Foundations of Meditation I: Establishing the Ground

Foundations of Meditation I: Establishing the Ground is a weekend meditation retreat in the Buddhist tradition, held at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. It is a clear, supportive introduction to sitting and walking meditation, made for people who have never meditated and for those returning to reestablish their foundation. Lasette Brown, a second generation student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, leads the retreat.

What to Expect

The weekend runs from a Friday afternoon arrival to a Sunday departure at 12:30 PM. Check-in is at the Guest Services Cabin between 2:00 and 5:00 PM, followed by orientation, dinner and an introduction to the retreat.

Saturday is the heart of the program. You receive guided instruction in sitting meditation and practice walking meditation, with attention to posture, breath, and a mindful awareness of thoughts, emotions and sensations. The aim is neutrality toward your experience rather than a fight with it. Buddhist foundational teachings are woven in, offered in an accessible way, to explain why we practice and how meditation supports clarity, balance and inner stability. Periods of reflection give the instruction time to settle.

Sunday begins with morning meditation and teachings, then closes with a final practice session before departure.

The emphasis is not on mastering technique. It is on building a gentle, sustainable relationship with awareness itself: learning how to sit, return to the present moment, and meet experience with steadiness and kindness.

About Lasette Brown

Lasette Brown is a second generation student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In 2018 she received her Master of Divinity from Naropa University, where she studied with multiple faith traditions and lineage holders. For the last five years she has worked as an Inter-spiritual Chaplain at the Adams County Jail.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center is in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Several lodging choices are available, and all include healthy meals and drinks.

- Dormitories: rooms with beds for up to 7 or 8 people, gender-segregated, 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 sit in the same hall as the Rigden dormitories.
- Single and Double Rooms: private rooms with a dresser, closet and attached 3/4 bathroom (toilet, sink and shower).
- Junior Suite: a queen-size bed, desk, dresser, closet, sitting area and private bath with a bathtub.
- Car Camping: five primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot for parking and sleeping, with food and access to the bathhouses in Rigden Lodge. There are no water or electric hookups for RVs.
- Off Land: for those commuting from home or arranging their own lodging nearby, such as a bed and breakfast or camping. Meals and use of the facilities are charged per night.

Meals are breakfast, lunch and dinner, with beverages, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are included.

Before You Go

No prior experience is required, only curiosity and a willingness to simply be. The retreat is taught in English.

Drala offers this as a tuition-free Foundations program, so the cost is the lodging you choose for two nights, combined at checkout. Meals, drinks, guided meditation instruction, teachings and access to the retreat facilities are included. Extra nights can be added at a reduced rate.

If this weekend does not fit, Foundations of Meditation I is offered several more times through the coming year and a half, alongside other tuition-free Foundations programs for different levels of experience.