2026 True Nature Retreat
With H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, Khenpo Tenzin, Krishna Das & Band, Nina Rao, Joyanna Maria Ananda and Kathleen Davis
May 7 - 11, 2026
2026 TRUE NATURE RETREAT
H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
Khenpo Tenzin
Krishna Das and Band
Nina Rao
Joyanna Maria Ananda
Kathleen Davis
In Person Arrival: 1 pm to 5 pm on May 7
In Person Departure: After breakfast on May 11
Due to popular demand we are delighted to offer our sixth True Nature Retreat!
Welcoming beginners as well as seasoned yogis to join this popular gathering at the Garchen Institute! A powerful combination of teachings, meditation, chanting and movement will bring you into a more embodied and heart centered state at this holy destination.
H.E. Garchen Rinpoche will give illuminating instructions. Khenpo Tenzin will help us deepen our experience with his skilled guided meditations.
Krishna Das and band will lead us in truly heart opening devotional chanting. Nina Rao will share special chants from the new 21 Taras album.
From the lineage of the great Dzogchen master Khenpo Munsel, who is Garchen Rinpoche’s root guru, come the Tibetan Qigong practices taught by our qualified guide Kathleen Davis.
Experience the joyous heart centered yoga practices taught by the gifted Joyanna Maria Ananda.
Join us for this special retreat of enormous blessings!
IN PERSON REGISTRATION
Click here to register for in person attendance.
Click here to apply for Karma Yoga service to receive a reduced rate.
IN PERSON SCHEDULE [All times in PDT (UTC-7)]
May 7 | Arrival time between 1 – 5pm | 7:15 pm Evening Kirtan
May 8 – 10 | Program
May 11 | Departure after breakfast
The last session of this retreat is the finale concert that ends late in the evening on May 10. Departures will be after breakfast on May 11.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
H.E. Garchen Rinpoche appreciates your online participation so please register to let us know you will be attending. Thank you.
Click here to register for online participation.
ONLINE SCHEDULE [All times in PDT (UTC-7)]
May 7
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm Kirtan with Tara Chants with Nina Rao and Genevieve Walker
May 8 – 10
6:30 am – 7:45 am Teachings and Meditation with Khenpo Tenzin
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Teachings with HE Garchen Rinpoche
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Kirtan Yoga with Krishna Das & Band
DONATION
We offer all of our online dharma programming and retreats for free by relying on your donations. All donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Click here to make a donation.
About the Teachers
H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is one of the foremost Buddhist masters and accomplished Tibetan Lamas alive in this world today. His compassion, love, wisdom, and spiritual accomplishments are legendary. He is one of the highest Lamas of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and is revered and respected by all the different lineages of Buddhism, and beloved in numerous countries […]
Learn more about H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
Khenpo Tenzin
Venerable Khenpo Tenzin was born near Gargon Monastery in Nagchen Tibet, 1990. Coming from a very large family, Khenpo had a very strong inclination to study Dharma. His wish to enter the spiritual life was so strong that he taught himself to play the trumpet and learned many of the Lamas dances himself simply by […]
Learn more about Khenpo Tenzin
Krishna Das & Band
Layering traditional kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das– known to friends, family, and fans as simply “KD” –has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and […]
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Nina Rao
Nina Rao learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. For many years Nina has been Krishna Das' business manager and accompanies him musically as well. In 2007, she […]
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Joyanna Maria Ananda
Joyanna Maria Ananda has woven Qigong and Yoga as fundamental practices into her life. As a student, practitioner and guide for most of her adult life, she has been blessed to have studied with Master Teachers in China, Tibet and India, deepening her experience and understanding. Inspired in the natural blend of these eastern sciences, […]
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Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis has been teaching acupressure and qi gong since 1997. She has studied Jin Shin Jyutsu as taught by Mary Burmeister, Tai Ji, and Qigong with qigong master Zi Sheng Wang and Simu Min Ou Yang, and tai chi, tui na, and acupressure with Brian O’Dea. She maintains a private practice in which she […]
Learn more about Kathleen Davis