Zen Sesshin, Ecodharma and Nature Kinning Retreat
Leaders
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Kritee KankoCo-LeaderKritee (dharma name Kanko) is a Climate Scientist, Buddhist Zen priest, Educator & Founding Spiritual teacher of Boundless in Motion. She is an ordained teacher in the Rinzai Zen lineage of Cold Mountain and a co-founder of Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center. She has served as faculty for courses or retreats at the intersection of climate crisis, racial justice, trauma healing and spirituality for many organizations including One Earth Sangha, Al Gore’s Climate Reality, Stanford University, World Council of Churches, San Francisco Zen Center, Mind & Life Institute and Lama Foundation. She has served as a leading scientist in the Climate Smart Agriculture program at Environmental Defense Fund for 12 years.
Kritee‘s experience is that identifying and releasing our personal and ecological grief in presence of a loving community is necessary; that helps us unlock our gifts and serve our communities. Her articles and interviews have appeared in the New York Times, BBC, Washington Post, Harvard Health, Yale Climate Connections, California Public Radio. Please see her personal website here</a.
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Imtiaz RangwalaGuest TeacherImtiaz Rangwala has been practicing meditation for ~20 years and is a lay meditation teacher in the lineage of Cold Mountain Zen. He is also one of the founding members of Boulder Ecodharma Sangha. Professionally, he is a Climate Scientist at the University of Colorado in Boulder where he provides climate science support to people managing our land, water, and wildlife.
He loves to nurture community through his love for cooking, gardening, and sharing songs and stories. He also greatly loves the outdoors and considers nature to be a very important teacher. Imtiaz was raised in the Islamic tradition of progressive Dawoodi Bohras and remained influenced by Sufism. He will primarily serve as the chef and kitchen logistics manager for this retreat.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Take advantage of this opportunity to deepen your meditation practice in a community rooted in the Rinzai Zen Buddhist lineage, with a trauma-informed approach to healing and teachings inspired by Kingian and Gandhian Nonviolence. It includes daily practices such as seated and walking meditation, nature immersion, chanting, and silent work periods, all within a structured, silent dharma container designed for those who have completed the prerequisite “Introduction to Zen” modules. Ideal for those ready to face their growth edges and transform internalized trauma, this retreat at the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center invites participants to engage in profound spiritual practice and healing.
Our sangha takes a trauma informed approach to healing, awakening and changemaking. As a result, at our retreats, we combine practices from the ancient tradition of Rinzai Zen with our current understanding of what individuals need to face and release our trauma. Each day will include indoor zazen (seated meditation), outdoor meditation (by trees, bonfire or flowing water), kinhin (group walking meditation), deep abdominal chanting, opportunities to share our experience with other participants, a talk at the interface of Zen and Ecodharma teachings, rest periods, samu (silent work periods to prepare food) and dokusan (private interview with the teacher). One day will be completely devoted to silent practice in Nature (Nature Kinning Day). For complete DAILY SCHEDULE, see HERE.
THIS RETREAT WILL BENEFIT YOU IF:
- You have watched the required online “Introduction to Zen modules” which will take 3-4 hours.
- You feel ready to deepen your meditation practice in a structured dharma container.
- You know that spiritual practice is not about being comfortable and ready to be at your growth edge in your search for healing and enlightenment.
- You’re primarily looking for a silent retreat. We do not offer guided meditation more than once a day.
- You’ve become disenchanted with traditional forms of activism but you trust that racial and climate justice are related and that we need inner trauma healing to build our collective power.
- You want to face and transform your grief, fear and anger but not be controlled by them.
- You are comfortable with being tested and following Infectious disease protocols.
- You are okay with silence and being away from internet and phone connection.
TESTIMONIALS
I love the intense meditation techniques (bamboo breathing), metta (loving kindness), mindful eating and abdominal chanting. The rigor of the container allowed me to surrender to the spiritual experience even when I was new to Zen tradition and this was my first meditation retreat. – Gabriel, Denver
Nourishing food, Trauma informed and accessibility centered tenderness, Invitations to rest, Ceremonial (Oryoki) meals, Samu (group work), and time with creek, trees, rocks, animals (Elk and Moose) and birds were the most transformational for me. – Lex Hahn-Dunn, Denver
Food and Meals. We will prepare Ayurveda based vegan food for this retreat. You can bring your own snacks to eat in privacy to meet your medical needs.
THINGS TO KNOW
The price of retreats is set as low as possible and covers only retreat center expenses. None of the fee goes to the leaders, who are solely supported by the voluntary dana offerings of yogis. In the tradition of the Buddha, the amount of the dana offering is up to each individual. We do ask that your offering be as generous as your finances allow in order to support the tireless efforts of the leaders. Please bring a check or cash. We are very grateful for your support.
Retreats with Private Registration
Please check with the organization hosting your retreat.
Retreats with Private Registration
Please check with the organizers of your retreat about the availability of scholarship funds. Note that in retreats with Private Registration, RMERC provides scholarship funds for individuals who belong to underserved communities and who are experiencing financial hardship.
Click here to apply for an RMERC Scholarship.
Scholarship awards do not guarantee acceptance into a retreat. Please register as soon as possible after receiving your award to make sure space is available.
Please check with your leader or the retreat listing about specifics of meals.
Tea, coffee and such are available all day long, along with some simple snacks such as mixed nuts and fruit. If you want a snack between meals, or supplemental protein, you can bring a small quantity of packaged unrefrigerated food. Please do not bring anything that needs refrigeration (medicine excepted). Excessive snacks are unnecessary: if you need a boost, a little gorp or an energy bar is sufficient for most people.
Most retreats begin at 4:00 pm on the first day of the retreat (please check the start times in the retreat details). Yogis may arrive 1 hour early but they will not have access to the lodge or bathrooms. Yogis who are camping may set up their tents at that time. Note that all tents must be on the lodge side of the stream.
Most retreats end after lunch on the last day of the retreat, and all participants must vacate the property by 2:00 pm.
RMERC is located about 45 minutes NW of Boulder, at 8941 Overland Rd., Ward, CO. If driving, please park in our main parking lot by the road and walk down to the lodge.
There is no public transportation to the center, and if you need a ride, the best option is to carpool with other yogis. RMERC provides a rideshare forum if your retreat uses RMERC-hosted registration (see details for your retreat). Otherwise, you may contact the leader of your retreat for assistance. Uber or Lyft may provide another option; please contact them to inquire.
Note: there is no cell phone service in the region around the retreat center.
Denver International Airport (DIA) is about 90 minutes from the center. Your best options for travel to the center are:
- Shuttle bus to Boulder (1 hr) and then carpool to the center; RTD public transportation ($10) departs DIA every hour, or check Green Ride Boulder.
- Uber or Lyft, either to Boulder or to the center
- Car rental
You should plan on your flight arriving no later than 1 pm to reach the retreat center on time. Return flights departing from the Denver airport should leave no earlier than 5:30 or 6 pm. Please do not plan on leaving the retreat early.
RMERC is a nonprofit organization with a mission to offer low-cost retreats to as many people as possible. At the end of your retreat, you are invited to make a tax deductible donation to RMERC, and also to join the membership program of the RMERC community if you so choose. More information is here.
RMERC does not allow pets or service animals, as moose and bears become more dangerous in their presence.
Download a Trail Map in Color or a Trail Map in Black and White.
Thunder and lightning storms are not uncommon during the summer months, and lightning is a very real hazard. Take shelter in a lightning storm, ideally in a building or in a car. If that is not possible, crouch down and maintain a low profile until the storm passes. Sound travels approximately 1 mile every 5 seconds. Count the number of seconds between a lightning strike and the sound of thunder; a 10-15 second delay indicates that lightning is several miles away, and is warning to take shelter.
Please check with REI in Boulder (303-583-9970) for rentals of tents, sleeping bags, pads, backpacks, etc. Boulder is the largest city in the area, and the best source of supplies. Nederland also has a few well-stocked stores, including grocery, outdoor shop, and library (but no pharmacy).
If you are searching for a place to camp prior to arrival or post-departure, we recommend using phone apps to search, for example,
- iOverlander, for a wide variety of options
- RV Parky, especially good for finding RV parking options
- The Dyrt, for both free and paid camping options (premium version is best)
- Recreation.gov app, for reservations at federal campgrounds (cost is very reasonable)
- Hipcamp, for lower-cost camping and lodging options
KEY POINTS
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DATES AND TIMES:
Arrival: Monday, May 12 at 2:30 pm. Departure: Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 pm.
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REQUIREMENTS:
Completion of some or all of these "Introduction to Zen modules" is highly recommended.
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DEI SUPPORT:
Leaders offer DEI support for this retreat.
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PROGRAM COST:
$650 (includes food and lodging); Scholarships Available
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LEADER SUPPORT:
By donation (see Things to Know)
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ALL QUESTIONS:
Contact Dale Gaar at [email protected]
- EQUIPMENT LIST:
- CALENDAR:
RETREAT MANAGER
Retreat Manager
Dale Gaar
Other Staff
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Imtiaz Rangwala (Chef)
