): $60 –$90 or $20 - $30 per sessions
Your generosity helps support Venerable Lama Zopa Gyamtso, the retreat expenses, and the continued flourishing of the Buddha Dharma.
No sincere practitioner will be turned away due to financial circumstances. If a reduced offering would help you attend, please let us know.
🌺 Additional Offerings (Optional Support)
If you would like to support the retreat through traditional offerings, please select any that you feel inspired to contribute:
☐ Candle Offering - $7
☐ Flower Offering -$21
☐ Tea Offering - $33
☐ Tsok Offering - $54 - 108
☐ Lama & Yogi Meal Offering $250
☐ General Retreat Support Offering - any amount is greatly appreciated
☐ I would like to be contacted about sponsorship opportunities
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🔥 Engage in sacred sadhana
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📿 Receive blessings & instructions
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🧘 Deepen meditation & realization
Register
English/Tibetan Chanting TEXT
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@Austin_Ratna_Shri
OFFER:
PayPal: austin.ratna.shri@gmail.com
Zelle: 512.507.6721 Elizabeth Gergaud
Venmo: @dakini-springs
Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84210413434?pwd=HoJFm3iCDyRKDwAsZ5t7iIHeaFyiIr.1
Meeting ID: 842 1041 3434 Passcode: 481553
About
Venerable Lama Zopa Gyamtso
Also known as Abao Lama la
Born in Tibet to a nomadic family, Lama Abao took refuge with His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche and subsequently took monastic ordination with mahasiddha Karma Norbu.
During his early 20s, Lama Zopa Gyamptso lived and served at Gargon Monastery, Garchen Rinpoche’s monastery in Tibet.
Since 1997 Lama Zopa Gyamptso has tirelessly traveled with Garchen Rinpoche throughout Asia, Europe and North America, assisting Rinpoche in establishing centers.
In 2013, Lama Abao was requested by Garchen Rinpoche to be the resident teacher of Drikung Seattle.
ABao Lama La is an authentic yogi, a humble monk and a respected teacher in the Drikung kagyu tradition. He is known for his compassion, kindness and beautiful ritual offerings.
About the Red Chenrezig Practice
Avalokiteshvara-Guhyasamaja or Red Chenrezig is one of the main
practices at Gar Monastery in Tibet. Since the establishment of the
monastery 400 years ago, the Gar lamas have dedicated themselves to
this practice uninterruptedly, all year round (except during the Chinese
“Cultural Revolution”).
According to Padmasambhava’s prophecy in the great Guhyasamaja
treasure text revealed by Ratna Lingpa, the first Garchen Rinpoche of
Gar monastery in East Tibet, Gar Tenzin Phuntsok, was an emanation of
Avalokiteshvara. Gar monastery is also a sacred place of Avalokiteshvara
and Padmasambhava. The precious prayer wheel called “Gyanakma”,
which the Dharma King Songtsen Gampo’s minister Gar Tongtsen had
brought from China – had miraculously moved to Eastern Tibet, and
Gar Tenzin Phuntsok revealed it at a spot shown to him by a rainbow.
There, he established the Gar monastery and became the first of the
lineage of Garchen Rinpoches of Eastern Tibet.
Padmasambhava’s prophecy in the Guhyasamaja cycle of teachings
further states that if these texts and sacred objects contained in the
treasure (terma) would reach Gar Tenzin Phuntsok’s hands, he would
bring vast benefit to sentient beings of future generations.
Ratna Lingpa’s son, Tsewang Drakpa, collected the treasure objects and
travelled from Central to Eastern Tibet in search for Gar Tenzin Phuntsok.
When they met, he offered the objects to him. Gar Tenzin Phuntsok was
overjoyed; and when he ate a small piece of the treasure substances, his
feet hovered above the ground. Ever since, Avalokiteshvara-Guhyasamaja
drubchens have been practiced regularly at the upper Gar Monastery, the
“Fortress of the Lion Leaping into the Sky.” The Gyanakma prayer wheel
began to spin by itself, unceasingly, and a rain of blessed pills fell on the
nearby field. The community of Gar monastery grew enormously, and
thus the prophecy that Gar Tenzin Phuntsok would bring vast benefit to
sentient beings was fulfilled. He became the root guru of the king of
Nangchen (the area in Eastern Tibet where Gar monastery is located),
and from that time onward, every incarnation of Garchen Rinpoche has
become the root guru of the Nangchen king.
May it be auspicious!
MEALS
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All Meals (Onsite): $108 + Sliding Scale
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Lunch Only: $15/day
PayPal: austin.ratna.shri@gmail.com
Zelle: 512.507.6721 Elizabeth Gergaud
Venmo: @dakini-springs
Lodging
On-site Accommodation Info
🧘 +/- 10 Yogi limit to stay at Austin Dharma Tara Center
No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds
Indoor camping in the shrine room (or backyard if you bring a tent.)
Please let us know as soon as possible - if you will attend so the available places can be filled.
Special Offerings
Event Benefactors
If you wish to sponsor a Candle Offering, Tsok Offering, or Lama and Yogis Meal,
Please Email austin.ratna.shri@gmail.com to discuss or ask questions
PayPal: austin.ratna.shri@gmail.com
Zelle: 512.507.6721 Elizabeth Gergaud
Venmo: @dakini-springs
📿Schedule Overview
Thursday
July 16
Arrivals
Red Chenrezig Empowerment
7:00PM
Friday
July 17
Practice
10:00AM - Noon
2:00 - 5:00PM
6:30 - 8:00PM
Saturday
July18
Teachings
10am - Noon
Practice
2:00 - 5:00PM
7:00 - 9:30PM
Sunday
July 19
Practice
10:00AM - Noon
2:00 - 5:00PM 6:30 - 8:00PM
Monday
July 20
Departures
Upcoming Events 2026
Austin Ratna Shri
