Heart of Compassion: A Silent Retreat

Join Drupon Lama Dorje in August as he arrives in the artistic, colonial town of Jericó, Colombia for a week of silent retreat and ceremony.

As his main heart offering to the community, he brings with him the Chenrezig empowerment, teachings on Tonglen, and the Four Immeasurables, a unique combination of gifts that bring us deep into our hearts to serve the world with compassion. Join him for a delightful silent retreat August 17 – 22 at Finca La Cristalina — a center for awakening, set in native forest with streams, waterfalls, and an organic permaculture garden.

Lama Dorje teaches in Spanish and communicates personally with retreatants in their preferred language — English or Spanish.

Before the retreat begins, he is lovingly offering the rare Chöd ceremony to the public of Jericó — an ancient practice of sacred music, prayer, and fearless compassion, performed with Himalayan ritual instruments. Join him August 15th: 7:00 pm in the beautiful downtown area of Jericó.

HEART OF COMPASSION RETREAT: AUGUST 17 – AUGUST 22

A six-day silent retreat at Finca La Cristalina, an awakening center set in native forest with streams and waterfalls in Jericó, Antioquia. Drupön Lama Dorje guides practitioners through the Chenrezig empowerment and practice, the cultivation of tonglen (giving and taking), and the Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Days flow between guided meditation, teachings, periods of silent practice, and contemplative walks through the land. Meals are vegetarian, drawn from the property’s organic permaculture garden. Lodging includes glamping sites and rooms in the main house. Open to practitioners ready for sustained silent practice; prior meditation experience is recommended but not required.

Contribution — Dana model (sliding-tier contribution)

Tier 1:  I need help paying — suggested minimum COP 850,000 (USD 215)

Tier 2: I’ll pay my portion — COP 1,800,000 (USD 450)

Tier 3: I’ll pay my share & support others — suggested minimum COP 4,000,000 (USD 1,000)

No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If even Tier 1 is beyond your means, please reach out. For those whose hearts are called to it and who are active in the community, we will find a way. These amounts cover the costs of the retreat — food, lodging, supplies, and operations — and do not generate profit. They also do not include any contribution to Drupön Lama Dorje, who lives purely from the generosity of practitioners. Offerings to Lama Dorje are separate and very welcome.

What’s included in the Retreat:

• 5 nights of lodging at Finca La Cristalina (rooms in the main house or glamping sites — assigned in order of registration)
• All vegetarian meals, drawn from the organic permaculture garden
• All teachings, transmissions, and ceremonies with Drupön Lama Dorje
• English translation throughout

What is not included in the Retreat:

• Travel to Colombia and to Jericó
• Ground transport from Medellín airport (available for an additional fee — see above)
• Personal offerings to Drupön Lama Dorje
• Travel insurance (recommended)

What to bring:

• Comfortable, layered clothing (mountain weather shifts quickly)
• Rain jacket or poncho (August is the tail of the rainy season)
• Sturdy shoes for walking on uneven ground
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Reusable water bottle
• A journal, if you keep one
• Personal toiletries and any medications
• A meditation cushion if you have a preferred one (cushions will be provided)

Climate in August. Daytime temperatures around 18–22°C (65–72°F); cooler in the evenings. Expect a mix of sun, mist, and rain.

Languages. Lama Dorje speaks both English and Spanish. He will teach in Spanish with live English translation throughout the retreat. For private interviews, he can communicate in either language, according to each retreatant’s preference. La Cristalina and the retreat team can also support English-speaking guests with logistics and questions.

REGISTRATION FOR HEART OF COMPASSION RETREAT:

Registration is by deposit, with the balance due before the retreat begins. Full payment at the time of registration is preferred. Spaces are limited.

To register: https://forms.gle/ztNgruEDcaqppzfr6

For questions: Contact Travis at Retreats@LaCristalina.org or via WhatsApp / text: +1 (602) 332-0178

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August 15th:  ADDITIONAL PUBLIC CHOD CEREMONY BEFORE THE RETREAT

Location: Casa Republicana, Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia

Date / Time: Saturday, August 15, 2026 — 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Cost: By donation

Join Drupon Lama Dorje in downtown Jerico before the retreat for a special experience!

Chöd (pronounced “chö”) is an ancient practice of prayer, chant, and sacred music — accompanied by drum, bell, and Himalayan ritual instruments — whose purpose is to cultivate compassion, release fear, and offer one’s heart for the wellbeing of all beings.

You do not need to be Buddhist, nor to have any prior experience. Whoever comes with an open heart will receive the blessing of the ceremony. It is a rare opportunity to witness a centuries-old Himalayan tradition in our own town.

All are welcome.

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About Jericó

Jericó is one of Colombia’s seventeen Pueblos Patrimonio — heritage towns recognized by the national tourism authority for their cultural and architectural significance. Sitting at 1,950 meters (6,400 feet) above sea level in the southwestern mountains of Antioquia, the town overlooks the canyon of the Cauca River and is surrounded by coffee plantations, cardamom fields, and lush green hills.

Founded in 1850, Jericó is sometimes called “the Athens of the Southwest” for its long literary and artistic tradition. Its center is built around the Plaza de Bolívar — a colorful square dominated by a brick cathedral, lined with traditional Antioquian houses with wooden balconies and intact 19th-century facades. The town is the birthplace of Saint Laura Montoya (Madre Laura), Colombia’s first canonized saint, and remains an important place of pilgrimage and devotion.

The climate is mild and pleasant year-round, generally between 14°C and 23°C (57°F–73°F). Daily life moves at the pace of the mountain. Visitors come for the architecture, the gourmet coffee, the surrounding nature — hiking, paragliding, waterfalls, and birdwatching — and the warm hospitality of the paisa people of Antioquia.

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About Finca La Cristalina

La Cristalina is an awakening center on eleven acres (4.5 hectares) of land just outside Jericó — about ten minutes by car or thirty-five minutes on foot from the town’s central plaza. The property includes three streams with waterfalls, native forest rewilded from former coffee and pasture land, an organic permaculture garden, fruit trees, and animals tended with care. Its tagline — To Live. To Learn. To Love. — points to its purpose: a container for awakening, a place that meets each person where they are and helps them take their next step.

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Getting  to Jericó:

By air to Medellín. The nearest international airport is José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Rionegro, serving Medellín. There are direct flights from major cities in North America, Latin America, and Europe.

Medellín to Jericó. Thanks to recently opened highways, the journey from Medellín is now much faster:

• Private SUV / taxi: approximately 2 hours.
• Public bus: approximately 2.5 hours. Departures from Medellín’s Terminal del Sur with Transportes Jericó.

Door-to-door private transport. Our trusted driver, Ferney, can pick you up directly from your hotel or from the Medellín airport and bring you all the way to La Cristalina, for an additional fee. Please indicate your interest at the time of registration.

From Bogotá. Two options:

• Fly to Medellín (MDE) and continue overland to Jericó as above. (Recommended for international travelers.)
• Drive directly. Approximately 11 hours by car.

BIENVENIDOS!