Mahamudra Retreat
with Lama Palden Drolma and Lama Tashi
Monday, April 6 - Saturday, April 11, 2026
In person at Wisdom River Meditation Center
and online via Zoom.
During our 2026 Mahamudra Retreat, Lama Palden and Lama Tashi will continue* to guide participants in deepening and awakening to true nature, the utterly nondual luminosity, clarity, and emptiness. Also known as awareness-emptiness, Mahamudra leads us directly into this realization, liberating us from suffering and further opening our love and compassion.
The mornings will focus on the Extraordinary Vipashyana practice created by the previous Kalu Rinpoche that works directly with the brain, heart, and subtle body to awaken us. This practice also continues to facilitate stabilization of calm abiding, resting in peace.
The afternoons will start with developing calm abiding as the basis. Then we will delve into the Five Skandhas, the various aspects of our unfolding experience as human beings. We will use Vipashyana methods of Mahamudra to do this, and to bring us to realization of the Heart Sutra and Mahamudra.
There will be time for questions and comments daily. We will be led in stretching and lujong (Tibetan yoga) by Trinity Siplia.
Basic familiarity with meditation required.
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific daily
Fees**
Basic Retreat: $775
Sukhasiddhi Member: $650
Benefactor: $900
Limited Income: $500 (you must make less than $50,000 in income per year and show documentation of this)
If you have financial restrictions that make it difficult to pay the limited income fee, please send and email to admin@sukhasiddhi.org.
*The 2026 Mahamudra Retreat is a continuation from the 2025 retreat which focused on the Extraordinary Shamata (Calm-Abiding) Practice of the Shangpa Lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism.
**Fees do not include lodging or meals.Please Note: Wisdom River Meditation Center is fragrance-free.
Registration closes on Friday, April 3 at 11 PM Pacific.
Meet the Retreat Leaders: Lama Palden Drolma & Lama Tashi
Lama Palden Drolma
Lama Palden Drolma is a master of Mahamudra transmission—the teachings and practices that enable one to reach complete awakening in this lifetime. She has been teaching since completing the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat in the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu lineages in 1985, and becoming in 1986 one of the first Western women to be authorized as a lama, by her primary teacher the previous Kalu Rinpoche, in the Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhist) tradition.
Lama Palden Drolma founded Sukhasiddhi Foundation in 1996, developing its curriculum and teaching all classes, retreats and programs for many years as Resident Lama, bringing many people to the profound transformative path, and supporting their growth.
Lama Tashi
Lama Tashi (Annik Brunet) has been on the spiritual path for 30 years. She completed the Sukhasiddhi Shangpa Lineage and Teacher Training programs. Since 2008, she has led classes, workshops, and retreats, and is currently the guiding teacher for the Bodhi Program. In 2017, Annik was authorized by Lama Palden Drolma and Lama Drupgyu as a Lama. Annik holds a master’s degree in photography, and her life-long impetus has been to explore the mystery of phenomenal appearances. The practice of photography as a visionary art and a means to cleanse the doors of perception eventually led her to the direct access Vajrayana offers. From this joint passion for dharma and art, Annik derives great enthusiasm for facilitating the exploration and actualization of the openness, kindness, and radiance that resides at the heart of every being.
Our Location:
Sukhasiddhi Foundation’s Wisdom River Meditation Center is located at: 7110 Redwood Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949
The Wisdom River Meditation Center is not a residential retreat center, and we cannot provide residential options for our retreats at the center. Below is information on the closest airports, hotel/motels and vacation rental links.
Airports
San Francisco International (SFO)
40.3 miles to Wisdom River Meditation Center
If you are not renting a car, the Marin Airporter (https://marinairporter.com/) is a reliable bus transport to Marin. The last stop – Hamilton, Novato) is closest to the center.
Oakland International (OAK)
40.8 miles to Wisdom River Meditation Center
Sonoma County Airport (Charles M. Schultz)
35.1 miles to Wisdom River Meditation Center
Motels/Hotels Near Wisdom River Meditation Center
Residence Inn by Marriott - Novato
7546 Redwood Drive
Novato, California, USA, 94945
628-587-0411
www.marriott.com
1 mile from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Days Inn
8141 Redwood Blvd
Novato, CA 94945
800-DAYS INN or 415-897-7111
www.daysinn.com
2.4 miles from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Inn Marin and Suites, Ascend Hotel Collection
250 Entrada Dr, Novato, CA 94949
(415) 883-5952
https://www.choicehotels.com/california/novato/ascend-hotels/
3.9 miles from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Courtyard by Marriott, Novato
1400 North Hamilton Parkway, Novato, CA 94949
800-321-2211 or 415-883-8950
www.novatocourtyard.com
4.7 miles from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Best Western Plus Novato Oaks Inn
215 Alameda Del Prado, Novato, California 94949
(415) 883-4400
https://www.bestwestern.com/
5.3 miles from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Marinwood Inn and Suites
275 Alameda Del Prado Novato, CA, 94949
(415) 883-2406
https://www.innnovato.com/
5.8 miles from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Best Western Plus Novato Oaks Inn
215 Alameda Del Prado, Novato, California 94949
(415) 883-4400
https://www.bestwestern.com/
5.3 miles from Wisdom River Meditation Center
Vacation Rentals – search on Novato, CA or Marin County to find the array of potential vacation rentals:
https://www.vrbo.com/
https://www.airbnb.com