Clearwater Retreat - Finding Peace and Inner Stability in Uncertain Times
Thursday, April 30 – Sunday, May 3, 2026
Sanctum Retreat Centre, Caroline, AB
Single Occupancy: $625
Double Occupancy: $950 - Please contact office -
Registration Deadline: April 16th, 2026
We warmly invite you to join Kushok Lobsang Dhamchöe, Spiritual Director of Gaden Samten Ling, for the 5th Annual Clearwater Meditation Retreat — a four-day opportunity to step away from the busyness of daily life and deepen your meditation practice in a peaceful natural setting.
In times of uncertainty, many of us find ourselves searching for stability, clarity, and a deeper sense of peace. The Buddhist path offers practical methods for cultivating these qualities through the development of compassion, wisdom, and balanced awareness.
Set within the beautiful natural surroundings of the Sanctum Retreat Centre in Clearwater County, Alberta, this retreat offers a supportive environment for contemplation, meditation, and connection with nature. Surrounded by forest and open sky, participants have the opportunity to slow down, reflect deeply, and reconnect with the qualities of mind that bring genuine peace and resilience.
During this retreat, Kushok will offer teachings on the Sixteen Immeasurables, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice that expands upon the well-known teachings of the Four Immeasurables of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. These contemplations help cultivate qualities of mind that are vast and inclusive, supporting the development of patience, kindness, joy, and emotional stability.
Through meditation sessions, Dharma teachings, gentle yoga, and time for quiet reflection, participants will explore how these teachings can be integrated into daily life.
Both new and experienced practitioners are warmly welcome.
Retreat Experience:
This retreat offers a unique opportunity to deepen your meditation practice while immersed in the quiet beauty of nature and supported by a caring Dharma community.
Participants will experience:
• Guided meditation instruction and practice
• Dharma teachings with Kushok Lobsang Dhamchöe
• Contemplations on the Sixteen Immeasurables
• Optional gentle yoga sessions in the morning and evening
• Walking meditation and quiet reflection time
• Opportunities to connect with Kushok and fellow practitioners
• Private accommodations in a peaceful retreat setting
• Nourishing meals and snacks provided by Sanctum’s welcoming kitchen
What Are the Sixteen Immeasurables?
The Sixteen Immeasurables are contemplative practices within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that expand upon the Four Immeasurables of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity.
The term immeasurable refers to qualities of mind that can be cultivated without limit and extended to all beings. Through meditation and reflection, these practices gradually help us develop a heart and mind that are more open, balanced, and resilient. By training the mind in these qualities, we begin to transform habitual patterns of reactivity into responses grounded in understanding, patience, and compassion.
More information on the topic of the teachings:
-The Four Immeasurables (click here) - studybuddshim.com
-The Four Immeasurables Are Meant to be Applied in Daily Life (Click here)-Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive
REGISTRATION DETAILS
Dates: April 30 – May 3, 2026
Retreat begins: Thursday at 4:00 PM
Retreat concludes: Sunday at 1:00 PM
📍Location Sanctum Retreat Centre
4.7 km outside the village of Caroline, Alberta
ACCOMMODATION FEES
Single Occupancy: $625
Double Occupancy (same household): $950
Please contact the office at info@gsl-ab.ca to register for double occupancy.
Space is limited and this retreat fills quickly, so early registration is encouraged.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 16, 2026
DIETARY ACCOMMODATIONS
Sanctum Retreat Centre can kindly accommodate most food allergies and dietary restrictions, including celiac. If you have specific dietary needs, please complete the dietary form during registration.
OPTIONAL YOGA SESSION
Yoga sessions are offered in a supportive and inclusive way for both experienced practitioners and those attending their first class.
Morning sessions include gentle stretches, breath practices, and joint mobility exercises to support comfort during meditation and teachings.
Evening sessions provide a calming and restorative practice designed to unwind the body, settle the nervous system, and prepare for restful sleep.
REFUND POLICY
We understand that unexpected circumstances can arise.
If you need to cancel up to 10 days before the retreat, you may receive a full refund minus a $25 administration fee.
All retreat payments become non-refundable after April 20, 2026.
We look forward to sharing this meaningful time of practice, learning, and being in community together.
If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact our office.