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Yoga Vacation Program
December 10 — 12, 2023

Awakening Compassion

Training the Mind for Empowered Action

Lama Karma Chötso

Do you wish to live a life that is more fully aligned with the betterment of life for all human beings and the Earth itself?

True spiritual warriors assume the responsibility of mastering their own minds. By engaging diligently in mindfulness practices, compassion begins to awaken within the practitioner … and eventually expands to include all sentient beings. This program has been created to help you touch the innermost vaults of compassion within your own self so that you can have peace of mind and a sense of security in daily matters, interactions with others, and on a grander scale, in the actions of your career, family life, and more.

Study with Lama Karma Chötso and learn simple trainings in mindfulness to progress more swiftly on the spiritual path. Learn why in Buddhism, having compassion for oneself and all sentient beings is the cornerstone of what makes an awakened warrior.

Offered as 2 satsangs and 2 workshops (subject to change)


What is Bodhichitta? What is the path of the Bodhisattva and why should you pursue it?

Bodhichitta means “awakening mind,” and the path of the Bodhisattva is that of the awakening warrior. Buddhism, like many great spiritual paths, teaches that the development of compassion is paramount for spiritual progression. Developing compassion helps us…

  • Connect with others
  • Mend relationships
  • Move forward in life while fostering emotional intelligence and well-being
  • Discover true, lasting fulfillment in our careers and home lives
  • Have presence in the moment, allowing us to more fully enjoy the here and now
  • Have appreciation for that which is passing and temporary
  • Find joy in the smallest things in life
  • Gain clarity on next actions, goal pursuits, and hard decisions

Compassion takes empathy one step further because it harbors a desire for all people to be free from suffering, and it’s imbued with a desire to help.


What is a mindfulness practice and why should you develop one?

A mindfulness practice is something that you pursue with regularity, either on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. In these modern times of chaos, loud chatter in the mind, and endless decision-making (with far too many choices!), having a mindfulness practices gives you the silence and quietude your mind desperately craves. When we give our minds and bodies time to sit in silence, we allow ourselves the time and space that we require to process our lives. When we process our lives, we turn everyday experience into something that propels us forward, something that offers us lessons for the future and closure for the past. Without giving the body and mind this space to process, digest, and learn, it can easily start to feel like we are living in circles that feel purposeless, empty, and devoid of any progress.

Buddhism champions a mindfulness practice that offers the practitioner the opportunity to develop a deep well of compassion. The need for compassion is the key for solving today’s conflicts, whether those conflicts rest outside on war-torn borders or inside in the emotions and thoughts that flicker unbidden through your heart and mind. By becoming the change you want to see in the world, you set the example for others to follow suit. While it may feel like we have little control in today’s massive world, we always have control ourselves. Making headway in developing a practice of compassion helps you gain back control in your own life so that the positive impact can ripple outwards into the lives of others.

Lama Karma Chötso is a Buddhist nun of the Tibetan tradition and has been practicing in the Kagyu lineage for more than 40 years. She was the resident teacher of Open Awareness Buddhist Center in Miami for 25 years before retiring from teaching in the States. While living and teaching in Miami, she and the sangha built four Tibetan stupas at the Lama Residence there. She practices as a meditator, part-time teacher, writer, singer, and visual artist. Lama Karma Chötso continues to lead the sangha in Peru where they have built a large stupa, called the Stupa of Reconciliation, in the Amazon basin.

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