Foundations of Meditation II: Deepening the Path

Foundations of Meditation II: Deepening the Path is a four-day silent meditation retreat at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. It is made for people who already have a basic meditation practice and want to engage the Buddhist teachings more directly. Where the first Foundations retreat focuses on how to practice, this one turns toward understanding the introductory teachings of the Buddhist path through extended sitting and dharma talks.

What to Expect

The retreat begins on a Thursday afternoon with check-in at the Guest Services Cabin between 2:00 and 5:00 PM, followed by an orientation session, dinner and a community welcome.

Friday and Saturday are the core days. Extended meditation sessions run through the day, alongside dharma talks and instruction on the four noble truths and the nature of experience. Themes include suffering, impermanence, emptiness and compassion, approached as direct insight within practice rather than abstract philosophy. Meals and rest periods give the days their rhythm.

Silence plays a stronger role here than in the earlier Foundations retreat. It lets what arises in formal sessions carry into post-meditation practice and mature there. The retreat invites a shift from meditation as a method for calm to meditation as a path of change. As clarity deepens, the heart tends to open, and practice becomes less about self-improvement and more about understanding our shared human condition.

On Sunday there are final practice sessions and instruction, then a closing ceremony. Departure is by 12:30 PM.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center sits in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, and the retreat takes place on its land. Several kinds of lodging are available, and the standard program includes three nights.

- Dormitories: gender-segregated rooms for up to seven or eight people, with a shared bathroom and shower stalls down the hall.
- Monk Rooms: private rooms with a bed, bedding, closet, large window, desk and chair, and a shared bathroom. They offer more privacy than the dorms at a lower cost.
- Single and Double Rooms: private rooms with a dresser, closet and attached three-quarter bathroom (toilet, sink and shower).
- Junior Suites: lodge rooms with a queen bed, desk, dresser, closet, sitting area and private bathroom with a bathtub.
- Car Camping: a handful of primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot for sleeping in your vehicle, with meals and access to the bathhouses. There are no water or electric hookups for RVs.
- Off Land: for those who commute or arrange their own lodging nearby, with meals and use of the facilities available for a nightly fee.

All meals and drinks are provided, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Extra nights can be added at a reduced rate.

Before You Go

This is an intermediate-level retreat. Basic meditation experience is expected, and completing Foundations of Meditation I or having equivalent experience is recommended. The retreat is taught in English and draws on the Buddhist tradition.

Tuition is free, as with Drala's other Foundations programs. The program covers three nights of lodging, all meals and beverages, dharma instruction and guided practice, use of the meditation facilities and community spaces, and access to the bathhouses and guest services. Transportation to and from the center, personal supplies and toiletries, and any nights beyond the standard three are not included.