With deep joy, we invite you to register for the Grand Chö Celebration & Retreat — Spring 2026, a rare opportunity to gather in person with Khandro-la. This April, we will come together for a weekend of empowerments, transmissions, and embodied practice, followed by an optional Wilderness Extension held in the vast, elemental landscape of the Tahoe region.

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This retreat marks a milestone in our shared journey—ten years of Dakini’s Whisper—and offers a doorway into both the historic and living stream of Machik Labdrön’s lineage. Whether you are newer to Chö or have been practicing for many years, you are warmly welcome.

 

To support clarity and orientation, please take a moment to review A Doorway Into Vajrayana Practice, created to help practitioners feel grounded, informed, and genuinely invited into this experience.

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Retreat Schedule Overview

April 10–12, 2026

Main Empowerment Retreat
River School Farm — Reno, Nevada

This is the core of our gathering, offering essential transmissions, empowerments, and guided practice within the Chö lineage.

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Friday

• 11–12 • Opening of the Retreat with the Transmission: Machik’s Last Instruction & Chö Mahamudra

• 12–2 • Lunch

• 2–5 • Machik Labdrön Empowerment, Transmission & Practice

• 5–6:30 • Dinner

• 7–8 • Evening Chö Practice

Saturday

• 10–12 • Five Dakini Transmissions & Teaching

• 12–2 • Lunch

• 2–5 • Common Chö Empowerment (“Opening the Sky Door”)

• 5–6:30 • Dinner

• 7–8 • Healing Chö (Public Offering)

Sunday

• 10–12 • Five Dakinis Transmission & Teachings

• 12–2 • Lunch

• 2–4 • Padampa Samgye Empowerment & Teachings

• 4–6 • Tsok & Closing

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April 13–14, 2026

Tahoe Wilderness Extension

This optional two-day extension offers a container for integration. We will practice Chö in the natural world—moving between outdoor sessions, indoor practice, shared meals, and time in embodied presence. Participants can expect a rhythm of morning practice, time on the land, and evening sessions that support grounding, reflection, and connection.

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Lodging Options

Participants will arrange their own accommodations. A few options that may be especially supportive:

• West River House (Truckee - recommended) 

A simple, budget‑friendly hostel along the river. Its central location between Reno and Lake Tahoe makes it especially convenient for those joining the Wilderness Extension. Several sangha members are choosing to stay here, and Truckee is also where Khandro‑la will be hosted,

• Reno Lodging (Hotels, Shared Rooms & RV Options)
  Reno offers several convenient lodging choices near the Main Retreat venue, including Hampton Inn & Suites (comfortable and nearby, with the option to share rooms for affordability) and Best Bet Motor Lodge (newly renovated, well-priced, and recommended by River School Farm). For those traveling with RVs or camper vans, the KOA in West Reno provides an additional option.

• Some participants may also choose a blended approach—staying in Reno for the Main Retreat and shifting to Truckee or Tahoe for the Wilderness Extension.

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Transportation & Travel Notes

• Informal ridesharing or carpooling may be possible for those traveling from out of town or staying in Truckee. Coordination with California-based DW members is underway, and more information will be shared as plans develop.

• Please complete our Transportation & Lodging Survey

• For those flying into Reno, Alamo tends to be the most reliable car rental option at Reno–Tahoe International Airport.

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A Rare Opportunity to Gather

This retreat is both a celebration and a deepening—a chance to receive precious transmissions, practice together in community, and honor living lineage. We look forward to welcoming you into this shared field of devotion, courage, and embodied wisdom.

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