Foundations of Meditation II: Deepening on the Path

Foundations of Meditation II: Deepening on the Path is a weekend meditation retreat in the Buddhist and Shambhala traditions, held at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. It is for practitioners who already have some basic sitting experience and are ready to engage the Buddha's teachings more closely and explore what they imply. Colin Stubbert and Graham Navin lead the program, which is offered tuition-free as part of Drala's Foundations series.

What to Expect

The retreat opens with check-in at the Guest Services Cabin between 2:00 and 5:00 PM, followed by an orientation and welcome and then dinner. The main retreat days are given to extended meditation sessions, dharma talks, periods of silence, and unhurried meals and rest. The silence deepens as the weekend goes on, so the practice has room to settle rather than stay a series of separate sessions.

The talks explore the four noble truths and the nature of impermanence, with teachings on emptiness, compassion, and the conditioned nature of all experience. The final morning includes one last meditation session, and participants depart by 12:30 PM.

About Colin Stubbert

Colin Stubbert is a second generation practitioner. He began formal training at age eleven at Shambhala Sun Summer Camp and has practiced ever since. He became a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2015 and received the Vajrayogini abhisheka in the tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 2024.

About Graham Navin

Graham Navin grew up in a Karma Kagyu Buddhist family in Boulder, Colorado. He studied biology at Metro State University of Denver and remains curious, in his own word "nerdy," about plants and animals. He puts that curiosity to work as a bookseller at the Trident in Boulder, which he co-owns with several other worker/owners.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center sits in the mountains near Red Feather Lakes. The retreat uses its meditation halls and retreat facilities, and the center's address is 151 Shambhala Way.

Tuition is free, and participants pay for lodging, with meals and drinks included in every option. Lodging is chosen at checkout, and extra nights are available at a reduced rate. The choices are:

- Dormitories: rooms with beds for up to seven or eight people, separated by gender, 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 are in the same hall as the dormitories.
- Single and Double Rooms: a little more space, a dresser and closet, and an attached three-quarter bathroom with toilet, sink and shower.
- Junior Suite: a queen-size bed, desk, dresser, closet, sitting area, and a private bath with a tub.
- Car Camping: five primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot for sleeping in your vehicle, with access to the bathhouses in Rigden Lodge. There are no water or electric hookups for RVs.
- Off Land: for those who commute or arrange their own lodging nearby, such as a bed and breakfast or camping. A per-night meal fee covers three meals a day and use of the facilities.

Meals are three a day, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Before You Go

This program is pitched at an intermediate level. It suits people with a basic meditation foundation who want to go further into Buddhist teaching. Anyone new to practice may prefer Foundations of Meditation I, which introduces sitting and walking meditation from the beginning. The retreat is taught in English.

Included are lodging in your chosen option, three meals daily with beverages, access to the meditation halls and retreat facilities, and all dharma talks and teachings. Transportation to and from the center is not included, so plan your own travel to Red Feather Lakes.