Transforming Enjoyments Retreat

The Transforming Enjoyments Retreat is a two-day Buddhist meditation retreat in San Francisco, California, held in person at Kadampa Meditation Center SF in the New Kadampa Tradition of Modern Buddhism. It is shaped for Highest Yoga Tantra practitioners and for those who wish to receive Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment as soon as possible. The weekend combines a self-guided Blissful Path retreat with a Sunday morning talk and a Dakini Yoga session with tsog, led by Gen Kelsang Choma, Resident Teacher at the center.

What to Expect

The first day is self-guided. Four Blissful Path sessions are spread across the day, giving a steady rhythm of practice with breaks between:

- 9:00 am to 10:30 am: introduction and Blissful Path session
- 11:00 am to 12:30 pm: Blissful Path session
- 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm: Blissful Path session
- 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm: Blissful Path session

The practice itself consists of chanted prayers and self-guided meditation.

On the second day, the Sunday morning talk, titled Transforming Enjoyments, begins at 11:00 am and runs until noon, with Gen Kelsang Choma teaching. In the afternoon, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, the group practices Dakini Yoga with tsog.

The retreat also touches on Buddha Vajrayogini, a female enlightened Deity of Highest Yoga Tantra, understood as the manifestation of the wisdom of all Buddhas. Her function is to guide living beings to the Pure Land of Keajra, or Pure Dakini Land. Each aspect of her form carries meaning: she stands on worldly deities to show that attachment, hatred and ignorance have been destroyed, and her five adornments represent the other five perfections of all the Buddhas.

About Gen Kelsang Choma

Gen Kelsang Choma is the most senior American nun within the New Kadampa Tradition of Modern Buddhism in the US. A close disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she has studied on the Teacher Training Program for 35 years and is qualified to teach both Sutra and Tantra. She serves as Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center San Francisco and is often invited to teach around the country. Students value her teaching for its clarity and warmth.

The Place

The retreat takes place at Kadampa Meditation Center SF on 17th Street in San Francisco. It is an in-person event only, and there is no remote option.

Before You Go

The retreat is directed toward Highest Yoga Tantra practitioners and those hoping to receive the empowerment soon. No separate beginner track is described. Everything is offered in English.

Admission is free for members. Those who wish to attend only the Sunday talk can pay at the door.

Three items are optional: the Blissful Path booklet, the Dakini Yoga booklet and a mala. All are sold in the center's bookstore, and some prayer booklets can be borrowed.