Browse Schedule by Category: Retreats / Online Courses
Outer Ecology, Inner Ecology
May 21, 2027 @ 3:00 pm - May 26, 2027 @ 4:00 pm CST
Outer Ecology, Inner Ecology
An in-person retreat with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei
Explore an embodied experience of belonging to the ecosystem, and a remedy for worry about the future.
Why This Matters Now
Many of us carry the future around like a weight. We follow the news, feel the scale of the polycrisis, and settle into a low hum of worry about a world we experience from the outside, something we watch and fear for rather than belong to.
But that worry is made of love. We fear for the world because we want it to flourish. The shift this course offers is from worrying about the earth to belonging to it: feeling yourself as part of the ecosystem, loving the land and all beings however you relate to them, and sensing that care returned, as if the living world were holding you in turn.
That felt sense of being held is nourishing, secure, and quietly inspiring. It is also a direct, embodied taste of non-duality, and a deep remedy for stress and anxiety about the future. Through nature-based practice, including a Green Tara wongkur (no prior Vajrayana experience needed), you’ll learn to turn eco-anxiety into a source of love, care, and nourishment.
Meet the Teacher
Catherine Pawasarat Sensei is a contemporary Dharma teacher, attendant, consort, co-teacher via Planet Dharma and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life, Catherine also draws on generative living and universal spiritual tools including transpersonal astrology and Japanese arts.
She trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan from 1998 until his passing in 2024, in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003.
Who Is This For?
- You feel stuck in eco-anxiety or fear about the polycrisis and want to transform that view, not just manage it
- You love nature and the outdoors and want to bring them more fully into your spiritual practice
- You’re curious about Vajrayana practice. There’s a Green Tara wongkur, and no prior experience is necessary
What’s Expected of Me?
- An open mind and heart, and a spirit of adventure are excellent things to bring!
- It’s human to have some apprehensions about doing something new, meeting new people, or going to a new place. Particularly when all three happen together. We try to make this as supportive as possible.
- When exploring our growth edges, it’s natural to feel uncertain and awkward. And it’s very fruitful to transform that emotional tension into creative energy by drawing on your own inner resources – such as inquiry, going with the flow, and self-reflection, just a few of the many kinds of constructive engagement.
- To maximize your retreat experience, we ask that you refrain from reading, using the internet, phone or listening to music during the course.
- Students are expected to be silent during the silent parts of the retreat, and participate in all classes, group meditations, activities, and discussions.
- We ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.
The Location – Clear Sky Center
- Located in the BC rocky mountains, Clear Sky offers over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature. Founded by Qapel (Achariya Doug Duncan) and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei, the center is home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world.
- How to get there, what to bring and other FAQ about Clear Sky
- Our teachings and Clear Sky operate based on the ancient tradition of dāna or generosity. As generosity is the basis upon which all spiritual practice flourishes, we recommend that you learn more about this profound practice before you register.
Course Fees & Requirements
Arrivals and Departures
For those traveling short distances, we recommend coming a day early, but at the latest, please arrive by 3pm on May 21. For those coming from international or longer distance travel, please plan to arrive at least 1-2 days early to allow time to rest and acclimatize before the start of retreat. Orientation begins before dinner on May 21.
All Retreatants: A Dāna Based Retreat
Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered. With dāna, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course, and we trust you’ll match our time, energy, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us.
You will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teacher after registration.
For more information on dāna click here.
Retreating at Clear Sky: Lodging Fees
Please go to the retreat registration page for this retreat for details of the all inclusive fee for the retreat.
Micro-dosing / Psychedelics
Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.
We ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.
Ready to Register?
If you have questions about the retreat, please phone 250-429-3929, or contact [email protected].
